My Lords, in February this year, as time was finally called on Northern Rock, we were presented with a Hobson's choice. After months of dithering we were rushed into passing the temporary Banking (Special Provisions) Bill, which went through both Houses of Parliament in just over three days. Today, this...

My Lords, in February this year, as time was finally called on Northern Rock, we were presented with a Hobson's choice. After months of dithering we were rushed into passing the temporary Banking (Special Provisions) Bill, which went through both Houses of Parliament in just over three days. Today, this...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his careful presentation of the Bill. Like the noble Baroness, I look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin. This is an important Bill, the principles of which we support. Despite its general title, it deals with...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his careful presentation of the Bill. Like the noble Baroness, I look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin. This is an important Bill, the principles of which we support. Despite its general title, it deals with...

My Lords, the debate today has been on a higher level than much of the public comment in the press and news bulletins. I am glad to be able to take part in a debate which is beginning to identify some of the underlying difficulties that have arisen in these...

My Lords, the debate today has been on a higher level than much of the public comment in the press and news bulletins. I am glad to be able to take part in a debate which is beginning to identify some of the underlying difficulties that have arisen in these...

My Lords, before I turn to the main body of my remarks on the Bill, I will comment on the position stated so forcefully by the noble Lord, Lord Bilimoria, who I regret is not in his place, and echoed by other noble Lords. That position is that returning regulatory...

My Lords, before I turn to the main body of my remarks on the Bill, I will comment on the position stated so forcefully by the noble Lord, Lord Bilimoria, who I regret is not in his place, and echoed by other noble Lords. That position is that returning regulatory...

My Lords, as my noble friend Lord Newby said—and as both the opening speakers summed up pretty well—we support the purposes of this Bill. However, as the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, said, there is some way for this Bill to travel. We are concerned about the wide regulation-making powers in...

My Lords, as my noble friend Lord Newby said—and as both the opening speakers summed up pretty well—we support the purposes of this Bill. However, as the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, said, there is some way for this Bill to travel. We are concerned about the wide regulation-making powers in...

My Lords, first, I join in welcoming the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, to this House and in congratulating him on an excellent maiden speech. It spoke to his experience and wisdom, to the great benefit he will bring to this House and to a subtle sense of humour...

My Lords, first, I join in welcoming the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, to this House and in congratulating him on an excellent maiden speech. It spoke to his experience and wisdom, to the great benefit he will bring to this House and to a subtle sense of humour...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, on his maiden speech. His experience and the insight that it brings will be a welcome addition to this House. As my noble friend Lady Noakes said, we on these Benches have offered our assistance and support to...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, on his maiden speech. His experience and the insight that it brings will be a welcome addition to this House. As my noble friend Lady Noakes said, we on these Benches have offered our assistance and support to...

My Lords, this is not a very satisfactory Bill for a variety of reasons, as many noble Lords have said. It bears all the hallmarks of a hasty, knee-jerk piece of legislation, motivated by a sense of the need to do something. In that way, it is similar to the...

My Lords, this is not a very satisfactory Bill for a variety of reasons, as many noble Lords have said. It bears all the hallmarks of a hasty, knee-jerk piece of legislation, motivated by a sense of the need to do something. In that way, it is similar to the...

My Lords, I have stood from these Baron Benches, as they are called, for many years and spoken on similar subjects. It always gives me really great pleasure when the professors and economists buzz off. If the accountants could only go as well, life would be much easier. Banking problems...

My Lords, I have stood from these Baron Benches, as they are called, for many years and spoken on similar subjects. It always gives me really great pleasure when the professors and economists buzz off. If the accountants could only go as well, life would be much easier. Banking problems...

My Lords, Second Readings are an opportunity to debate what is in a Bill. However, they are also an opportunity to debate what should be in a Bill but is not. This Bill provides for pre-funding of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme—which has not been much talked about this afternoon—and...

My Lords, Second Readings are an opportunity to debate what is in a Bill. However, they are also an opportunity to debate what should be in a Bill but is not. This Bill provides for pre-funding of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme—which has not been much talked about this afternoon—and...

