My Lords, I wish to discuss two crucial components of the Prime Minister’s programme for growth: the devolution agenda in England and our relationship with the EU. For decades, I have advocated greater devolution of powers to Yorkshire, so I greatly

welcome moves to shift decision-making out of Whitehall. I...

My Lords, I wish to discuss two crucial components of the Prime Minister’s programme for growth: the devolution agenda in England and our relationship with the EU. For decades, I have advocated greater devolution of powers to Yorkshire, so I greatly

welcome moves to shift decision-making out of Whitehall. I...

Could the noble Lord follow up that answer and explain to the House in what respects sanctions are being increased?

Could the noble Lord follow up that answer and explain to the House in what respects sanctions are being increased?

My Lords, I return to energy prices, which are obviously one of the main constraints for the growth of the British steel industry. Earlier in the week, the Government announced that they are breaking the link between gas and electricity prices, with a view to reducing electricity prices. To what extent does this new measure impact the steel industry in a positive sense? To the extent that it will, how quickly does the noble Lord expect the measure to take effect?

My Lords, I return to energy prices, which are obviously one of the main constraints for the growth of the British steel industry. Earlier in the week, the Government announced that they are breaking the link between gas and electricity prices, with a view to reducing electricity prices. To what extent does this new measure impact the steel industry in a positive sense? To the extent that it will, how quickly does the noble Lord expect the measure to take effect?

My Lords, as a relatively new Member of your Lordships’ House, I was the Liberal Democrat Bill Whip on the House of Lords Bill in 1999. I therefore had my apprenticeship in how legislation goes through under the tutelage of the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, and the noble and learned...

My Lords, as a relatively new Member of your Lordships’ House, I was the Liberal Democrat Bill Whip on the House of Lords Bill in 1999. I therefore had my apprenticeship in how legislation goes through under the tutelage of the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, and the noble and learned...

Lords motions to take note of the case for a UK-EU customs union and the impact of connections with the EU single market on the United Kingdom economy. Agreed to on question.

Lords motions to take note of the case for a UK-EU customs union and the impact of connections with the EU single market on the United Kingdom economy. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate. It will see a number of comings and goings. We welcome the noble Lords, Lord Doyle, Lord Docherty and Lord Pitt-Watson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, and say farewell to the noble Lord, Lord Offord. For the noble...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate. It will see a number of comings and goings. We welcome the noble Lords, Lord Doyle, Lord Docherty and Lord Pitt-Watson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, and say farewell to the noble Lord, Lord Offord. For the noble...

I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Frost, that he will be disappointed if he expects us to stop talking about the issue, but we are going to stop talking about it now.

Motion agreed.

I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Frost, that he will be disappointed if he expects us to stop talking about the issue, but we are going to stop talking about it now.

Motion agreed.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to implement the proposals on modernising parish poll regulations on which they consulted from December 2014 to January 2015.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to implement the proposals on modernising parish poll regulations on which they consulted from December 2014 to January 2015.

My Lords, will the Secretary of State, as part of her consideration, keep open the possibility of invoking the National Security and Investment Act in this case, given the indirect involvement of China in the consortium bidding for the Telegraph?

My Lords, will the Secretary of State, as part of her consideration, keep open the possibility of invoking the National Security and Investment Act in this case, given the indirect involvement of China in the consortium bidding for the Telegraph?

My Lords, I never in my wildest dreams thought my last speech as leader of the Liberal Democrats in your Lordships’ House would be to express my concern about the future of the Daily Telegraph. Politics is a funny business.

The arguments that we have been hearing this afternoon fall under...

My Lords, I never in my wildest dreams thought my last speech as leader of the Liberal Democrats in your Lordships’ House would be to express my concern about the future of the Daily Telegraph. Politics is a funny business.

The arguments that we have been hearing this afternoon fall under...

My Lords, the Bill, which has occupied 51 hours of your Lordships’ time, is exceptionally short. It has occupied that much time because it has

been used as an opportunity to discuss virtually every possible aspect of the future composition and powers of your Lordships’ House.

As those unfortunate enough to...

My Lords, the Bill, which has occupied 51 hours of your Lordships’ time, is exceptionally short. It has occupied that much time because it has

been used as an opportunity to discuss virtually every possible aspect of the future composition and powers of your Lordships’ House.

As those unfortunate enough to...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Burns, for his amendment and the way he introduced it. He raised four very substantial issues—much more substantial than most of the issues we have spent most of the day debating. Should there be a maximum size of the House? How do...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Burns, for his amendment and the way he introduced it. He raised four very substantial issues—much more substantial than most of the issues we have spent most of the day debating. Should there be a maximum size of the House? How do...

My Lords, the noble Lord will not be surprised to know I do not agree with him. We discussed this before and my view, oft repeated, is that we should, wherever we can, proceed without legislation. We can do that with a number of the issues we are debating. As...

My Lords, the noble Lord will not be surprised to know I do not agree with him. We discussed this before and my view, oft repeated, is that we should, wherever we can, proceed without legislation. We can do that with a number of the issues we are debating. As...

Surely the noble Lord’s amendment requires a statutory instrument to cover every single recommendation of the Select Committee.

Surely the noble Lord’s amendment requires a statutory instrument to cover every single recommendation of the Select Committee.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, described the preamble as “fine words”. He will know the saying, “Fine words butter no parsnips”. Well, these words have buttered no parsnips for over a hundred years and, personally, I have had enough of fine words on their own.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, described the preamble as “fine words”. He will know the saying, “Fine words butter no parsnips”. Well, these words have buttered no parsnips for over a hundred years and, personally, I have had enough of fine words on their own.

The noble Lord seems to forget that I moved an amendment for an elected House of Lords and, unless my recollection is faulty, he chose not to support it.

The noble Lord seems to forget that I moved an amendment for an elected House of Lords and, unless my recollection is faulty, he chose not to support it.

My Lords, I strongly support the principle behind this amendment. We have debated the concept at some length and, in my view, it is essential that we now move to a position where there is a rule that means that people who play no part after a period cease to...

My Lords, I strongly support the principle behind this amendment. We have debated the concept at some length and, in my view, it is essential that we now move to a position where there is a rule that means that people who play no part after a period cease to...

My Lords, I declare an interest in that I have been a Member of your Lordships’ House for 28 years. I am extremely grateful to my

noble friend for sparing me from the noose he is gently preparing for others. I absolutely agree with him that we need to move...

My Lords, I declare an interest in that I have been a Member of your Lordships’ House for 28 years. I am extremely grateful to my

noble friend for sparing me from the noose he is gently preparing for others. I absolutely agree with him that we need to move...

My Lords, when Sarah Clarke first came to be interviewed to be David Leakey’s successor, the majority view of the panel—of which I was one—was one of curiosity, but no great expectation. How could someone who was non-military and, heaven forfend, a woman, and with no public sector background, possibly...

My Lords, when Sarah Clarke first came to be interviewed to be David Leakey’s successor, the majority view of the panel—of which I was one—was one of curiosity, but no great expectation. How could someone who was non-military and, heaven forfend, a woman, and with no public sector background, possibly...

Moved by

Lord Newby

4: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—

“Duty to take forward proposals for democratic mandate for House of Lords

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to take forward proposals to secure a democratic mandate for the House of Lords.

(2) In pursuance of the duty...

Moved by

Lord Newby

4: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—

“Duty to take forward proposals for democratic mandate for House of Lords

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to take forward proposals to secure a democratic mandate for the House of Lords.

(2) In pursuance of the duty...