My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, for alerting me to this legislation; I have been out of action from the House for nearly six weeks and I had failed to spot it. She knows broadly what I am going to say, which is that I have sympathy...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, for alerting me to this legislation; I have been out of action from the House for nearly six weeks and I had failed to spot it. She knows broadly what I am going to say, which is that I have sympathy...

My Lords, I say to the Minister that I greatly welcome the fact that the Government are going to resist any misplaced pressure to reveal full security vetting, as indeed the ISC rightly says. We all know that, in references for jobs nowadays, the candidates are perfect and have a...

My Lords, I say to the Minister that I greatly welcome the fact that the Government are going to resist any misplaced pressure to reveal full security vetting, as indeed the ISC rightly says. We all know that, in references for jobs nowadays, the candidates are perfect and have a...

My Lords, I welcome the maiden speeches of my noble friend Lord Case and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

I am not looking forward to the valedictory speech of the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, not because I do not think it will lighten our spirits...

My Lords, I welcome the maiden speeches of my noble friend Lord Case and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

I am not looking forward to the valedictory speech of the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, not because I do not think it will lighten our spirits...

Could the Minister tell us how many public inquiries are on at the moment? Picking up the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Spellar, the cost is not just to judges, but to the number of public servants who have to be removed from their current work to service the inquiries.

Could the Minister tell us how many public inquiries are on at the moment? Picking up the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Spellar, the cost is not just to judges, but to the number of public servants who have to be removed from their current work to service the inquiries.

My Lords, will the Minister explain how the duty of candour—notable in its lack at Hillsborough, and not only at Hillsborough —can still be made compatible with the need to protect secrets, which we need to address the complex national security threats that we face? This was referred to by the noble Baroness, Lady O’Loan; it is a critical part of getting this legislation right, I suggest.

My Lords, will the Minister explain how the duty of candour—notable in its lack at Hillsborough, and not only at Hillsborough —can still be made compatible with the need to protect secrets, which we need to address the complex national security threats that we face? This was referred to by the noble Baroness, Lady O’Loan; it is a critical part of getting this legislation right, I suggest.

My Lords, this report is the culmination of the Conduct Committee’s review of the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code of Conduct, launched last spring. We chose to embark on this review—and sometimes I wondered whether that was a wise move. We were not asked to do...

My Lords, this report is the culmination of the Conduct Committee’s review of the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code of Conduct, launched last spring. We chose to embark on this review—and sometimes I wondered whether that was a wise move. We were not asked to do...

Yes. I like short answers.

On declaration of interests, at the end of the day, failure to declare a financial interest in a debate is a matter for the committee. It seems to us that the Privileges Committee and the processes of the House need to decide whether noble Lords do...

Yes. I like short answers.

On declaration of interests, at the end of the day, failure to declare a financial interest in a debate is a matter for the committee. It seems to us that the Privileges Committee and the processes of the House need to decide whether noble Lords do...

Did I understand the noble Baroness to say that people were checking her emails?

Did I understand the noble Baroness to say that people were checking her emails?

Well, we have had complaints in this area before, which we have acted on, from information from people involved.

I say to the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, that the behaviour code was meant to cover everybody. I hope that I have answered the question on politics. The rules do not constantly...

Well, we have had complaints in this area before, which we have acted on, from information from people involved.

I say to the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, that the behaviour code was meant to cover everybody. I hope that I have answered the question on politics. The rules do not constantly...

I hope the noble Baroness is content with what I have now said.

Lord Hodgson, with whom I have had a helpful correspondence, talked about the direction of travel moving towards the noble Viscount’s possibility. He also mentioned the tension between facing two ways. That is absolutely recognised, as I said...

I hope the noble Baroness is content with what I have now said.

Lord Hodgson, with whom I have had a helpful correspondence, talked about the direction of travel moving towards the noble Viscount’s possibility. He also mentioned the tension between facing two ways. That is absolutely recognised, as I said...

I would certainly be happy to confirm that. Of course, if people appeal, and many do, the committee engages fully in the angles of that appeal and whether in fact they wish fully to endorse the commissioner’s findings. Again, it is a bit different in the Commons, but if the...

I would certainly be happy to confirm that. Of course, if people appeal, and many do, the committee engages fully in the angles of that appeal and whether in fact they wish fully to endorse the commissioner’s findings. Again, it is a bit different in the Commons, but if the...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for all those comments. I will try and answer them all and, if I fail, that will not be deliberate. I am grateful for the kind personal comments; I am bathing in the plaudits from various sides of the House, and I appreciate that....

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for all those comments. I will try and answer them all and, if I fail, that will not be deliberate. I am grateful for the kind personal comments; I am bathing in the plaudits from various sides of the House, and I appreciate that....

Lords motion to agree the fourth report of the Conduct Committee on Review of the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code of Conduct (HL 66). Amendment to the motion debated and withdrawn. Another amendment debated and not moved. Original motion agreed to on question.

Lords motion to agree the fourth report of the Conduct Committee on Review of the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code of Conduct (HL 66). Amendment to the motion debated and withdrawn. Another amendment debated and not moved. Original motion agreed to on question.

Lords motion to approve the appointment of Margaret Obi as a House of Lords Commissioner for Standards for a period of five years. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to approve the appointment of Margaret Obi as a House of Lords Commissioner for Standards for a period of five years. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, the Motion invites the House to approve the appointment of Margaret Obi as a Commissioner for Standards for a non-renewable term of five years. Ms Obi will work alongside the existing commissioner, Martin Jelley, whose term will end in July 2026.

I remind the House that the office of...

My Lords, the Motion invites the House to approve the appointment of Margaret Obi as a Commissioner for Standards for a non-renewable term of five years. Ms Obi will work alongside the existing commissioner, Martin Jelley, whose term will end in July 2026.

I remind the House that the office of...

My Lords, I apologise in advance. The Minister will tick me off for this being a Second Reading intervention, and I should have been here on Monday to say it, but I would like briefly to give a small plug for an organisation that has not been mentioned at all...

My Lords, I apologise in advance. The Minister will tick me off for this being a Second Reading intervention, and I should have been here on Monday to say it, but I would like briefly to give a small plug for an organisation that has not been mentioned at all...

My Lords, I rise to move the first Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper, but I shall speak to both reports from the Conduct Committee.

I shall begin with the report on the conduct of the noble Baroness, Lady Meyer. I am of course aware that some noble...

My Lords, I rise to move the first Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper, but I shall speak to both reports from the Conduct Committee.

I shall begin with the report on the conduct of the noble Baroness, Lady Meyer. I am of course aware that some noble...

My Lords, I much regret the characterisation of the works of the Conduct Committee—set up by your Lordships’ House, obeying the Code of Conduct agreed by your Lordships’ House and focusing on a Standing Order agreed by your Lordships’ House—as a total miscarriage of justice.

In his defence of the noble...

My Lords, I much regret the characterisation of the works of the Conduct Committee—set up by your Lordships’ House, obeying the Code of Conduct agreed by your Lordships’ House and focusing on a Standing Order agreed by your Lordships’ House—as a total miscarriage of justice.

In his defence of the noble...

Moved by

Baroness Manningham-Buller

Moved by

Baroness Manningham-Buller

My Lords, I beg to move.

My Lords, I beg to move.