To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) occasions that schools in Birmingham, Erdington constituency have screened pupils using metal detectors and (b) weapons that have been recovered as a result of screening pupils in each of the last...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) occasions that schools in Birmingham, Erdington constituency have screened pupils using metal detectors and (b) weapons that have been recovered as a result of screening pupils in each of the last...

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I am very pleased to move this order, which was laid before your Lordships’ House in draft on 20 February. The revised code of practice was laid before your Lordships’ House in draft on 23 February.

The order designates an additional class of treasure, based on the outstanding historical,...

My Lords, I am very pleased to move this order, which was laid before your Lordships’ House in draft on 20 February. The revised code of practice was laid before your Lordships’ House in draft on 23 February.

The order designates an additional class of treasure, based on the outstanding historical,...

My Lords, I must begin by stating unequivocally that I am a supporter of the statutory instrument and the code of practice. I should bracket that with a reference to my interests as set out in the register. As the Minister said, the SI and the code of practice are...

My Lords, I must begin by stating unequivocally that I am a supporter of the statutory instrument and the code of practice. I should bracket that with a reference to my interests as set out in the register. As the Minister said, the SI and the code of practice are...

It is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, who, as we have heard, was responsible for this important legislation when he was the Heritage Minister.

The debate has prompted me to recall my early days as a Minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2010. The...

It is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, who, as we have heard, was responsible for this important legislation when he was the Heritage Minister.

The debate has prompted me to recall my early days as a Minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2010. The...

My Lords, I must start by declaring an interest as patron of the Redesdale Archaeology Group, which was formed recently after the excavations in Northumberland of High Rochester. I raise this because I spent last summer happily shifting vast amounts of dirt—that seems to be what archaeologists do more than...

My Lords, I must start by declaring an interest as patron of the Redesdale Archaeology Group, which was formed recently after the excavations in Northumberland of High Rochester. I raise this because I spent last summer happily shifting vast amounts of dirt—that seems to be what archaeologists do more than...

My Lords, this has been a fascinating debate so far, and I will try to add a little bit to it. I always know it is an important debate when the noble Lord, Lord Vaizey, turns up to entertain us for the afternoon. We welcome the bringing forward of this...

My Lords, this has been a fascinating debate so far, and I will try to add a little bit to it. I always know it is an important debate when the noble Lord, Lord Vaizey, turns up to entertain us for the afternoon. We welcome the bringing forward of this...

My Lords, this has indeed been an entertaining and informative debate, and I am glad that two of my predecessors have excavated themselves to join us. I can see why they speak so fondly of their time engaging with this process because it is a highlight for any Minister at...

My Lords, this has indeed been an entertaining and informative debate, and I am glad that two of my predecessors have excavated themselves to join us. I can see why they speak so fondly of their time engaging with this process because it is a highlight for any Minister at...

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's guidance on searching for archaeological finds in England during COVID-19, what evidence basis his Department used to determine that metal detecting could continue in public outdoor spaces but not on privately owned land...

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's guidance on searching for archaeological finds in England during COVID-19, what evidence basis his Department used to determine that metal detecting could continue in public outdoor spaces but not on privately owned land...

I have today laid before Parliament a Ministry of Defence Departmental Minute describing a gifting package which the UK intends to make to the Government of Nigeria.

This gift, a grant in kind, is comprised of a range of equipment intended to equip Nigerian Army specialists facing Boko Haram militants...

I have today laid before Parliament a Ministry of Defence Departmental Minute describing a gifting package which the UK intends to make to the Government of Nigeria.

This gift, a grant in kind, is comprised of a range of equipment intended to equip Nigerian Army specialists facing Boko Haram militants...

My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I have today laid before Parliament a Ministry of Defence Departmental Minute describing a gifting package which the UK intends to make to the Government of Nigeria.

This gift, a...

My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I have today laid before Parliament a Ministry of Defence Departmental Minute describing a gifting package which the UK intends to make to the Government of Nigeria.

This gift, a...

Agreed on question.

Agreed on question.

The nation owes a debt of gratitude to its metal detector enthusiasts. As I will explain, individually and collectively they have identified a serious environmental disaster that must be averted.

At first glance, the concept of spreading garden waste across farmland seems to be an excellent idea—more “green” than burying it...

The nation owes a debt of gratitude to its metal detector enthusiasts. As I will explain, individually and collectively they have identified a serious environmental disaster that must be averted.

At first glance, the concept of spreading garden waste across farmland seems to be an excellent idea—more “green” than burying it...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Sir Bob Russell) for raising this worthwhile subject. He shows why there is a need to achieve a balance between encouraging the recycling of waste of all types and securing protection for people, animals and the natural environment.

No one...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Sir Bob Russell) for raising this worthwhile subject. He shows why there is a need to achieve a balance between encouraging the recycling of waste of all types and securing protection for people, animals and the natural environment.

No one...

I must express disappointment at the Minister’s response so far. He is describing the theory, but the reality is what metal detecting enthusiasts from across England and their hobby group are telling me. What he describes is simply not happening out there in the field.

I must express disappointment at the Minister’s response so far. He is describing the theory, but the reality is what metal detecting enthusiasts from across England and their hobby group are telling me. What he describes is simply not happening out there in the field.

I think that the point I was coming to might answer my hon. Friend’s concerns. I will say now what I was going to say later: the Government are in absolutely no way complacent about this. We might have the most stringent standards in Europe, but we want to see...

I think that the point I was coming to might answer my hon. Friend’s concerns. I will say now what I was going to say later: the Government are in absolutely no way complacent about this. We might have the most stringent standards in Europe, but we want to see...

Will the Minister consider the fact that it is possible to look at the outcome as opposed to the process and perhaps offer some facility for the Environment Agency to recognise the integrity of agricultural and food-producing land and to offer some protection for that land? We already protect water...

Will the Minister consider the fact that it is possible to look at the outcome as opposed to the process and perhaps offer some facility for the Environment Agency to recognise the integrity of agricultural and food-producing land and to offer some protection for that land? We already protect water...

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. What Government have to do is to create standards, and we do that in accordance, in the main, with European designations on such matters. However, that is a very prosaic and rather unambitious reason to do it. We also do it because...

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. What Government have to do is to create standards, and we do that in accordance, in the main, with European designations on such matters. However, that is a very prosaic and rather unambitious reason to do it. We also do it because...

Coroners and Justice Bill. Lords report stage second day.

Coroners and Justice Bill. Lords report stage second day.

66: After Clause 55, insert the following new Clause— "Exceptions to offence of assisting suicide Notwithstanding sections 53, 54 and 55, no offence shall have been committed if assistance is given to a person to commit suicide who is suffering from a confirmed, incurable and disabling illness which prevents them...

66: After Clause 55, insert the following new Clause— "Exceptions to offence of assisting suicide Notwithstanding sections 53, 54 and 55, no offence shall have been committed if assistance is given to a person to commit suicide who is suffering from a confirmed, incurable and disabling illness which prevents them...