My Lords, I recall being involved in a case in Southwark Crown Court where DNA convicted a man of rape 35 years after the offence. There was no other evidence. Statistically, there were would be only four people in the UK with the same DNA. What database exists for the...

My Lords, I recall being involved in a case in Southwark Crown Court where DNA convicted a man of rape 35 years after the offence. There was no other evidence. Statistically, there were would be only four people in the UK with the same DNA. What database exists for the...

I do not think the noble Lord has grasped what I was saying. The amendment states, "““in accordance with this Part””," but we have not determined what this Part will cover. As the noble Lord realises, I have put down many amendments to Part 1 in an attempt to rejig...

I do not think the noble Lord has grasped what I was saying. The amendment states, "““in accordance with this Part””," but we have not determined what this Part will cover. As the noble Lord realises, I have put down many amendments to Part 1 in an attempt to rejig...

Perhaps the noble Lord would outline what is meant by, "““in accordance with this Part””."

Perhaps the noble Lord would outline what is meant by, "““in accordance with this Part””."

My Lords, I have been involved with legal aid for longer than anyone except my noble friend Lord Phillips. I started in 1958.

My Lords, I have been involved with legal aid for longer than anyone except my noble friend Lord Phillips. I started in 1958.

I will say something about that in our debate on Amendment 2. I entirely agree. I think that the Government are making a mistake in welfare law and that cutting legal advice and assistance for people at the bottom end of society will cause more problems than it solves; it...

I will say something about that in our debate on Amendment 2. I entirely agree. I think that the Government are making a mistake in welfare law and that cutting legal advice and assistance for people at the bottom end of society will cause more problems than it solves; it...

I can go from 1958 to last Friday on doing legal aid work. I do not know whether the noble Lord can follow me on that, so I have some experience of legal aid. I have filled in the forms and appeared in various tribunals and courts, and I have...

I can go from 1958 to last Friday on doing legal aid work. I do not know whether the noble Lord can follow me on that, so I have some experience of legal aid. I have filled in the forms and appeared in various tribunals and courts, and I have...

My Lords, I thought I detected in the last few sentences the possibility of some movement in this area, but despite that the final sentence was a killer. I am very disappointed with my noble friend’s response to what I considered to be an overwhelming case. If you cannot get...

My Lords, I thought I detected in the last few sentences the possibility of some movement in this area, but despite that the final sentence was a killer. I am very disappointed with my noble friend’s response to what I considered to be an overwhelming case. If you cannot get...

Rather than saying that cases would have been won, would the noble Lord not use the expression ““gained access to justice and obtained the benefits to which they were entitled””?

Rather than saying that cases would have been won, would the noble Lord not use the expression ““gained access to justice and obtained the benefits to which they were entitled””?

I do not think that the noble Lord grasped my point.

I do not think that the noble Lord grasped my point.

My Lords, we are now coming to what I regard as the nitty-gritty of this Bill: what is going to be in scope and what is not? What is to be provided for? I have focused in particular on the area of welfare law, which I think is of extreme...

My Lords, we are now coming to what I regard as the nitty-gritty of this Bill: what is going to be in scope and what is not? What is to be provided for? I have focused in particular on the area of welfare law, which I think is of extreme...

2: Clause 1, page 1, line 12, at end insert— ““( ) The Lord Chancellor must secure equality between the state and any party in dispute with the state in the provision of services of advice, assistance and representation for appeals on any point of law in the fields of...

2: Clause 1, page 1, line 12, at end insert— ““( ) The Lord Chancellor must secure equality between the state and any party in dispute with the state in the provision of services of advice, assistance and representation for appeals on any point of law in the fields of...

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) (Amendment) Rules 2011 (SI 2011/1813). Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) (Amendment) Rules 2011 (SI 2011/1813). Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

My Lords, the important point that should be appreciated—I am sure that it is—is that when a title is registered, it is an absolute title. It can be obtained by fraud or by any other means, but it is an absolute title, once registration has been granted. That means that...

My Lords, the important point that should be appreciated—I am sure that it is—is that when a title is registered, it is an absolute title. It can be obtained by fraud or by any other means, but it is an absolute title, once registration has been granted. That means that...

My Lords, may I say what considerable pleasure it is for me and those around me to see the noble Lord, Lord McNally, put his hands on the Dispatch Box and to discover that in becoming a Minister he has not lost his wit and good humour? We congratulate him...

My Lords, may I say what considerable pleasure it is for me and those around me to see the noble Lord, Lord McNally, put his hands on the Dispatch Box and to discover that in becoming a Minister he has not lost his wit and good humour? We congratulate him...

I would be grateful if the noble Lord could take that on board and give an assurance that he will make a submission to the review that it should be considered as a highly desirable practice.

I would be grateful if the noble Lord could take that on board and give an assurance that he will make a submission to the review that it should be considered as a highly desirable practice.

In those circumstances, would it not be highly desirable that those consequences should appear on the form? After all, the purpose of the form is not for the police officer to collect the money there and then but for the individual to take that form away, and he then has...

In those circumstances, would it not be highly desirable that those consequences should appear on the form? After all, the purpose of the form is not for the police officer to collect the money there and then but for the individual to take that form away, and he then has...

My Lords, this gives us an opportunity to look at what a penalty notice should contain. One of the major problems arising under fixed penalty notices, which we have always opposed in my party, is that they allow what amounts to an offence brought to justice to be recorded against...

My Lords, this gives us an opportunity to look at what a penalty notice should contain. One of the major problems arising under fixed penalty notices, which we have always opposed in my party, is that they allow what amounts to an offence brought to justice to be recorded against...

The noble Lord has my point exactly. The Government also present us with the Children, Schools and Families Bill. Its purpose is stated to be to, ""provide guarantees for parents and pupils setting out what they can expect from the 21st century schools system. These will equip every child, every...

The noble Lord has my point exactly. The Government also present us with the Children, Schools and Families Bill. Its purpose is stated to be to, ""provide guarantees for parents and pupils setting out what they can expect from the 21st century schools system. These will equip every child, every...

My Lords, I want to say something about the proper sphere of the law. The law is not about government statements of intent, policy declarations or general exhortations. It is not a branch of the media or of the postal services for this or any other Government to send messages...

My Lords, I want to say something about the proper sphere of the law. The law is not about government statements of intent, policy declarations or general exhortations. It is not a branch of the media or of the postal services for this or any other Government to send messages...

Lords debate on Queen's speech (third day) on home, legal and constitutional affairs.

Lords debate on Queen's speech (third day) on home, legal and constitutional affairs.