To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what barriers to the introduction of a through high-speed service between London and Amsterdam have been identified by his Department; and what steps his Department is taking to overcome them.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what barriers to the introduction of a through high-speed service between London and Amsterdam have been identified by his Department; and what steps his Department is taking to overcome them.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20 May (WA 316), whether the discussions with the Netherlands and Germany have considered how the three governments should work together in enforcing the Dogger Bank special area of conservation; and, if so,...

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20 May (WA 316), whether the discussions with the Netherlands and Germany have considered how the three governments should work together in enforcing the Dogger Bank special area of conservation; and, if so,...

Today 2 June 2009, I am publishing the second Joint Strategic Framework for the engagement of the Governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal with the African Development Bank. This framework sets out how the UK and its fellow constituency members will work with the African Development...

Today 2 June 2009, I am publishing the second Joint Strategic Framework for the engagement of the Governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal with the African Development Bank. This framework sets out how the UK and its fellow constituency members will work with the African Development...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Ivan Lewis) has made the following Statement. Today, 2 June 2009, I am publishing the second joint strategic framework for the engagement of the Governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal with the African Development Bank....

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Ivan Lewis) has made the following Statement. Today, 2 June 2009, I am publishing the second joint strategic framework for the engagement of the Governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal with the African Development Bank....

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of the Netherlands and Germany concerning the approach to conservation of the Dogger Bank.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of the Netherlands and Germany concerning the approach to conservation of the Dogger Bank.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to encourage the provision of a direct high-speed rail service from London to Amsterdam to coincide with the completion of the Brussels-Amsterdam high-speed line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to encourage the provision of a direct high-speed rail service from London to Amsterdam to coincide with the completion of the Brussels-Amsterdam high-speed line.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allow Mr Geert Wilders to visit the United Kingdom in a private capacity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allow Mr Geert Wilders to visit the United Kingdom in a private capacity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Lord West of Spithead on 12 February (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 1232–36), what factors were taken into account by the Home Secretary in deciding whether the ban on Geert Wilders entering the United Kingdom would be in accordance...

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Lord West of Spithead on 12 February (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 1232–36), what factors were taken into account by the Home Secretary in deciding whether the ban on Geert Wilders entering the United Kingdom would be in accordance...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009, Official Report, column 1116W, on Netherlands: military exercises, (1) how many Royal Marines he expects to participate in the 2009 UK/Netherlands amphibious landing force training exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009, Official Report, column 1116W, on Netherlands: military exercises, (1) how many Royal Marines he expects to participate in the 2009 UK/Netherlands amphibious landing force training exercise.

(2) where the 2009 exercise will take place.

(2) where the 2009 exercise will take place.

My Lords, the Minister has talked about incitement, and reference has been made to the possibility of counterprotests. These are public order matters. The criterion that the Minister should be operating under is public security, which is a different thing.

My Lords, the Minister has talked about incitement, and reference has been made to the possibility of counterprotests. These are public order matters. The criterion that the Minister should be operating under is public security, which is a different thing.

My Lords, 20 years ago, the Government were robust in their defence of Mr Salman Rushdie when he published the book The Satanic Verses. This book provoked a number of riots and demonstrations, as we all know, and some violence within the community. Nevertheless, the Government remained steadfast in their...

My Lords, 20 years ago, the Government were robust in their defence of Mr Salman Rushdie when he published the book The Satanic Verses. This book provoked a number of riots and demonstrations, as we all know, and some violence within the community. Nevertheless, the Government remained steadfast in their...

My Lords, there seems to be a bit of a lottery as to who is admitted and who is not. Are there any criteria by which the Home Secretary works, even if advised by the noble Lord, to justify who is refused admittance and who is not?

My Lords, there seems to be a bit of a lottery as to who is admitted and who is not. Are there any criteria by which the Home Secretary works, even if advised by the noble Lord, to justify who is refused admittance and who is not?

My Lords, is not the essence of this public order? There is a raft of considerations, but the essence is public order. One cannot ask for a reply because it was a decision of the Home Secretary and one really has to leave it at that. What else can one...

My Lords, is not the essence of this public order? There is a raft of considerations, but the essence is public order. One cannot ask for a reply because it was a decision of the Home Secretary and one really has to leave it at that. What else can one...

My Lords, will the Minister comment on one matter, which might enable us to make up our minds? Who brought this matter to the attention of the Home Secretary? Since this man is an EU citizen, he does not have to apply specially to come to our country. How did...

My Lords, will the Minister comment on one matter, which might enable us to make up our minds? Who brought this matter to the attention of the Home Secretary? Since this man is an EU citizen, he does not have to apply specially to come to our country. How did...

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister has looked at precedent. Will he please tell us the last time that a democratically elected politician from an EU country was denied access to Great Britain and the last time that a democratically elected politician was denied access to speak in...

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister has looked at precedent. Will he please tell us the last time that a democratically elected politician from an EU country was denied access to Great Britain and the last time that a democratically elected politician was denied access to speak in...

My Lords, I am aware that Mr Wilders holds views highly offensive to the Muslim community, but freedom of speech issues often raise awkward questions. Indeed, this ban has united in opposition the noble Lord, Lord Pearson, the Dutch Government—unusual allies—and also a section of the Muslim community which cares...

My Lords, I am aware that Mr Wilders holds views highly offensive to the Muslim community, but freedom of speech issues often raise awkward questions. Indeed, this ban has united in opposition the noble Lord, Lord Pearson, the Dutch Government—unusual allies—and also a section of the Muslim community which cares...

My Lords, I take this opportunity to thank the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, for asking this Question. I suggest to the Minister—perhaps he will correct me if I am wrong—that a man is innocent until he is proved guilty. I only have one question, because I know that we do...

My Lords, I take this opportunity to thank the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, for asking this Question. I suggest to the Minister—perhaps he will correct me if I am wrong—that a man is innocent until he is proved guilty. I only have one question, because I know that we do...