My Lords, I am most grateful for being permitted to speak in the gap. I am in the happy position of being able to speak as the debate has been brought forward; the time originally envisaged for it would have made that impossible. I have listened with interest to the concerns expressed about...

My Lords, I am most grateful for being permitted to speak in the gap. I am in the happy position of being able to speak as the debate has been brought forward; the time originally envisaged for it would have made that impossible. I have listened with interest to the concerns expressed about...

Lords debate on unstarred question on whether the new European regime for the import of bananas is in the best interests of the United Kingdom.

Lords debate on unstarred question on whether the new European regime for the import of bananas is in the best interests of the United Kingdom.

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Montgomery and I usually agree on almost everything—strangely, considering our different backgrounds and the other differences that we have. However, I am afraid that I do not agree with him today. Like my noble friend Lord Faulkner, I have interests to declare, but on both sides. I am president of the...

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Montgomery and I usually agree on almost everything—strangely, considering our different backgrounds and the other differences that we have. However, I am afraid that I do not agree with him today. Like my noble friend Lord Faulkner, I have interests to declare, but on both sides. I am president of the...

My Lords, I should begin by apologising on behalf of my noble friend Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer, who I understand is, as we speak, pulling into Paddington Station, believing that this debate was going to take place somewhat later in the evening. However, I am delighted to be able to step metaphorically into...

My Lords, I should begin by apologising on behalf of my noble friend Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer, who I understand is, as we speak, pulling into Paddington Station, believing that this debate was going to take place somewhat later in the evening. However, I am delighted to be able to step metaphorically into...

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, for introducing this debate. I believe that he will find that there are not many noble Lords who support his point of view, but it is good to debate it. For once, I have no interests to declare, which for me on agricultural...

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, for introducing this debate. I believe that he will find that there are not many noble Lords who support his point of view, but it is good to debate it. For once, I have no interests to declare, which for me on agricultural...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, for initiating and introducing this debate on the new European regime for the import of third country bananas. I also thank other noble Lords who have contributed so knowledgeably to the debate and, if I may say so, spoken with so...

My Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, for initiating and introducing this debate on the new European regime for the import of third country bananas. I also thank other noble Lords who have contributed so knowledgeably to the debate and, if I may say so, spoken with so...

My Lords, I apologise to the noble Viscount for missing the first few seconds of his speech. The House got on to this debate very early and I was in Committee a little way away. I hope he will forgive me. However, I did hear the main part of his speech. It is over 15 months...

My Lords, I apologise to the noble Viscount for missing the first few seconds of his speech. The House got on to this debate very early and I was in Committee a little way away. I hope he will forgive me. However, I did hear the main part of his speech. It is over 15 months...

rose to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the new European regime for the import of bananas is in the best interests of the United Kingdom. The noble Viscount said: My Lords, we move to the vexed question of bananas. I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, the government Chief...

rose to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the new European regime for the import of bananas is in the best interests of the United Kingdom. The noble Viscount said: My Lords, we move to the vexed question of bananas. I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, the government Chief...