My Lords, I intervene briefly because the noble Lords, Lord Anderson and Lord Clement-Jones, have set out with great clarity the thinking behind their two amendments, and I am very convinced by them. I am convinced by them particularly because this applies to without-suspicion seizure, which is, from my point...

My Lords, I intervene briefly because the noble Lords, Lord Anderson and Lord Clement-Jones, have set out with great clarity the thinking behind their two amendments, and I am very convinced by them. I am convinced by them particularly because this applies to without-suspicion seizure, which is, from my point...

My Lords, I want to speak briefly to the amendment that my noble friend Lord Attlee spent about 15 seconds talking about; that is, his Amendment 414. At the outset of his remarks, I was worried that he might be positively going to support his own amendment, but he very...

My Lords, I want to speak briefly to the amendment that my noble friend Lord Attlee spent about 15 seconds talking about; that is, his Amendment 414. At the outset of his remarks, I was worried that he might be positively going to support his own amendment, but he very...

My Lords, I fully understand the balance that there has to be between protecting British citizens under British law and the need for good diplomatic and trading relations with China. It is a difficult balance and sometimes it leads to uncomfortable conclusions. However, in the event that, as the noble...

My Lords, I fully understand the balance that there has to be between protecting British citizens under British law and the need for good diplomatic and trading relations with China. It is a difficult balance and sometimes it leads to uncomfortable conclusions. However, in the event that, as the noble...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for securing this debate and for all that he said in his opening remarks. His speech was a devastating analysis of the real world. If this Government and this House fail to pay attention to what he said, we...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for securing this debate and for all that he said in his opening remarks. His speech was a devastating analysis of the real world. If this Government and this House fail to pay attention to what he said, we...

On a point of order, Sir Michael. We have less than a minute to deal with the rest of the business with which the Committee was tasked to deal. You will be invited to report that the House has considered the Bill in Committee, but clearly we will not have...

On a point of order, Sir Michael. We have less than a minute to deal with the rest of the business with which the Committee was tasked to deal. You will be invited to report that the House has considered the Bill in Committee, but clearly we will not have...

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I apologise for getting ahead of myself and interrupting you earlier, but as you will know, paragraph 3 of the timetable motion states:"““On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee, the Chairman shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.””"...

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I apologise for getting ahead of myself and interrupting you earlier, but as you will know, paragraph 3 of the timetable motion states:"““On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee, the Chairman shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.””"...

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill. Allocation of time motion for proceedings on Bill. Agreed to on division (283 votes to 145). Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. House resolved itself into a Committee. Committee stage. Clauses 1-2, 4 and 8-14 agreed to. Clauses 3 and 5-7 agreed to as amended. New Clause 9 agreed to. Report stage (formal). Third reading (formal). Bill passed.

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill. Allocation of time motion for proceedings on Bill. Agreed to on division (283 votes to 145). Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. House resolved itself into a Committee. Committee stage. Clauses 1-2, 4 and 8-14 agreed to. Clauses 3 and 5-7 agreed to as...

I want to make it clear at the outset that the official Opposition do not accept the Government's timetable, although we accept the principle behind the need for the legislation. The Bill has not come up on us by surprise. The decision of the judicial Committee of the other place...

I want to make it clear at the outset that the official Opposition do not accept the Government's timetable, although we accept the principle behind the need for the legislation. The Bill has not come up on us by surprise. The decision of the judicial Committee of the other place...

I will if the hon. Gentleman will be very brief.

I will if the hon. Gentleman will be very brief.

The hon. Gentleman is quite right; it only deals with the money. Since the 1979-80 Session, 60 Government Bills have gone through the Commons with all their stages being dealt with in one day. They were largely uncontroversial Bills, such as those to do with consular fees, friendly societies, the...

The hon. Gentleman is quite right; it only deals with the money. Since the 1979-80 Session, 60 Government Bills have gone through the Commons with all their stages being dealt with in one day. They were largely uncontroversial Bills, such as those to do with consular fees, friendly societies, the...

Like the Minister, I am not a member of that secret society, the usual channels, so I have absolutely no knowledge of what has been going on behind the scenes. I can say, as she did, that there have been discussions between our party and the Government, and I dare...

Like the Minister, I am not a member of that secret society, the usual channels, so I have absolutely no knowledge of what has been going on behind the scenes. I can say, as she did, that there have been discussions between our party and the Government, and I dare...

There we are—nor did the Government. Perhaps unwittingly, the hon. Gentleman has made my point about the lack of preparedness that the Government are guilty of. I shall stop there, because I know that others wish to speak and we need to get on with the Bill. I understand the...

There we are—nor did the Government. Perhaps unwittingly, the hon. Gentleman has made my point about the lack of preparedness that the Government are guilty of. I shall stop there, because I know that others wish to speak and we need to get on with the Bill. I understand the...

The hon. Gentleman misunderstands. It is the Government's Bill. We did not see it until it was in its draft form last week.

The hon. Gentleman misunderstands. It is the Government's Bill. We did not see it until it was in its draft form last week.

As the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) said at the outset of his remarks, this has been an informative debate, and we are the better for it. However, where there is broad agreement, there is a need for additional caution. It is in debates on Bills such...

As the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) said at the outset of his remarks, this has been an informative debate, and we are the better for it. However, where there is broad agreement, there is a need for additional caution. It is in debates on Bills such...

I support, to some extent, the arguments of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg), but I will concentrate mainly on the amendments tabled by Conservative Front Benchers. Amendment No. 21 essentially seeks to redesign subsection (3), which deals with condition A....

I support, to some extent, the arguments of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg), but I will concentrate mainly on the amendments tabled by Conservative Front Benchers. Amendment No. 21 essentially seeks to redesign subsection (3), which deals with condition A....

It has never stopped the right hon. Gentleman in the past.

It has never stopped the right hon. Gentleman in the past.

I am fascinated by the Secretary of State's story. In the absence of a special counsel, I would accept the thrust of what the Secretary of State is saying, but as that would be the purpose of a special counsel he cannot dismiss my arguments—or rather those I borrowed—in relation...

I am fascinated by the Secretary of State's story. In the absence of a special counsel, I would accept the thrust of what the Secretary of State is saying, but as that would be the purpose of a special counsel he cannot dismiss my arguments—or rather those I borrowed—in relation...

May I line myself up for an undergraduate bashing from the hon. Gentleman? I do not want to destroy his argument, but to follow on from what my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Torridge and West Devon (Mr. Cox) said about the words ““any reasonable fear””, is there...

May I line myself up for an undergraduate bashing from the hon. Gentleman? I do not want to destroy his argument, but to follow on from what my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Torridge and West Devon (Mr. Cox) said about the words ““any reasonable fear””, is there...

We need a clearer answer from the Minister in response to my right hon. and learned Friend's question. Judges frequently say out loud, ““I am satisfied to the criminal standard of proof,”” about this, that or the other during an interlocutory application. I know that the Solicitor-General is nodding her...

We need a clearer answer from the Minister in response to my right hon. and learned Friend's question. Judges frequently say out loud, ““I am satisfied to the criminal standard of proof,”” about this, that or the other during an interlocutory application. I know that the Solicitor-General is nodding her...

Moving her head. I am reasonably sure—I am satisfied—that the Solicitor-General was moving her head. Often the question will be asked during the course of argument before a judge, ““What is the burden and what is the standard of proof?”” I appreciate that many cases are not necessarily decided on...

Moving her head. I am reasonably sure—I am satisfied—that the Solicitor-General was moving her head. Often the question will be asked during the course of argument before a judge, ““What is the burden and what is the standard of proof?”” I appreciate that many cases are not necessarily decided on...