My Lords, coming this late into the debate one is always on the edge of one’s seat as to whether there is going to be anything left to say of the text one has brought in. I thought that I had got lucky until the noble Lord, Lord Williams of...

My Lords, coming this late into the debate one is always on the edge of one’s seat as to whether there is going to be anything left to say of the text one has brought in. I thought that I had got lucky until the noble Lord, Lord Williams of...

My Lords, it is always a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, who introduces a personal note into our debates which is genuine and pleasant. The noble Lord, Lord Stewartby, asked why we are here. This Bill has been pored over, as the Minister said, in consultation,...

My Lords, it is always a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, who introduces a personal note into our debates which is genuine and pleasant. The noble Lord, Lord Stewartby, asked why we are here. This Bill has been pored over, as the Minister said, in consultation,...

My Lords, to follow the intervention of the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, we have had the economists, the accountants, the lawyers and the bankers, and now I am intervening on behalf of the customers and consumers. I declare my interest as chair of the new organisation Consumer Focus. I support...

My Lords, to follow the intervention of the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, we have had the economists, the accountants, the lawyers and the bankers, and now I am intervening on behalf of the customers and consumers. I declare my interest as chair of the new organisation Consumer Focus. I support...

My Lords, I support legislation that enables the Bank of England to rescue failing banks; therefore, I give overall approval to this Bill, as do the British Bankers’ Association and my opposition Front Bench. In particular, I applaud the increase by the FSA of the deposit protection limit of the...

My Lords, I support legislation that enables the Bank of England to rescue failing banks; therefore, I give overall approval to this Bill, as do the British Bankers’ Association and my opposition Front Bench. In particular, I applaud the increase by the FSA of the deposit protection limit of the...

That the Bill be read a second time. My Lords, while these are challenging times for financial markets and economies around the world, the Bill before the House today is a timely package of reforms to improve the UK’s system for ensuring financial stability and protecting depositors. I am very...

That the Bill be read a second time. My Lords, while these are challenging times for financial markets and economies around the world, the Bill before the House today is a timely package of reforms to improve the UK’s system for ensuring financial stability and protecting depositors. I am very...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill and for clearly explaining its contents. However, the highlight of the day will be the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, who is a welcome addition to the select band of chartered accountants in your Lordships'...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill and for clearly explaining its contents. However, the highlight of the day will be the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, who is a welcome addition to the select band of chartered accountants in your Lordships'...

My Lords, it is a daunting task to follow such a distinguished economist as the noble Lord, Lord Peston, in this debate, particularly when I find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with much of what he said. I should like to draw attention to my various interests relating...

My Lords, it is a daunting task to follow such a distinguished economist as the noble Lord, Lord Peston, in this debate, particularly when I find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with much of what he said. I should like to draw attention to my various interests relating...

My Lords, that is right. We presented that proposal to the Government. My noble friend Lord McIntosh, who has just reminded me what the provision actually said, was on the Front Bench dealing with that Bill, so he was the one who rejected what my noble friend Lord Barnett and...

My Lords, that is right. We presented that proposal to the Government. My noble friend Lord McIntosh, who has just reminded me what the provision actually said, was on the Front Bench dealing with that Bill, so he was the one who rejected what my noble friend Lord Barnett and...

My Lords, at this stage in a Second Reading debate, when the debate has been about a loss of confidence, why it occurred, who has lost it and how in some principled and large way it might be restored, it may be difficult to return to detailed consideration of the...

My Lords, at this stage in a Second Reading debate, when the debate has been about a loss of confidence, why it occurred, who has lost it and how in some principled and large way it might be restored, it may be difficult to return to detailed consideration of the...

My Lords, I am really delighted to have the opportunity to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, on a most excellent maiden speech. I find myself with much in common with the noble Lord: I am an accountant, no longer practising of course; I was the vice-chairman of...

My Lords, I am really delighted to have the opportunity to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin, on a most excellent maiden speech. I find myself with much in common with the noble Lord: I am an accountant, no longer practising of course; I was the vice-chairman of...