Results 1-20 of 1,082 for speaker:Nick Palmer

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2 Nov 2009) has video

Nick Palmer: Does the Home Secretary agree that although he is entirely entitled to have any adviser whom he chooses and has confidence in, the problem is that the wider public do not get a great deal of independent scientific advice? This kind of incident can weaken the credibility of independent bodies.

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: I am very grateful to my hon. Friend the Minister for her thoughtful response to the debate. On the issue of reoffending, one problem, which was not raised with me during my preparation for this debate, is that people released on compassionate grounds commonly go on to commit other offences. Does she agree that, in practice, it is very rare that such reoffending happens, because we are...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: Would the hon. Gentleman agree with my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) that it is important that the victims are informed at least that the process is under way? It does not always happen, with the result that those who might be perceived as a threat by the victim, regardless of whether it is an accurate perception, are released at what the victim will see...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: Does the hon. Gentleman accept that the parallel that I made was not between general sickness and crime, but between the political process that we all accept is associated with jockeying for position, point scoring and so on, and the rational process that we hope is made in all such situations? Does he not agree that the furore about the Megrahi case was slightly unedifying, and that few felt...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: The issue is complicated enough, but does the hon. Gentleman agree that there is also the possibility of collective reconciliation, as we have seen in Northern Ireland. The figures that my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, North-West gave for the number of convicted murderers who have been released in Northern Ireland would be pretty unthinkable had it not been for the Northern Ireland...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: Just to test what the hon. Gentleman has said, does he agree that the length of sentence is pretty important, certainly in extreme cases? Let us imagine that I was suffering from terminal cancer and assassinated Mr. Olner. If I then applied for immediate release on compassionate grounds, would there not be something a bit inappropriate about it?

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: Does my hon. Friend agree that one difficulty about the decision was that Mr. Megrahi was released outside Scottish jurisdiction and the miraculous recovery scenario worries people? If he proves to be in better health than was thought, there will be absolutely nothing that the Scottish Government can do about that.

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: In view of the pressures described by the hon. Gentleman, and the intense political controversy, does he believe that it is desirable for a politician, however honourable, to make that final decision?

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: This Adjournment debate is something of an experiment. Traditionally in Adjournment debates, as colleagues know, Members seek to press a particular viewpoint and persuade colleagues and the Government to change policy in the direction that they favour. What I shall try to do with this debate is discuss a process that the political system as a whole demonstrably does not handle very well. I...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. It anticipates another point, which several of my constituents made, about the possibility of recall. We do not want to swarm like vultures around someone who is released on the basis that he or she is fatally ill, checking every moment that they are really dying, but there is appropriate public outrage if there is a miraculous recovery. An...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: Yes, I strongly agree. I, too, have come across cases where the victim of individual violence—not in high-profile cases like Megrahi—has only been informed at the very last moment, if at all, and then feels under immediate threat. More generally, the feelings of the victims are clearly relevant. A number of judicial authorities have said that the judicial process is not about the...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Nick Palmer: Ideally, yes, there would be reconciliation. Realistically, there will be cases where that is not going to be practical. If someone blew up a relative of mine, I might, if they were dying in prison, say, "Yeah, okay. I won't insist that they stay in prison till their dying day." But I would not want to meet them and make friends. We cannot make the process entirely contingent on that. If we...

Political Parties and Elections Bill (Extension of Carry-over): Clause 8 — Declaration as to source of donation (13 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: Does the hon. Gentleman feel that freedom of speech implies a freedom to donate money, which is a peculiarly American interpretation of the idea of freedom of speech? It is the idea that "money talks".

Political Parties and Elections Bill (Extension of Carry-over): Clause 8 — Declaration as to source of donation (13 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: I have been listening attentively to the hon. Gentleman's speech for nearly a quarter of an hour. He has been saying, basically, that it is all very difficult. Does he agree in principle that it is undesirable for British politics to be financed from abroad?

Political Parties and Elections Bill (Extension of Carry-over): Clause 8 — Declaration as to source of donation (13 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: I am grateful to the Justice Secretary both for giving way so frequently and for his willingness to help in the effort to clean up our political system. It is surely an important principle that British politics should not be substantially funded from overseas. Does he agree that the Electoral Commission does not oppose the change, as is sometimes reported, but says simply that the House will...

Care Homes (Domestic Pets) (8 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for residents of care homes to keep domestic pets in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes. In addition to the subject of the title of the Bill, I propose to discuss sheltered accommodation. I am pleased to be able to present this Bill today and delighted to have received so much cross-party support for what...

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Identity Cards (6 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Identity Cards (6 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: I put my name down to speak in the debate partly because, as mentioned earlier, I proposed the introduction of identity cards before it became fashionable on the Labour Benches. I benefited from the support not only of the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) but from that of the Liberal Democrat spokesman, the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) and that of the...

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Identity Cards (6 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: As the debate has progressed, the satisfaction rate has not remained as high as it was, but it is still surprisingly high; it is about 50 or 55 per cent. depending on exactly how the question is put. I agree that there are concerns about aspects of the scheme, but I think the public are basically sold on the concept that it is a good idea to be able to identify people. It is important to...

Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day]: Identity Cards (6 Jul 2009)

Nick Palmer: I am not absolutely sure that I have followed my hon. Friend's point. Is he saying that if we were to issue numerous cards, the record of those cards would in effect be a register?