My Lords, I rise with considerable pleasure to thank the noble Earl, Lord Dundee, for introducing this debate. We do not talk about the Council of Europe often enough in this Chamber. Indeed, we do not talk about external organisations often enough. The debate gives us an opportunity to say...

My Lords, I rise with considerable pleasure to thank the noble Earl, Lord Dundee, for introducing this debate. We do not talk about the Council of Europe often enough in this Chamber. Indeed, we do not talk about external organisations often enough. The debate gives us an opportunity to say...

My Lady Chairman—is that the correct form of address?

My Lady Chairman—is that the correct form of address?

I fully accept that definitive assessment.

My view is that Defra has been playing around with this for many a long day without real purpose. It is clear that primary legislation is required to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. What we are told—and one has to accept it...

I fully accept that definitive assessment.

My view is that Defra has been playing around with this for many a long day without real purpose. It is clear that primary legislation is required to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. What we are told—and one has to accept it...

My goodness me. Given my noble friend’s advanced age, he gets up on his feet rather more quickly than I do. I must admit that the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, stopped me in the Corridor the other day and said, “Lord Gilbert, that is a splendid contribution you...

My goodness me. Given my noble friend’s advanced age, he gets up on his feet rather more quickly than I do. I must admit that the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, stopped me in the Corridor the other day and said, “Lord Gilbert, that is a splendid contribution you...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble and learned Lord, Lord Irvine of Lairg, on securing this debate. Nowadays, when we discuss fundamental rights, we inevitably have to talk about the European Convention on Human Rights. This convention is by no means the only international instrument...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble and learned Lord, Lord Irvine of Lairg, on securing this debate. Nowadays, when we discuss fundamental rights, we inevitably have to talk about the European Convention on Human Rights. This convention is by no means the only international instrument...

Deputy Chairman, it might be convenient for the Minister if I very briefly intervened to make a few remarks.

Deputy Chairman, it might be convenient for the Minister if I very briefly intervened to make a few remarks.

Thank you. It is the arthritis of old age. These are the problems that occur if you live long enough. I declare an interest in that many decades ago I was a Dunfermline Building Society manager. I do not intend to repeat the few remarks which I made in the...

Thank you. It is the arthritis of old age. These are the problems that occur if you live long enough. I declare an interest in that many decades ago I was a Dunfermline Building Society manager. I do not intend to repeat the few remarks which I made in the...

Why? I have a gammy leg at the moment, if you don’t mind.

Why? I have a gammy leg at the moment, if you don’t mind.

My Lords, on a point of clarification, I did not quite understand why those members of the pension scheme might have a preference ahead of others. Can the Minister briefly develop that point for me?

My Lords, on a point of clarification, I did not quite understand why those members of the pension scheme might have a preference ahead of others. Can the Minister briefly develop that point for me?

My Lords, unashamedly using the order, I want to say a few words at this stage about the Dunfermline Building Society. I declare an interest in that for a number of years I was its Aberdeen manager 30-odd years ago. The Dunfermline Building Society is not, and was not, Scotland’s...

My Lords, unashamedly using the order, I want to say a few words at this stage about the Dunfermline Building Society. I declare an interest in that for a number of years I was its Aberdeen manager 30-odd years ago. The Dunfermline Building Society is not, and was not, Scotland’s...

Before my noble friend responds, I wonder whether the Committee agrees that fewer interventions from the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, might be more beneficial to the rest of us in Committee in trying to assess the Minister’s reply. We cannot get past the opening remarks from the...

Before my noble friend responds, I wonder whether the Committee agrees that fewer interventions from the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, might be more beneficial to the rest of us in Committee in trying to assess the Minister’s reply. We cannot get past the opening remarks from the...

My Lords, I support the amendment, as I indicated on previous occasions. The emphasis is correct in that there should be an opt-in; that seems to me to be a straightforward way of implementing this sort of regulation. Given that the second working group no longer exists, the Minister might...

My Lords, I support the amendment, as I indicated on previous occasions. The emphasis is correct in that there should be an opt-in; that seems to me to be a straightforward way of implementing this sort of regulation. Given that the second working group no longer exists, the Minister might...

My Lords, I support the amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Byford. She is right to raise the issue today. She is correct also in suggesting that this clause should be in the Bill. Despite what the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, said, it is clear that self-regulation is not...

My Lords, I support the amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Byford. She is right to raise the issue today. She is correct also in suggesting that this clause should be in the Bill. Despite what the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, said, it is clear that self-regulation is not...

My Lords, I support the noble Baroness and agree with all her remarks. As I said more than once in Committee, I am a prohibitionist. I think—and there is some evidence to show that my thoughts are right—that travelling circuses train animals cruelly, at least initially. When moving about the...

My Lords, I support the noble Baroness and agree with all her remarks. As I said more than once in Committee, I am a prohibitionist. I think—and there is some evidence to show that my thoughts are right—that travelling circuses train animals cruelly, at least initially. When moving about the...

The Duke of Montrose and Lord Kirkhill agree with that remark.

The Duke of Montrose and Lord Kirkhill agree with that remark.

I very much support the amendment. I am conscious of the fact that my noble friend Lord Lipsey has made significant improvement. But the information that I receive from time to time suggests that the welfare of retired greyhounds, in particular, is entirely inadequate. There are a lot of ruthless owners and ruthless disposals...

I very much support the amendment. I am conscious of the fact that my noble friend Lord Lipsey has made significant improvement. But the information that I receive from time to time suggests that the welfare of retired greyhounds, in particular, is entirely inadequate. There are a lot of ruthless owners and ruthless disposals...

I apologise for interrupting but I wondered whether I might crave the indulgence of the Committee for a moment. Yesterday, I averred that I had said in a phrase ““circus animal trainer”” and I held to that. The noble Earl, Lord Peel, pointed out to me that I had not used the word ““circus”” before ““animal trainer””....

I apologise for interrupting but I wondered whether I might crave the indulgence of the Committee for a moment. Yesterday, I averred that I had said in a phrase ““circus animal trainer”” and I held to that. The noble Earl, Lord Peel, pointed out to me that I had not used the word ““circus”” before ““animal trainer””....

A circus trainer—that was my statement. Every circus trainer has admitted in his autobiography that he has trained animals using cruel methods. It is on the record.

A circus trainer—that was my statement. Every circus trainer has admitted in his autobiography that he has trained animals using cruel methods. It is on the record.