My Lords, if, as the Government constantly assert, only a court ruling can determine acts of genocide, the courts must have the powers to carry out this function. At present, they do not. This renders the 1948 genocide convention no longer fit for purpose, and the commitment, following the Holocaust,...

My Lords, if, as the Government constantly assert, only a court ruling can determine acts of genocide, the courts must have the powers to carry out this function. At present, they do not. This renders the 1948 genocide convention no longer fit for purpose, and the commitment, following the Holocaust,...

My Lords, I will remark briefly on the excellent intervention by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, and others, on the sleeping crocodile and toothbrushes. I ask the Minister to say, in summing up, why it is so very difficult for the UK Government to be extremely firm with...

My Lords, I will remark briefly on the excellent intervention by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, and others, on the sleeping crocodile and toothbrushes. I ask the Minister to say, in summing up, why it is so very difficult for the UK Government to be extremely firm with...

My Lords, the Government were well aware of the arms pipeline between the UAE and the RSF, which took place from mid-2023 onwards and resulted in several genocidal attacks. Therefore, there was a choice for the Government to put pressure on the UAE to stop that arms traffic, but they...

My Lords, the Government were well aware of the arms pipeline between the UAE and the RSF, which took place from mid-2023 onwards and resulted in several genocidal attacks. Therefore, there was a choice for the Government to put pressure on the UAE to stop that arms traffic, but they...

My Lords, I think this is the first time ever that I have followed the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, and I am delighted to do so.

I begin by thanking the Minister and his officials for meeting some of us and going through the Bill in detail. I welcome the Bill,...

My Lords, I think this is the first time ever that I have followed the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, and I am delighted to do so.

I begin by thanking the Minister and his officials for meeting some of us and going through the Bill in detail. I welcome the Bill,...

My Lords, the debate on this vitally important topic is so far almost indistinguishable from a debate held in this Chamber in April 2024. We have had a depressing litany of figures showing how children living in poverty suffer throughout their lives from disadvantage. In effect, we continue to raise...

My Lords, the debate on this vitally important topic is so far almost indistinguishable from a debate held in this Chamber in April 2024. We have had a depressing litany of figures showing how children living in poverty suffer throughout their lives from disadvantage. In effect, we continue to raise...

My Lords, I understand that the FCDO sent a delegation to Afghanistan in recent weeks, and I wonder whether the Minister

might be able to say something about the outcome of that visit, with particular reference to continuing assistance for women and girls.

My Lords, I understand that the FCDO sent a delegation to Afghanistan in recent weeks, and I wonder whether the Minister

might be able to say something about the outcome of that visit, with particular reference to continuing assistance for women and girls.

My Lords, the £15 million interest, which is paid annually by the British Council because of the £200 million Covid debt, is bringing the British Council to its knees. Would the Government consider some creative solution to this debt—for example, by granting the British Council a holiday or delaying the payment of that £15 million interest debt until its financial situation becomes a bit better? As we know, it is struggling, and it is doing everything it can to restructure, which includes the letting go of a huge number of staff around the world. This is very much to the detriment of the long-term future of the British Council.

My Lords, the £15 million interest, which is paid annually by the British Council because of the £200 million Covid debt, is bringing the British Council to its knees. Would the Government consider some creative solution to this debt—for example, by granting the British Council a holiday or delaying the payment of that £15 million interest debt until its financial situation becomes a bit better? As we know, it is struggling, and it is doing everything it can to restructure, which includes the letting go of a huge number of staff around the world. This is very much to the detriment of the long-term future of the British Council.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an Equality Impact Assessment on the provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 with specific reference to the progression model; and, if so, whether it has been published.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an Equality Impact Assessment on the provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 with specific reference to the progression model; and, if so, whether it has been published.

My Lords, I declare an interest as a patron of Redress. No one has done more in this House to persuade Governments to act decisively to prevent and stop atrocity crimes than the noble Lord, Lord Alton. His efforts, and the efforts of others—and here I must mention the noble...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a patron of Redress. No one has done more in this House to persuade Governments to act decisively to prevent and stop atrocity crimes than the noble Lord, Lord Alton. His efforts, and the efforts of others—and here I must mention the noble...

