My Lords, I will speak to my Amendment 39. We had a very interesting conversation about this issue in Committee, but I will repeat it a little bit. Essentially, aviation is dangerous. There is a phrase that people in flying training always come across, that if God had meant men—and...

My Lords, I will speak to my Amendment 39. We had a very interesting conversation about this issue in Committee, but I will repeat it a little bit. Essentially, aviation is dangerous. There is a phrase that people in flying training always come across, that if God had meant men—and...

I rise to speak to the Motion that Clause 40 does not stand part. As I explained at Second Reading, I have no professional knowledge of the banking industry but, because of circumstances, for more than 14 years I have been in this Room talking about the finance industry and...

I rise to speak to the Motion that Clause 40 does not stand part. As I explained at Second Reading, I have no professional knowledge of the banking industry but, because of circumstances, for more than 14 years I have been in this Room talking about the finance industry and...

My Lords, it is a privilege to be the last Back-Bench speaker. We all know that at least it is almost over.

I am totally in favour of the Bill. It will create a much better situation and a much better structure than the one we have at the moment. There...

My Lords, it is a privilege to be the last Back-Bench speaker. We all know that at least it is almost over.

I am totally in favour of the Bill. It will create a much better situation and a much better structure than the one we have at the moment. There...

My Lords, I have Amendment 78 in this group. I shall only say a few words, and I suppose the very few words I could say are that, if we are to get new powers that may affect pilots, we wish to be consulted. In many ways, it is as...

My Lords, I have Amendment 78 in this group. I shall only say a few words, and I suppose the very few words I could say are that, if we are to get new powers that may affect pilots, we wish to be consulted. In many ways, it is as...

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendments 60 to 62; I express a specific concern in my Amendment 62. I thought that I knew about the technology in this debate until I decided to brush up on it yesterday; I have spent most of my working hours since then getting...

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendments 60 to 62; I express a specific concern in my Amendment 62. I thought that I knew about the technology in this debate until I decided to brush up on it yesterday; I have spent most of my working hours since then getting...

I will go next because of the generality of the subject. I find myself in the peculiar position of agreeing with people for once. I, broadly speaking, share the general direction of the noble Lord, Lord Barber, the specific objection of the noble Lord, Lord Davies—I remember well the joys...

I will go next because of the generality of the subject. I find myself in the peculiar position of agreeing with people for once. I, broadly speaking, share the general direction of the noble Lord, Lord Barber, the specific objection of the noble Lord, Lord Davies—I remember well the joys...

My Lords, for 14 years, I was the most junior opposition Treasury spokesman. A slight problem with that is I was occasionally—in fact, more than occasionally—the most senior opposition Treasury spokesman, largely because there was only one of me. Settling into being a Back-Bencher, I glanced at what was coming...

My Lords, for 14 years, I was the most junior opposition Treasury spokesman. A slight problem with that is I was occasionally—in fact, more than occasionally—the most senior opposition Treasury spokesman, largely because there was only one of me. Settling into being a Back-Bencher, I glanced at what was coming...

My Lords, I have been a Back-Bencher for two years, and in that period I have rather assumed that I bored enough people during the previous 14 years, so I have not been making too many speeches. I have a Select Committee and I do my duty there, and most...

My Lords, I have been a Back-Bencher for two years, and in that period I have rather assumed that I bored enough people during the previous 14 years, so I have not been making too many speeches. I have a Select Committee and I do my duty there, and most...

My Lords, does the Minister accept that the key people in the creation of safety in the railways must be the operators? The operators

must own safety on their railways, which has been very difficult under the privatised structure that we, fortunately, are bringing to an end. It is crucial that Great British Railways has safety at the top of it and that we do not simply look at all these recommendations and implement them. They can become infinitely expensive. The key objective for the operator must be to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

My Lords, does the Minister accept that the key people in the creation of safety in the railways must be the operators? The operators

must own safety on their railways, which has been very difficult under the privatised structure that we, fortunately, are bringing to an end. It is crucial that Great British Railways has safety at the top of it and that we do not simply look at all these recommendations and implement them. They can become infinitely expensive. The key objective for the operator must be to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

My Lords, referring to the failed case of activity by China, my understanding is that the timing of the alleged offences came under the ambit, if that is the right term, of the 1911 Act. That Act has been broadly disapproved of by all parties. The Law Commission drafted a...

My Lords, referring to the failed case of activity by China, my understanding is that the timing of the alleged offences came under the ambit, if that is the right term, of the 1911 Act. That Act has been broadly disapproved of by all parties. The Law Commission drafted a...

