My Lords, for my recent birthday, I was given by a very clever brother-in-law of mine a book by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Bingham. In it he talks about the rule of law and mentions the Court of Star Chamber, and what I think were called the prerogative...

My Lords, for my recent birthday, I was given by a very clever brother-in-law of mine a book by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Bingham. In it he talks about the rule of law and mentions the Court of Star Chamber, and what I think were called the prerogative...

It was in fact a Home Office Minister who made that statement. That is why it is so bizarre that they were dangerous while locked up but not dangerous when they had absconded.

It was in fact a Home Office Minister who made that statement. That is why it is so bizarre that they were dangerous while locked up but not dangerous when they had absconded.

My Lords, apart from the fact that the four people who have put their names to this amendment could be described in modern terms as some of the most grown up in the House, I should like to draw a small point to your Lordships’ attention. As your Lordships know,...

My Lords, apart from the fact that the four people who have put their names to this amendment could be described in modern terms as some of the most grown up in the House, I should like to draw a small point to your Lordships’ attention. As your Lordships know,...

There is an important distinction to be made between a perfectly dotty expenses system from which people can legally claim, albeit with a difference of morality, and doing things like—I am not quite sure if I am in order here—claiming interest on a mortgage that does not exist. Claiming interest...

There is an important distinction to be made between a perfectly dotty expenses system from which people can legally claim, albeit with a difference of morality, and doing things like—I am not quite sure if I am in order here—claiming interest on a mortgage that does not exist. Claiming interest...

The MP is less dishonest.

The MP is less dishonest.

When the noble Baroness was asked earlier, she said that an offence committed under the Fraud Act had to be shown to be clearly dishonest. I assume that the words "clearly dishonest" also apply to Clause 8. Is it right that you can be half-dishonest under Clause 8? How does...

When the noble Baroness was asked earlier, she said that an offence committed under the Fraud Act had to be shown to be clearly dishonest. I assume that the words "clearly dishonest" also apply to Clause 8. Is it right that you can be half-dishonest under Clause 8? How does...

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, was there not a consensual agreement between Molotov and Ribbentrop in 1939?

My Lords, was there not a consensual agreement between Molotov and Ribbentrop in 1939?

My Lords, my noble friend said that there was no urgency on certain financial matters. Under those circumstances, will he encourage his friends on the Front Bench to vote for my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth’s amendment—or is that asking too much?

My Lords, my noble friend said that there was no urgency on certain financial matters. Under those circumstances, will he encourage his friends on the Front Bench to vote for my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth’s amendment—or is that asking too much?

My Lords, I have never been a Member of the House of Commons, but when I am either booted out of this House or I die, it will be the first time since 1550 that there has not been an Onslow in one or both Houses of Parliament continuously for...

My Lords, I have never been a Member of the House of Commons, but when I am either booted out of this House or I die, it will be the first time since 1550 that there has not been an Onslow in one or both Houses of Parliament continuously for...

Good, my Lords, she is. Well done. The noble Baroness has to get up and say, "I have listened to very distinguished gentleman from all sides of the House"—and ladies, because I am not being sexist. I do not want to be reported to Harriet Harman. She should get up...

Good, my Lords, she is. Well done. The noble Baroness has to get up and say, "I have listened to very distinguished gentleman from all sides of the House"—and ladies, because I am not being sexist. I do not want to be reported to Harriet Harman. She should get up...

My Lords, if the Leader of the House were to get up now and say yes to three days or no to three days, that would ease the noble Lord’s dilemma, would it not? If she were to say no to three days, he would then have to become unimpaled...

My Lords, if the Leader of the House were to get up now and say yes to three days or no to three days, that would ease the noble Lord’s dilemma, would it not? If she were to say no to three days, he would then have to become unimpaled...

My Lords, the noble Lord is very critical of the Government, with which I agree 100,000 per cent, if my mathematics is not a bit ropey, but the same criticism applies to our own Front Bench for allowing this through on the nod. We should not have done that. We...

My Lords, the noble Lord is very critical of the Government, with which I agree 100,000 per cent, if my mathematics is not a bit ropey, but the same criticism applies to our own Front Bench for allowing this through on the nod. We should not have done that. We...

My Lords, I am very pleased that the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, reminded the House that no judge has refused a police application. On the JCHR, we heard evidence of quite short periods of interrogation and of very long periods of languishing in cells during the extended time. I suspect...

My Lords, I am very pleased that the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, reminded the House that no judge has refused a police application. On the JCHR, we heard evidence of quite short periods of interrogation and of very long periods of languishing in cells during the extended time. I suspect...

My Lords, I am reminded of the biblical quotation, ““What the Lord giveth, he taketh away””. I fear that that is what the noble Lord, Lord West, has done. On the Joint Committee on Human Rights, we heard an awful lot about post-charge questioning. We went into it very carefully....

My Lords, I am reminded of the biblical quotation, ““What the Lord giveth, he taketh away””. I fear that that is what the noble Lord, Lord West, has done. On the Joint Committee on Human Rights, we heard an awful lot about post-charge questioning. We went into it very carefully....

If the man is responsible for running something, why should it be the responsibility of somebody else if a mistake has been made? Surely it is up to him as the responsible man.

If the man is responsible for running something, why should it be the responsibility of somebody else if a mistake has been made? Surely it is up to him as the responsible man.

I heard the Minister say that the amendment would make responsible officers investigate every system failure. Can she tell me when responsible officers should not investigate system failures?

I heard the Minister say that the amendment would make responsible officers investigate every system failure. Can she tell me when responsible officers should not investigate system failures?

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, has produced the most marvellous comment on the Bill. He said that he wishes that Clause 10 had not been put in the Bill. He half agrees with the Government’s amendment but says that Clause 10 should not be brought in anyway because...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, has produced the most marvellous comment on the Bill. He said that he wishes that Clause 10 had not been put in the Bill. He half agrees with the Government’s amendment but says that Clause 10 should not be brought in anyway because...

My Lords, having spoken on this issue in Committee, I am moved, first, to thank the Government for listening to what other people have said, and that is always to be congratulated. It seems to me that what the noble Lord, Lord Bach, has just said may be 100 per...

My Lords, having spoken on this issue in Committee, I am moved, first, to thank the Government for listening to what other people have said, and that is always to be congratulated. It seems to me that what the noble Lord, Lord Bach, has just said may be 100 per...

My Lords, one cannot take away somebody’s right to do something and then not put in place binding arbitration. My noble friend Lady Hanham mentioned the disturbing sight of the police demonstrating. That sight terrified me because it brings the forces of law into political play. That is very dangerous....

My Lords, one cannot take away somebody’s right to do something and then not put in place binding arbitration. My noble friend Lady Hanham mentioned the disturbing sight of the police demonstrating. That sight terrified me because it brings the forces of law into political play. That is very dangerous....