Whether the imposition of penalties for minor littering and waste disposal offences, which may be disproportionately high in relation to the nuisance caused, will foster respect for the law.

Whether the imposition of penalties for minor littering and waste disposal offences, which may be disproportionately high in relation to the nuisance caused, will foster respect for the law.

Whether they intend to restore the real value of the exemption from inheritance tax (originally capital transfer tax) for transfers to non-domiciled spouses introduced in the Finance Act 1975, bearing in mind that it has not been raised in line with inflation since 1982.

Whether they intend to restore the real value of the exemption from inheritance tax (originally capital transfer tax) for transfers to non-domiciled spouses introduced in the Finance Act 1975, bearing in mind that it has not been raised in line with inflation since 1982.

My Lords, the noble Earl was wrong in referring to a six-month ban. I think that the obligatory ban is 12 months, which, in my view—maybe not his—would be justified in that case.

My Lords, the noble Earl was wrong in referring to a six-month ban. I think that the obligatory ban is 12 months, which, in my view—maybe not his—would be justified in that case.

My Lords, may I press the Minister again on de minimis interest payments? I agree with him totally that it is not cost-effective to send out cheques for 2p or 3p or even £2 or £3. However, he will be well aware that when the boot is on the other...

My Lords, may I press the Minister again on de minimis interest payments? I agree with him totally that it is not cost-effective to send out cheques for 2p or 3p or even £2 or £3. However, he will be well aware that when the boot is on the other...

My Lords, first, can the Minister tell us why, according to a letter in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, the interest paid by the agency on overdue payments is apparently completely withheld if the sum due is under £50? Secondly—here I declarean interest—why is the rate of interest payable only 6.75 per...

My Lords, first, can the Minister tell us why, according to a letter in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, the interest paid by the agency on overdue payments is apparently completely withheld if the sum due is under £50? Secondly—here I declarean interest—why is the rate of interest payable only 6.75 per...

My Lords, however well it may play with a section of the tabloid press, the Government’s plan to send still more people to prison in a week when the British prison population has reached an all-time high is surely the height of folly. At this rate, we will need not...

My Lords, however well it may play with a section of the tabloid press, the Government’s plan to send still more people to prison in a week when the British prison population has reached an all-time high is surely the height of folly. At this rate, we will need not...

My Lords, the Minister pointed out that the amendment was defective in that it did not include a provision for any penalty in Clause 16. However, if this House were to pass the amendment of the noble Baroness and send the amended clause back to the other place, could it...

My Lords, the Minister pointed out that the amendment was defective in that it did not include a provision for any penalty in Clause 16. However, if this House were to pass the amendment of the noble Baroness and send the amended clause back to the other place, could it...

My Lords, as we are being denied a separate debate on Motions F and F1—albeit by general agreement—perhaps I may, as a layman, point out that an eminent Queen’s Counsel in another place, who happens to be a distinguished member of the Minister’s party, agreed with her on Lords Amendment...

My Lords, as we are being denied a separate debate on Motions F and F1—albeit by general agreement—perhaps I may, as a layman, point out that an eminent Queen’s Counsel in another place, who happens to be a distinguished member of the Minister’s party, agreed with her on Lords Amendment...

Whether he will take steps to ensure that pedestrian access to the Palace of Westminster is not periodically impeded by inadequate rainwater drainage on St Margaret's Street.

Whether he will take steps to ensure that pedestrian access to the Palace of Westminster is not periodically impeded by inadequate rainwater drainage on St Margaret's Street.

To what level the exemptions from inheritance tax for gifts in consideration of marriage would have to be raised in order to match in real terms the values of the original exemptions introduced in March 1974.

To what level the exemptions from inheritance tax for gifts in consideration of marriage would have to be raised in order to match in real terms the values of the original exemptions introduced in March 1974.

My Lords, I share the condemnation of the noble Baroness of happy slapping, but I wonder whether her amendment is sufficiently tightly drawn. Obviously, what she has in mind is those who video rapes, muggings or fights outside a pub in which several men kick another man in the head...

