My Lords, before we continue with this Question for Short Debate, I remind all noble Lords that the advisory speaking time is five minutes. I urge noble Lords to keep within that limit so that the debate can conclude within the time allowed without cutting short the Minister’s remarks, which...

My Lords, before we continue with this Question for Short Debate, I remind all noble Lords that the advisory speaking time is five minutes. I urge noble Lords to keep within that limit so that the debate can conclude within the time allowed without cutting short the Minister’s remarks, which...

I am going to suggest that we move on to the noble Baroness, Lady Cash. It was not really proper to intervene at that moment.

3.55 pm

I am going to suggest that we move on to the noble Baroness, Lady Cash. It was not really proper to intervene at that moment.

3.55 pm

My Lords, I regret that the time for this debate has completed—in fact, we are a minute over. I do apologise to noble Lords.

My Lords, I regret that the time for this debate has completed—in fact, we are a minute over. I do apologise to noble Lords.

I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called.

2.12 pm

I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called.

2.12 pm

Fabian Hamilton, you have two minutes in which to respond to the debate.

2.58 pm

Fabian Hamilton, you have two minutes in which to respond to the debate.

2.58 pm

Order. The winding-up speeches will begin at 2.38 pm, so I am restricting the time to five minutes each.

2.20 pm

Order. The winding-up speeches will begin at 2.38 pm, so I am restricting the time to five minutes each.

2.20 pm

Before I invite the Leader of the House to move the motion of congratulations to Tom Goldsmith, I would like to record my own brief tribute.

Having joined the House in 1996, Tom has now served this place for 30 years. He has been a distinguished and authoritative presence at the...

Before I invite the Leader of the House to move the motion of congratulations to Tom Goldsmith, I would like to record my own brief tribute.

Having joined the House in 1996, Tom has now served this place for 30 years. He has been a distinguished and authoritative presence at the...

Absolutely—he said he learned about that in his Foreign Affairs Committee job. [Laughter.]

It is not just parliamentary procedure that keeps Tom busy in this place. He has also generously shared his talent for playing jazz piano at many an event in Parliament over the years, including in the Speaker’s House,...

Absolutely—he said he learned about that in his Foreign Affairs Committee job. [Laughter.]

It is not just parliamentary procedure that keeps Tom busy in this place. He has also generously shared his talent for playing jazz piano at many an event in Parliament over the years, including in the Speaker’s House,...

I call the shadow Minister.

12.13 pm

I call the shadow Minister.

12.13 pm

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

12.18 pm

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

12.18 pm

I thank all Members for their contributions about Tom. Some wonderful words have been said about him. As the Leader of the House mentioned, Eve Samson will take over as the next Clerk, and he is quite right that she is the first woman Clerk I have been able to...

I thank all Members for their contributions about Tom. Some wonderful words have been said about him. As the Leader of the House mentioned, Eve Samson will take over as the next Clerk, and he is quite right that she is the first woman Clerk I have been able to...

We begin with a Select Committee statement. Dame Chi Onwurah will speak on the publication of the third special report of the Science and Technology Committee, “Rewiring the state: Delivering digital government: Government response”, HC 651, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the...

We begin with a Select Committee statement. Dame Chi Onwurah will speak on the publication of the third special report of the Science and Technology Committee, “Rewiring the state: Delivering digital government: Government response”, HC 651, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the...

I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called to ask a question, and that questions must be succinct.

I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called to ask a question, and that questions must be succinct.

Order. The right hon. Member had two minutes—he is now on three. I think the Minister will have grasped what the right hon. Member needs.

Order. The right hon. Member had two minutes—he is now on three. I think the Minister will have grasped what the right hon. Member needs.

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

I think you also meant a new order for aircraft, but we will put that to one side.

I think you also meant a new order for aircraft, but we will put that to one side.

I did not really want to be dragged into this, but obviously I am going to be. Previous Governments have stated that a convention has developed whereby, before troops are committed, the House of Commons should have an opportunity to debate the matter. Personally, I think that an oral ministerial...

I did not really want to be dragged into this, but obviously I am going to be. Previous Governments have stated that a convention has developed whereby, before troops are committed, the House of Commons should have an opportunity to debate the matter. Personally, I think that an oral ministerial...

Before I put the Question, I have been advised by the clerk that there are issues to relating to the audio. We will therefore have to adjourn proceedings for a few minutes to investigate the issue.

Before I put the Question, I have been advised by the clerk that there are issues to relating to the audio. We will therefore have to adjourn proceedings for a few minutes to investigate the issue.

I think that there are matters of recording for Hansard as well. If we could just follow the instruction to adjourn for a few moments while the issue is investigated, I will then put the Question and we will continue.

12.21 pm

I think that there are matters of recording for Hansard as well. If we could just follow the instruction to adjourn for a few moments while the issue is investigated, I will then put the Question and we will continue.

12.21 pm

My Lords, the matter has been investigated, and I am afraid they cannot fix it. Therefore, we are going to have to take the unusual step of adjourning to another Committee Room. Committee Room 2A/3A has been prepared for us. We will therefore recommence at 12.40 pm, at which point...

My Lords, the matter has been investigated, and I am afraid they cannot fix it. Therefore, we are going to have to take the unusual step of adjourning to another Committee Room. Committee Room 2A/3A has been prepared for us. We will therefore recommence at 12.40 pm, at which point...