To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis the Home Office refused Geert Wilders’ entry into the United Kingdom in February in the light of the department's press release of 5 May which stated that "excluding European nationals and their family members is expected to take effect from 1 June...

To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis the Home Office refused Geert Wilders’ entry into the United Kingdom in February in the light of the department's press release of 5 May which stated that "excluding European nationals and their family members is expected to take effect from 1 June...

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Mr Geert Wilders was on the list of people recently published by the Home Secretary as having been banned from entering the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Mr Geert Wilders was on the list of people recently published by the Home Secretary as having been banned from entering the United Kingdom.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allow Mr Geert Wilders to visit the United Kingdom in a private capacity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allow Mr Geert Wilders to visit the United Kingdom in a private capacity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Lord West of Spithead on 12 February (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 1232–36), what factors were taken into account by the Home Secretary in deciding whether the ban on Geert Wilders entering the United Kingdom would be in accordance...

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Lord West of Spithead on 12 February (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 1232–36), what factors were taken into account by the Home Secretary in deciding whether the ban on Geert Wilders entering the United Kingdom would be in accordance...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers she prohibited Mr. Geert Wilders from entering the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers she prohibited Mr. Geert Wilders from entering the UK.

My Lords, the Minister has talked about incitement, and reference has been made to the possibility of counterprotests. These are public order matters. The criterion that the Minister should be operating under is public security, which is a different thing.

My Lords, the Minister has talked about incitement, and reference has been made to the possibility of counterprotests. These are public order matters. The criterion that the Minister should be operating under is public security, which is a different thing.

My Lords, 20 years ago, the Government were robust in their defence of Mr Salman Rushdie when he published the book The Satanic Verses. This book provoked a number of riots and demonstrations, as we all know, and some violence within the community. Nevertheless, the Government remained steadfast in their...

My Lords, 20 years ago, the Government were robust in their defence of Mr Salman Rushdie when he published the book The Satanic Verses. This book provoked a number of riots and demonstrations, as we all know, and some violence within the community. Nevertheless, the Government remained steadfast in their...

My Lords, there seems to be a bit of a lottery as to who is admitted and who is not. Are there any criteria by which the Home Secretary works, even if advised by the noble Lord, to justify who is refused admittance and who is not?

My Lords, there seems to be a bit of a lottery as to who is admitted and who is not. Are there any criteria by which the Home Secretary works, even if advised by the noble Lord, to justify who is refused admittance and who is not?

My Lords, is not the essence of this public order? There is a raft of considerations, but the essence is public order. One cannot ask for a reply because it was a decision of the Home Secretary and one really has to leave it at that. What else can one...

My Lords, is not the essence of this public order? There is a raft of considerations, but the essence is public order. One cannot ask for a reply because it was a decision of the Home Secretary and one really has to leave it at that. What else can one...

My Lords, will the Minister comment on one matter, which might enable us to make up our minds? Who brought this matter to the attention of the Home Secretary? Since this man is an EU citizen, he does not have to apply specially to come to our country. How did...

My Lords, will the Minister comment on one matter, which might enable us to make up our minds? Who brought this matter to the attention of the Home Secretary? Since this man is an EU citizen, he does not have to apply specially to come to our country. How did...

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister has looked at precedent. Will he please tell us the last time that a democratically elected politician from an EU country was denied access to Great Britain and the last time that a democratically elected politician was denied access to speak in...

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister has looked at precedent. Will he please tell us the last time that a democratically elected politician from an EU country was denied access to Great Britain and the last time that a democratically elected politician was denied access to speak in...

My Lords, I am aware that Mr Wilders holds views highly offensive to the Muslim community, but freedom of speech issues often raise awkward questions. Indeed, this ban has united in opposition the noble Lord, Lord Pearson, the Dutch Government—unusual allies—and also a section of the Muslim community which cares...

My Lords, I am aware that Mr Wilders holds views highly offensive to the Muslim community, but freedom of speech issues often raise awkward questions. Indeed, this ban has united in opposition the noble Lord, Lord Pearson, the Dutch Government—unusual allies—and also a section of the Muslim community which cares...

My Lords, I take this opportunity to thank the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, for asking this Question. I suggest to the Minister—perhaps he will correct me if I am wrong—that a man is innocent until he is proved guilty. I only have one question, because I know that we do...

My Lords, I take this opportunity to thank the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, for asking this Question. I suggest to the Minister—perhaps he will correct me if I am wrong—that a man is innocent until he is proved guilty. I only have one question, because I know that we do...

My Lords, does the Minister accept that, in a democracy, there will always be people who will not have the electoral outcome of their choice? Does he also accept that those people, too, have the right to hold their views, unpalatable though they might be, and that it is not...

My Lords, does the Minister accept that, in a democracy, there will always be people who will not have the electoral outcome of their choice? Does he also accept that those people, too, have the right to hold their views, unpalatable though they might be, and that it is not...

My Lords, under European law, a member state of the European economic area may refuse entry to a national of another EEA state if they constitute a threat to public policy, public security or public health.

My Lords, under European law, a member state of the European economic area may refuse entry to a national of another EEA state if they constitute a threat to public policy, public security or public health.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their justification for denying Mr Geert Wilders entry into the United Kingdom. My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question of which I have given private notice.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their justification for denying Mr Geert Wilders entry into the United Kingdom. My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question of which I have given private notice.

My Lords, I agree with that. As I say, there was a whole number of factors in this case which the Home Secretary took into account and I believe that she made the right decision, but I agree with the noble Baroness.

My Lords, I agree with that. As I say, there was a whole number of factors in this case which the Home Secretary took into account and I believe that she made the right decision, but I agree with the noble Baroness.

My Lords, the Government and I are great believers in freedom of expression. Indeed, I am constantly getting into trouble because I am too free with my expressions at times. But the decision was not based purely on the film ““Fitna””, but also on a range of factors, including prosecution...

My Lords, the Government and I are great believers in freedom of expression. Indeed, I am constantly getting into trouble because I am too free with my expressions at times. But the decision was not based purely on the film ““Fitna””, but also on a range of factors, including prosecution...

My Lords, I am afraid that I do not know the answer to that. I shall have to come back to the noble Lord in writing, if I may. I do not like making excuses, but I was aware of this Question only about 23 minutes ago and there were...

My Lords, I am afraid that I do not know the answer to that. I shall have to come back to the noble Lord in writing, if I may. I do not like making excuses, but I was aware of this Question only about 23 minutes ago and there were...