My Lords, I share the condemnation of the noble Baroness of happy slapping, but I wonder whether her amendment is sufficiently tightly drawn. Obviously, what she has in mind is those who video rapes, muggings or fights outside a pub in which several men kick another man in the head...

Whether the present condition of the citizens of Turkish Cyprus is compatible with the provisions of the 1960 treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus (Cmnd. 1252), the 1960 Cyprus: Treaty of Guarantee (Cmnd. 1253) and the Basic Articles of the Constitution of Cyprus guaranteed therein.

Whether the present condition of the citizens of Turkish Cyprus is compatible with the provisions of the 1960 treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus (Cmnd. 1252), the 1960 Cyprus: Treaty of Guarantee (Cmnd. 1253) and the Basic Articles of the Constitution of Cyprus guaranteed therein.

What representations they will make to the Government of Cyprus on the case for concessions to Turkish Cypriots to balance those concessions which have been pressed on Turkey by the incoming President of the European Union.

What representations they will make to the Government of Cyprus on the case for concessions to Turkish Cypriots to balance those concessions which have been pressed on Turkey by the incoming President of the European Union.

My Lords, would Her Majesty's Government quietly urge the Israelis to be more careful and selective in their retaliation against Hezbollah? Killing more than 200 civilians, only a small proportion of whom are Hezbollah supporters and a high proportion of whom are children, and causing hundreds of millions of pounds...

My Lords, would Her Majesty's Government quietly urge the Israelis to be more careful and selective in their retaliation against Hezbollah? Killing more than 200 civilians, only a small proportion of whom are Hezbollah supporters and a high proportion of whom are children, and causing hundreds of millions of pounds...

The noble Lord, Lord Triesman, rightly declared that the Israeli response to Hezbollah should be proportionate. Can he explain why the Israelis bombed Tripoli, killing a number of people, given that Tripoli is in the north of Lebanon, about as far from the Israeli border as can be imagined? Its...

The noble Lord, Lord Triesman, rightly declared that the Israeli response to Hezbollah should be proportionate. Can he explain why the Israelis bombed Tripoli, killing a number of people, given that Tripoli is in the north of Lebanon, about as far from the Israeli border as can be imagined? Its...

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that the party to which he belongs did nothing whatever to raise the small gifts exemption, or the exemption for gifts in consideration of marriage, in line with inflation for the 18 years they were in power from 1979—or during the Heath...

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that the party to which he belongs did nothing whatever to raise the small gifts exemption, or the exemption for gifts in consideration of marriage, in line with inflation for the 18 years they were in power from 1979—or during the Heath...

Whether they will make representations to the Government of the United States regarding the possible use of shackling or leg irons by the United States authorities on British nationals extradited to the United States who have not been convicted of any crime.

Whether they will make representations to the Government of the United States regarding the possible use of shackling or leg irons by the United States authorities on British nationals extradited to the United States who have not been convicted of any crime.

My Lords, we have certainly travelled a long way since those relaxed, carefree, politically incorrect days when the great challenge was to cram as many people as possible into a Mini Minor and drive around London, arms and legs sticking out everywhere. For 99 per cent of the time, the...

My Lords, we have certainly travelled a long way since those relaxed, carefree, politically incorrect days when the great challenge was to cram as many people as possible into a Mini Minor and drive around London, arms and legs sticking out everywhere. For 99 per cent of the time, the...

My Lords, will the Minister answer my question about whether the use of lavatories on long-distance buses will be outlawed?

My Lords, will the Minister answer my question about whether the use of lavatories on long-distance buses will be outlawed?

In the article in the Financial Times yesterday mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson—I say this much more in sorrow than in anger, because I share the general admiration for the noble Baroness expressed in this Committee today—the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland, accused those of us who oppose the...

In the article in the Financial Times yesterday mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson—I say this much more in sorrow than in anger, because I share the general admiration for the noble Baroness expressed in this Committee today—the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland, accused those of us who oppose the...