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their current budget allocation for work on promoting racial equality in prisons.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their current budget allocation for work on promoting racial equality in prisons.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the 20 mile per hour speed limit in central London is primarily to (1) reduce accidents, or (2) raise revenue; and if the former, what data they hold for any reduction in mortality since the introduction of that speed limit.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the 20 mile per hour speed limit in central London is primarily to (1) reduce accidents, or (2) raise revenue; and if the former, what data they hold for any reduction in mortality since the introduction of that speed limit.

My Lords, I strongly support abortion on demand but, as we have heard, the danger continues to exist that an almost full-term foetus could be aborted by means of a pill ordered by telephone and delivered by post. I am struck by the extraordinary efforts that this House has gone...

My Lords, I strongly support abortion on demand but, as we have heard, the danger continues to exist that an almost full-term foetus could be aborted by means of a pill ordered by telephone and delivered by post. I am struck by the extraordinary efforts that this House has gone...

Moved by

Baroness D'Souza

387C: After Clause 161, insert the following new Clause—

“Amendment to the Sentencing Act 2020 to introduce public interest compensation orders

(1) The Sentencing Act 2020 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 133(b) (compensation orders), insert

“, or

(c) to make a payment to one or more relevant organisations for public interest...

Moved by

Baroness D'Souza

387C: After Clause 161, insert the following new Clause—

“Amendment to the Sentencing Act 2020 to introduce public interest compensation orders

(1) The Sentencing Act 2020 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 133(b) (compensation orders), insert

“, or

(c) to make a payment to one or more relevant organisations for public interest...

My Lords, in the absence of the noble Lord, Lord Banner, I shall move the amendment, although my defence of it will be less than perfect, given that I have only just seen it. However, I must first thank the Minister for having kindly organised a meeting between the noble...

My Lords, in the absence of the noble Lord, Lord Banner, I shall move the amendment, although my defence of it will be less than perfect, given that I have only just seen it. However, I must first thank the Minister for having kindly organised a meeting between the noble...

My Lords, I thank the Minister as always for his response and for the support that the Government are providing, particularly in Ukraine after the Russian aggression. I still feel, however, that the definitions within the Bill of “victim” and “loss” are too narrow and indirect victims are clearly not...

My Lords, I thank the Minister as always for his response and for the support that the Government are providing, particularly in Ukraine after the Russian aggression. I still feel, however, that the definitions within the Bill of “victim” and “loss” are too narrow and indirect victims are clearly not...

My Lords, I begin by acknowledging this Government’s and the previous Government’s significant commitment to women and girls around the world and, in particular, to their education. That said, programmes to prevent violence

against women and to promote women’s rights and freedoms remain in a sorry state and are likely...

My Lords, I begin by acknowledging this Government’s and the previous Government’s significant commitment to women and girls around the world and, in particular, to their education. That said, programmes to prevent violence

against women and to promote women’s rights and freedoms remain in a sorry state and are likely...

To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to the need to take further steps to ensure democracy in Taiwan.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to the need to take further steps to ensure democracy in Taiwan.

My Lords, the likely tactics, other than invasion, that China will use in its goal of incorporating Taiwan include grey-zone tactics, such as sabotage of infrastructure, cyber attacks to take down electricity grids, disruption of the internet by cutting undersea cables, aid to the opposition and, of course, military intimidation in the South China Sea. Resilience is vital to deterrence. What support are the UK Government providing to help build resilience to counter China’s expanding aggressive actions?

My Lords, the likely tactics, other than invasion, that China will use in its goal of incorporating Taiwan include grey-zone tactics, such as sabotage of infrastructure, cyber attacks to take down electricity grids, disruption of the internet by cutting undersea cables, aid to the opposition and, of course, military intimidation in the South China Sea. Resilience is vital to deterrence. What support are the UK Government providing to help build resilience to counter China’s expanding aggressive actions?

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have oversight of sector expenditure by the Greater London Authority.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have oversight of sector expenditure by the Greater London Authority.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 7 April 2025 (HL6099) and the remarks by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 21 January (HL Deb col 279), what is the reason for the 20 miles per hour speed limit in London and...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 7 April 2025 (HL6099) and the remarks by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 21 January (HL Deb col 279), what is the reason for the 20 miles per hour speed limit in London and...