As always, I am grateful to the noble Lord for what he has said and for offering certain alternatives that came to mind. However, I have not been persuaded that the amendment will not bring the benefits that I outlined and which other noble Lords have supported. Therefore, I wish...

As always, I am grateful to the noble Lord for what he has said and for offering certain alternatives that came to mind. However, I have not been persuaded that the amendment will not bring the benefits that I outlined and which other noble Lords have supported. Therefore, I wish...

Amendment 187 187: After Clause 103, insert the following new Clause— "Independent Commissioner for Terrorist Suspects (1) The Secretary of State shall appoint a person to be known as the Independent Commissioner for Terrorist Suspects (the "Commissioner") and such appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Lord Chief...

Amendment 187 187: After Clause 103, insert the following new Clause— "Independent Commissioner for Terrorist Suspects (1) The Secretary of State shall appoint a person to be known as the Independent Commissioner for Terrorist Suspects (the "Commissioner") and such appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Lord Chief...

I could certainly foresee the commissioner being appointed for, say, five years. I should have thought that that would give him sufficient security.

I could certainly foresee the commissioner being appointed for, say, five years. I should have thought that that would give him sufficient security.

The purpose of the amendment is to require the Secretary of State to appoint an independent commissioner for terrorist suspects. The commissioner would have two main functions. First, he would be able to monitor the detention and treatment of suspects detained under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Secondly,...

The purpose of the amendment is to require the Secretary of State to appoint an independent commissioner for terrorist suspects. The commissioner would have two main functions. First, he would be able to monitor the detention and treatment of suspects detained under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Secondly,...

My Lords, when I spoke in the debate on the Queen’s Speech in December last year, I pointed out, as many others had already done, that we had had five major criminal justice Bills in as many years. I thought then that this year was going to prove the exception...

My Lords, when I spoke in the debate on the Queen’s Speech in December last year, I pointed out, as many others had already done, that we had had five major criminal justice Bills in as many years. I thought then that this year was going to prove the exception...

I just hope that we will not have to discuss those matters again.

I just hope that we will not have to discuss those matters again.

Surely that is the whole point. We need a little more time to consider how this would work in relation to magistrates’ courts.

Surely that is the whole point. We need a little more time to consider how this would work in relation to magistrates’ courts.

I support the amendment. First, I must express my apologies for not having been able to be here on Second Reading. I know the rules very well about not making Second Reading speeches in Committee, and I have no intention of doing so. However, I would like to say something—about...

I support the amendment. First, I must express my apologies for not having been able to be here on Second Reading. I know the rules very well about not making Second Reading speeches in Committee, and I have no intention of doing so. However, I would like to say something—about...

I am puzzled by a small drafting point in the amendment. Presumably it should read ““Condition D is that the judge has no reason to believe””. Perhaps I have an out-of-date copy, but it does not make much sense as it stands. I am trying to be helpful.

I am puzzled by a small drafting point in the amendment. Presumably it should read ““Condition D is that the judge has no reason to believe””. Perhaps I have an out-of-date copy, but it does not make much sense as it stands. I am trying to be helpful.

I had not intended to intervene on this amendment, but surely there is a distinction between the principle involved here and the rules. The principle that a person is entitled to be confronted by his accusers is still preserved by the Bill. The rules we are talking about are an...

I had not intended to intervene on this amendment, but surely there is a distinction between the principle involved here and the rules. The principle that a person is entitled to be confronted by his accusers is still preserved by the Bill. The rules we are talking about are an...

Does the noble and learned Baroness agree that, once the principle is established, the worst solution would be to have common-law rules and statutory rules running side by side? That always leads to confusion.

Does the noble and learned Baroness agree that, once the principle is established, the worst solution would be to have common-law rules and statutory rules running side by side? That always leads to confusion.

My Lords, I am bound to say that I find some difficulty in recognising the recent decision of this House which was mentioned in the Statement that has just been repeated—and I am grateful to the noble Lord for repeating it. I am particularly surprised by the sentence to which...

My Lords, I am bound to say that I find some difficulty in recognising the recent decision of this House which was mentioned in the Statement that has just been repeated—and I am grateful to the noble Lord for repeating it. I am particularly surprised by the sentence to which...