Results 1-20 of 2,238 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Chris Bryant

Cyprus (10 Nov 2009)

Chris Bryant: It is a delight to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Williams; I think that it is the first time that I have done so. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on securing what he referred to as his annual debate. It is not annual, as it happens more than once a year; there was another Adjournment debate earlier this year that lasted only half an hour. However, I...

Cyprus (10 Nov 2009)

Chris Bryant: I am sure that my hon. Friend does not, and that he will table another set of parliamentary questions on any issue about which he is not fully satisfied. Several hon. Members have referred to the irony of our debating this issue during the week when Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin wall and the beginning of the process of German reunification,...

Cyprus (10 Nov 2009)

Chris Bryant: I would not overestimate the value of my visiting anywhere, but I am grateful for my hon. Friend's confidence. I intend to visit Cyprus at the end of the month. The hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) asked whether I have met people who are on different sides of the argument. I do not take any side in the argument; I am on the side of those who want to see a settlement. I am...

Cyprus (10 Nov 2009)

Chris Bryant: The more that the two communities are able to commune, the better. For that to happen, people must be able to travel between the two communities. I shall reserve my view on how many crossings there should be until I have visited the island; the hon. Member for Rayleigh has the advantage over me on that point. As all hon. Members will acknowledge, physically seeing and experiencing the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: European Council (2 Nov 2009) has video

Chris Bryant: Who's your candidate?

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Death Penalty (Global Abolition) (28 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: I am grateful to be serving under your chairmanship, Mr. Benton. It is ironic that we are having this debate in Westminster Hall, which was for many centuries the place where state trials were held. I believe that the first execution ordered from just outside this Chamber was in 1295, when Thomas de Turberville was sent off to be executed, oddly for spying against the French—I do not...

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Death Penalty (Global Abolition) (28 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: Sir Thomas More. I am still an Anglican, even though the blandishments of the Bishop of Rome are tempting to others who do not want women bishops. I, however, am very happy to have women bishops. I congratulate the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on securing this important debate. Given the history of Westminster Hall, perhaps we should have an annual debate in the hall...

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Death Penalty (Global Abolition) (28 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: Oh, I am sorry—Thames valley. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that we need to focus our efforts in the three ways to which he referred. I do not differ with him to any degree in that regard. We also must focus on specific countries, and some of them have been mentioned, such as China, Japan, the US and Belarus. There has been scant mention of Caribbean countries, but obviously,...

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Death Penalty (Global Abolition) (28 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: Come over here!

Nato: Freedom of Expression (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: We work to safeguard the international framework that protects and promotes the right to freedom of expression and to support positive change on the ground. We raise individual cases where freedom of expression has been threatened, and we challenge countries to change practices that curtail the exercise of these rights.

Nato: Freedom of Expression (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: It goes against the grain to congratulate a Liberal Democrat. None the less, I am more than happy to do so because I know the hon. Gentleman has played a very important role, along with Article 19, with which we try to work closely, to get rid of the obsolete offences of sedition and criminal libel, not least because other countries have sometimes pointed to those offences in the UK and said...

Nato: Freedom of Expression (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: I am more than happy to look into the individual case if my hon. Friend is able to pass on the information to me regarding the situation in Morocco. The right to express oneself, a free press and free media are essential. Around the world, one of the most important things that we have contributed to that is the BBC World Service.

Nato: China (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: There is scope for much more productive EU-China co-operation on the whole range of global economic and security issues. We believe that entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, with its new external structures, is the ideal opportunity to put that relationship on a much more productive course.

Nato: China (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments. She is absolutely right: if we are to get a proper agreement in Copenhagen, we must ensure that the Chinese contribution to that discussion is very much in line with the EU. That is why we very much welcome the further meeting that will take place in Nanjing in a few weeks' time, in November, just before the Copenhagen summit. We support summit...

Nato: China (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: Of course, there are always human rights issues that we will want to take up with the Chinese authorities, and we do so very regularly. I think that that is one of the issues that we have specifically taken up, but that does not mean that we do not continue to engage with China. Indeed, I would argue that in recent years, we, as the European Union, have not been able to engage as effectively...

Nato: Turkey and Armenia (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: The Government welcome the signing of protocols between Armenia and Turkey. That is important not only for those countries, but for peace in the wider region.

Nato: Turkey and Armenia (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend is right: we need to ensure that ratification is proceeded with by the Parliaments, and two months after that it will be possible to open the border. That is such a significant change from the position that we were in only a few years ago that all Members will wholeheartedly welcome it. We remain committed to Turkey eventually being able to accede to the European Union, but it...

Nato: Topical Questions (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend— [Interruption.] It is nice to be welcomed.

Nato: Topical Questions (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We need to be able to deliver on some key issues for Britain, one of which is an agreement in Copenhagen later this year. It is impossible for us to do that without a stronger EU and our playing a stronger role within the EU. There are no fringe benefits to being on the fringe.

Nato: Topical Questions (20 Oct 2009)

Chris Bryant: Freedom of expression, wherever it may be in the world, is a vital subject that we try to raise in many countries. Part of our diplomatic effort in Colombia, Russia, China and many parts of Africa involves trying to ensure that the freedoms that we rejoice in here in this country can be shared by people in other parts of the world.