My Lords, I spent 32 years of my career working in the public sector and came to understand that the objective was the needs of the customer, value for the taxpayer, protection of the environment and having regard for society in general. Open access, on the other hand, tends to create conflict, encourages gaming the regulator and inhibits evolutionary change. Will the Minister exercise extreme caution when considering open access bids?

My Lords, I spent 32 years of my career working in the public sector and came to understand that the objective was the needs of the customer, value for the taxpayer, protection of the environment and having regard for society in general. Open access, on the other hand, tends to create conflict, encourages gaming the regulator and inhibits evolutionary change. Will the Minister exercise extreme caution when considering open access bids?

My Lords, any system of regulation consists of rules and administration. If you have good rules and bad administration, you will get bad regulation. Is my noble friend satisfied that the quality of administration is sufficient? If not, what is he doing about it?

My Lords, any system of regulation consists of rules and administration. If you have good rules and bad administration, you will get bad regulation. Is my noble friend satisfied that the quality of administration is sufficient? If not, what is he doing about it?

My Lords, I rise to totally support the Government and to congratulate them on their draft Bill. I think the actions of the Government

have changed the tone of the debate. The role of government is being redefined. There is an acceptance that government is in the business of involvement...

My Lords, I rise to totally support the Government and to congratulate them on their draft Bill. I think the actions of the Government

have changed the tone of the debate. The role of government is being redefined. There is an acceptance that government is in the business of involvement...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Young, for tabling this debate. Much of his involvement took place in the mid-1990s. At that time, he was my ultimate boss, and I became the ultimate student of this operation, in which, on the basis of the somewhat bizarre writing of...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Young, for tabling this debate. Much of his involvement took place in the mid-1990s. At that time, he was my ultimate boss, and I became the ultimate student of this operation, in which, on the basis of the somewhat bizarre writing of...

My Lords, I find myself in an unusual situation, almost feeling that I am making a maiden speech. After 16 years on the Front Bench, being a freed-up Back-Bencher is a bit of a shock: you are free to think, but there is nothing you have to do. Reflecting on...

My Lords, I find myself in an unusual situation, almost feeling that I am making a maiden speech. After 16 years on the Front Bench, being a freed-up Back-Bencher is a bit of a shock: you are free to think, but there is nothing you have to do. Reflecting on...

My Lords, I shall not speak about the economy, because I am not an economist, but I have always believed that the economy should be the servant of society. The trick is to allocate scarce resources to opportunities, with the objective of maximising social benefit. Even I recognise that excess...

My Lords, I shall not speak about the economy, because I am not an economist, but I have always believed that the economy should be the servant of society. The trick is to allocate scarce resources to opportunities, with the objective of maximising social benefit. Even I recognise that excess...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Blake, to her position in this interesting debate. She is smiling at me; that is good progress.

The first question has to be this: is change necessary? I answer: undoubtedly yes. I was very close to the development of the franchising regime,...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Blake, to her position in this interesting debate. She is smiling at me; that is good progress.

The first question has to be this: is change necessary? I answer: undoubtedly yes. I was very close to the development of the franchising regime,...

Tabled by

Lord Tunnicliffe

To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of the standard of accommodation at military bases.

Tabled by

Lord Tunnicliffe

To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of the standard of accommodation at military bases.

My Lords, I often end up in this situation, with four or five people in the Chamber battling through statutory instruments with the Minister. I do not know how I got into this mess, but I have. Tonight, though, is different, and it has become more different as I have...

My Lords, I often end up in this situation, with four or five people in the Chamber battling through statutory instruments with the Minister. I do not know how I got into this mess, but I have. Tonight, though, is different, and it has become more different as I have...

My Lords, is this not an example of the malaise that we have in the handling of veterans? Veterans are unhappy and we are in a bad situation with both recruitment and retention. Over 76% of veterans are dissatisfied with the Armed Forces compensation scheme and 500 veteran households are declared homeless every three months. Establishing an independent Armed Forces commissioner as a voice to improve service life and fully incorporating the Armed Forces covenant into law would give veterans the legal support that they deserve. Would the Minister support these measures?

My Lords, is this not an example of the malaise that we have in the handling of veterans? Veterans are unhappy and we are in a bad situation with both recruitment and retention. Over 76% of veterans are dissatisfied with the Armed Forces compensation scheme and 500 veteran households are declared homeless every three months. Establishing an independent Armed Forces commissioner as a voice to improve service life and fully incorporating the Armed Forces covenant into law would give veterans the legal support that they deserve. Would the Minister support these measures?