Liberal Democrat Members associate ourselves with and fully support the motion that the Leader of the House presented. The comments that have already been made exemplify the character and quality that Sir Roger has brought to his position over the past few years and throughout his career as a servant...

Liberal Democrat Members associate ourselves with and fully support the motion that the Leader of the House presented. The comments that have already been made exemplify the character and quality that Sir Roger has brought to his position over the past few years and throughout his career as a servant...

What do I need to say about such a parliamentary colleague? That, of course, is what Sir Roger Sands is, although he is not a Member of Parliament. He has been here for only one year less than me—he gets the gold watch and I get to be Father of...

What do I need to say about such a parliamentary colleague? That, of course, is what Sir Roger Sands is, although he is not a Member of Parliament. He has been here for only one year less than me—he gets the gold watch and I get to be Father of...

It is with great pleasure that I support the motion in the name of the Prime Minister and other right hon. and hon. Members to mark the retirement of Sir Roger Sands. Sir Roger has given years of distinguished service to the House and hon. Members, and we shall be...

It is with great pleasure that I support the motion in the name of the Prime Minister and other right hon. and hon. Members to mark the retirement of Sir Roger Sands. Sir Roger has given years of distinguished service to the House and hon. Members, and we shall be...

On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, the right hon. and learned Gentleman the leader of the Liberal Democrats and all the other leaders of political parties here represented, I beg to move,"That Mr. Speaker be requested to...

On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, the right hon. and learned Gentleman the leader of the Liberal Democrats and all the other leaders of political parties here represented, I beg to move,"That Mr. Speaker be requested to...

Before I put the question, I should like to add my own tribute to Sir Roger Sands. As my principal adviser on procedural and management responsibilities, he has always offered me wise counsel, tempering his advice with good humour, patience and common sense. For that, I owe him a great...

Before I put the question, I should like to add my own tribute to Sir Roger Sands. As my principal adviser on procedural and management responsibilities, he has always offered me wise counsel, tempering his advice with good humour, patience and common sense. For that, I owe him a great...

Debate on a motion paying tribute to Sir Roger Sands KCB on his retirement from the office of Clerk of the House.

Debate on a motion paying tribute to Sir Roger Sands KCB on his retirement from the office of Clerk of the House.

What, the House of Lords? I then went with a delegation, led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth), to press for an amendment on the abolition of the House of Lords to be included. We reasoned this with Roger and his...

What, the House of Lords? I then went with a delegation, led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth), to press for an amendment on the abolition of the House of Lords to be included. We reasoned this with Roger and his...

You could fumigate it.

You could fumigate it.

It is always sad when friends go, and we are reminded of the onward sweep of time. Thirty-seven years ago, I was elected to the Northern Ireland Parliament, and there was an old hand there whom I had known for years. He said, ““I am going to tell you a...

It is always sad when friends go, and we are reminded of the onward sweep of time. Thirty-seven years ago, I was elected to the Northern Ireland Parliament, and there was an old hand there whom I had known for years. He said, ““I am going to tell you a...

I am grateful for this opportunity to speak today. It is somewhat unusual for such a lowly and humble example of parliamentary life as a mere Government Back Bencher to take part in occasions such as these, but I hope to explain why I am doing so. I first came...

I am grateful for this opportunity to speak today. It is somewhat unusual for such a lowly and humble example of parliamentary life as a mere Government Back Bencher to take part in occasions such as these, but I hope to explain why I am doing so. I first came...

That is a ““don’t know””.

That is a ““don’t know””.

Well, they can sometimes count as the same thing. On his deserved promotion to Clerk of the House, Roger had to leave the leafy green suburbs of Lewisham, West and take up residence in the precincts of the Palace. Hon. Members will recall that, in February 2003, the Joint Committee...

Well, they can sometimes count as the same thing. On his deserved promotion to Clerk of the House, Roger had to leave the leafy green suburbs of Lewisham, West and take up residence in the precincts of the Palace. Hon. Members will recall that, in February 2003, the Joint Committee...

I have a brief statement to make to the House. I must inform Members that I have received the following letter from the Clerk of the House:"““Dear Mr Speaker,""As I have previously indicated to you, I would wish to retire on 30th September this year, on the 41st anniversary of...

I have a brief statement to make to the House. I must inform Members that I have received the following letter from the Clerk of the House:"““Dear Mr Speaker,""As I have previously indicated to you, I would wish to retire on 30th September this year, on the 41st anniversary of...

Members on both sides of the House who have benefited from the sound and impartial advice of the Clerk, Sir Roger Sands, will be sorry to learn from your announcement, Mr. Speaker, that he is due to retire. As I have no doubt that Members on both sides of the...

Members on both sides of the House who have benefited from the sound and impartial advice of the Clerk, Sir Roger Sands, will be sorry to learn from your announcement, Mr. Speaker, that he is due to retire. As I have no doubt that Members on both sides of the...

Statement on a letter from the Clerk of the House, Roger Sands, announcing his retirement on 30 September 2006.

Statement on a letter from the Clerk of the House, Roger Sands, announcing his retirement on 30 September 2006.