My Lords, following the noble Lord, I wish to say that, across the House, this is assuredly not a political debate. It is a pleasure to be able to agree with everything that he said. Indeed, there was only one speech that I did not understand and with which I...

My Lords, following the noble Lord, I wish to say that, across the House, this is assuredly not a political debate. It is a pleasure to be able to agree with everything that he said. Indeed, there was only one speech that I did not understand and with which I...

My Lords, there was no reference in the gracious Speech to a Bill to ratify the EU treaty. I totally support what my noble friend Lord Howell of Guildford said about the Commonwealth and what the noble Lord, Lord Luce, has just said. I do not apologise to the House...

My Lords, there was no reference in the gracious Speech to a Bill to ratify the EU treaty. I totally support what my noble friend Lord Howell of Guildford said about the Commonwealth and what the noble Lord, Lord Luce, has just said. I do not apologise to the House...

My Lords, to say in the Chamber that there was a fear of a military cover-up by the chain of command is a very serious allegation. That was the mistaken basis on which resort was taken to have this matter tried at the Old Bailey.

My Lords, to say in the Chamber that there was a fear of a military cover-up by the chain of command is a very serious allegation. That was the mistaken basis on which resort was taken to have this matter tried at the Old Bailey.

My Lords, is it not now apparent that one and a half years’ delay was occasioned by the decision of the noble and learned Lord to ordain that this trial should ensue under the civil jurisdiction? Was not that decision taken on a wholly mistaken premise that the chain of command...

My Lords, is it not now apparent that one and a half years’ delay was occasioned by the decision of the noble and learned Lord to ordain that this trial should ensue under the civil jurisdiction? Was not that decision taken on a wholly mistaken premise that the chain of command...

rose to call attention to the advice and guidance given to the Director of Army Legal Services and the Army Prosecuting Authority by the Attorney-General under his supervisory function; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Motion affords, noble Lords may think, a much-needed opportunity for...

rose to call attention to the advice and guidance given to the Director of Army Legal Services and the Army Prosecuting Authority by the Attorney-General under his supervisory function; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Motion affords, noble Lords may think, a much-needed opportunity for...

My Lords, I saw the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General smiling. If the noble Lord, Lord Corbett, would be good enough to look in Hansard at the debate that took place on 14 July 2005, he will see that it was made perfectly plain, long before I introduced this, that there is no criticism of the...

My Lords, I saw the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General smiling. If the noble Lord, Lord Corbett, would be good enough to look in Hansard at the debate that took place on 14 July 2005, he will see that it was made perfectly plain, long before I introduced this, that there is no criticism of the...

My Lords, on a question of this sort, it is very important that no one should think that this is in any sense related to matters extraneous to justice. This was dealt with on 14 July. I made it perfectly plain that it was not suggested that, at the element on which it...

My Lords, on a question of this sort, it is very important that no one should think that this is in any sense related to matters extraneous to justice. This was dealt with on 14 July. I made it perfectly plain that it was not suggested that, at the element on which it...

My Lords, very sincerely I thank all noble Lords who have contributed to this debate, which has been good-humoured and very constructive. Certain parts of the construction would not appeal to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, but one or two building blocks are left standing and there is one, of...

My Lords, very sincerely I thank all noble Lords who have contributed to this debate, which has been good-humoured and very constructive. Certain parts of the construction would not appeal to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, but one or two building blocks are left standing and there is one, of...

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the advice and guidance given to the Director of Army Legal Services and the Army Prosecuting Authority by the Attorney-General under his supervisory function. Motion withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the advice and guidance given to the Director of Army Legal Services and the Army Prosecuting Authority by the Attorney-General under his supervisory function. Motion withdrawn.

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, for introducing the debate. I agree with everything that has been said by noble and learned Lords on both sides of the House. In particular, I agree that this is not an occasion to impugn the integrity of...

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, for introducing the debate. I agree with everything that has been said by noble and learned Lords on both sides of the House. In particular, I agree that this is not an occasion to impugn the integrity of...

Why in the case of Trooper Williams resort was sought to the concurrent jurisdiction by the Director of Armed Legal Services, after the charge had been dismissed by the commanding officer on the Ministry of Defence Senior Legal Adviser Branch’s advice that there was no case to answer.

Why in the case of Trooper Williams resort was sought to the concurrent jurisdiction by the Director of Armed Legal Services, after the charge had been dismissed by the commanding officer on the Ministry of Defence Senior Legal Adviser Branch’s advice that there was no case to answer.

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken, in particular the noble and gallant Lords, without whose contribution the perspective could not have been put. The noble Lord, Lord Drayson, gave an inkling of an understanding, when he said that the Government had learnt a lesson. Fair enough,...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken, in particular the noble and gallant Lords, without whose contribution the perspective could not have been put. The noble Lord, Lord Drayson, gave an inkling of an understanding, when he said that the Government had learnt a lesson. Fair enough,...

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the case for upholding the integrity and legal authority of the armed forces chain of command. Motion withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to the case for upholding the integrity and legal authority of the armed forces chain of command. Motion withdrawn.

My Lords, can I ask the House’s permission to finish reading what is relevant to the other letter—one minute?

My Lords, can I ask the House’s permission to finish reading what is relevant to the other letter—one minute?

May I claim one minute to deal with the letter? I was given 15 minutes.

May I claim one minute to deal with the letter? I was given 15 minutes.

rose to call attention to the case for upholding the integrity and legal authority of the Armed Forces chain of command; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, the object of this speech, devoid of political motivation, is to seek to   persuade the Government and the noble...

rose to call attention to the case for upholding the integrity and legal authority of the Armed Forces chain of command; and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, the object of this speech, devoid of political motivation, is to seek to   persuade the Government and the noble...

My Lords, I am obliged. On 31 March, the DALS wrote to the Attorney-General requesting in that letter a reference on whether to institute proceedings for murder or manslaughter. In that letter no reference whatever was made to the extraneous reason. All that there was was a series of prejudicial...

My Lords, I am obliged. On 31 March, the DALS wrote to the Attorney-General requesting in that letter a reference on whether to institute proceedings for murder or manslaughter. In that letter no reference whatever was made to the extraneous reason. All that there was was a series of prejudicial...

My Lords, I am allowed—

My Lords, I am allowed—