Results 1-20 of 2,418 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Alistair Carmichael

Business, Innovation and Skills: Topical Questions (12 Nov 2009)

Alistair Carmichael: In the coming weeks, many of my constituents will be using mail order companies and the internet to buy Christmas presents that are not locally obtainable in the isles. They will find, however, that mail order companies will either not deliver to island communities or do so only at an exceptionally high surcharge. Will the Government take this problem seriously, and take action to ensure that...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Activities (4 Nov 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: May I associate myself with the remarks of the Secretary of State and the IMC report—that the devolution of criminal justice would indeed be "a potent intervention" that politicians could effect in dealing with dissident republican groups? Does he agree with me and those with whom I am associated in Northern Ireland that, in the long term, these groups will be countered only if we are...

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

Alistair Carmichael: Will the Secretary of State confirm that the money that was restored to the Territorial Army training budget last week will be committed beyond April next year into the following financial year? When he is looking forward to training budgets, will he bear in mind that units that are based in island communities have needs that relate to recruitment and retention because of geography?

Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office: Charities (Recession) (28 Oct 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the recession on charities.

Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office: Charities (Recession) (28 Oct 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Many charities in my constituency are already facing difficulties as a result of the economic climate and are now facing a further threat as a consequence of the dispute between the Lloyds TSB Foundation and the Lloyds TSB banking group. Will the Minister do what she can to intervene in that dispute and to broker some sort of settlement, so that...

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

Alistair Carmichael: Serial killers generally suffer from a psychiatric disorder. In my experience, such people are never allowed back on to the streets, even after they have gone through the criminal justice system. Surely even such people should be subject to the same protection as everybody else. That relates to my earlier point about mistakes being made.

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

Alistair Carmichael: It is a pleasure to serve again under your chairmanship, Mr. Benton. It is also a particular pleasure and something of a novelty—perhaps it is even the first time—that I have obtained an Adjournment debate on a topic on which I can speak almost entirely positively about Government policy.

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

Alistair Carmichael: The Minister is very kind, but I shall resist the temptation. It is a matter of some pride for me, as a British national, when I travel to different parts of the world, to be part of a country that has not used the death penalty for the past 40 years and whose policy today is to oppose its use wherever it happens in the world. That is a significant policy, and I commend the Government for...

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

Alistair Carmichael: Yes, the late Ludovic Kennedy did indeed play a leading role in the case for abolition. I was fortunate as a teenager to meet him a couple of times. I was trying to persuade him to stand for rector of the university of Glasgow. He had sufficient judgment not to rely on my campaigning skills and he politely declined the invitation, but he was a truly inspirational character. He took the...

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

Alistair Carmichael: The hon. Gentleman anticipates what I was about say. I, too, have been engaged in that case. When I was in Japan, I was privileged to meet a number of those campaigning in support of him. I also met his sister and one of the three trial judges that presided at Hakamada's trial. In my experience as a lawyer and politician, Hakamada's case is unique. In addition to all the compelling evidence...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: We have had a remarkably measured debate so far. It has been remarkably lacking in contention and controversy—[Hon. Members: "It has not finished yet!"] There may be more to come, of course. I have no doubt that, once some hon. Members hit their stride, they will make every effort to meet our earlier expectations. In considering today's debate, I spoke to a number of civic and business...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I think that I have made my point in that regard; it does not need labouring further. There is a great deal to be gained from a radical review of parading, with everything on the table. It is surely in everyone's interests to make progress on this issue. Others have already referred to the Ashdown commission and the strategic...

Business of the House (22 Oct 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: May we have an early statement from Treasury Ministers to explain to the House what they intend to do to resolve the current dispute between the directors of Lloyds TSB and the directors of the bank's charitable arm, the TSB Foundation? The foundation's chief executive reckons that if the dispute is not resolved there are seven weeks to go before she has to wind up the organisation, with a...

Oral Answers to Questions — Transport: Topical Questions (22 Oct 2009) has video

Alistair Carmichael: May I ask the shipping Minister to have an urgent look at pay in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency? Last year senior managers were given an average increase of 15 per cent., compared with front-line staff, who got 1 per cent. Surely that is not acceptable.

Nato: Royal Mail (20 Oct 2009)

Alistair Carmichael: Even without yet having had the impact of strike action we have had the alarming news in Scotland that one of the major public sector contracts—the Procurement Scotland contract, which deals with mail to the NHS, colleges and most councils in Scotland—is going to be given to a private sector operator. What can the Minister do to ensure that the haemorrhaging of business from...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Alistair Carmichael: I commend the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer) for bringing the debate, and for the way he framed its terms. Some massive issues are involved. People who have spent their whole lives as jurists have struggled with the question of the purpose of the criminal justice system, so to expect a handful of MPs to come up with the answer after a 90-minute debate is a tall order; but it is a...

Prisoner Release Decisions (20 Oct 2009)

Alistair Carmichael: The question of collective reconciliation is very interesting and runs to the heart of much of what criminal justice is about. However, we can achieve collective reconciliation only if the public have confidence in the criminal justice system. For whatever reason—there is no single reason, but a whole amalgam of them—too many of our constituents do not have confidence in the...