Results 1-20 of 4,453 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (5th Day) (Continued) (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I join the noble Baroness, Lady D'Souza, and the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, in very much welcoming the approach of the Government in relation to this matter. I particularly welcome the backdating to 1991 in respect of all three categories of crime. I read the letter that I have received from Claire Ward, the Justice Minister, as indicating that there will also be a shift in relation to the...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (5th Day) (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I am grateful to every Member of the Committee who has participated in this incredibly powerful debate. I go back to where I started—the current position. It is not unlawful to go abroad for assisted dying in a place where assisted dying is lawful. People go abroad to do that. Although huge passions were expressed during the debate, I never detected at any stage that anybody in the...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (5th Day) (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I apologise for interrupting the noble Lord. There are two separate answers to that and perhaps he would like to consider them in his reply. First, acts that take place outside Britain altogether at the moment are not thought to be a crime anyway under the Suicide Act. Secondly, subsection (4) of my amendment deals with it.

Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee (5th Day) (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is not a crime to travel abroad to be assisted in dying in a country where assisted dying is lawful. Nobody proposes to change that position, either by amendment or suggestion, in this Bill. However, it is thought to be a crime to accompany your loved one to such a country abroad for assisted dying, and the maximum sentence for such a crime is currently 14 years. I say "thought to be"...

Privileges Committee: First Report: Motion to Agree (20 May 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, to quote my successor, accountancy was never my strong point. Tragically, everyone is nodding. On the point made by my noble friend Lady Mallalieu, if one looks at the evidence bundle, there is a letter in which those acting on behalf of the noble Lord, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, say that this is a process which affects, "my reputation and my livelihood". I completely agree with that...

Privileges Committee: First Report: Motion to Agree (20 May 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords—

Privileges Committee: First Report: Motion to Agree (20 May 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, I shall talk briefly on this issue; I do not think this is an appropriate occasion for a long debate. I do not intend to focus at all on the contents of the two reports in so far as they deal with the facts. If we wish to have a plausible process in which we consider the disciplining of our Members, we can do it only on the basis that those who look in detail at the evidence are...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Second Reading (18 May 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I did not imply it, my Lords, I said it.

Coroners and Justice Bill: Second Reading (18 May 2009)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, I, too, support this Bill. Of all the public services, the justice system is the one that requires legislation to change it. I am deeply out of sympathy with those in your Lordships' House who criticise the Bill for being a Christmas tree. Having been Lord Chancellor and Justice Minister, I know that you have to fight to get particular provisions in. I think that the right way in...

Queen's Speech — Debate (1st Day) (3 Dec 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, it is a great personal honour to move this Motion. I am absolutely delighted to be supported by my noble friend Lady Ford, of Cunningham, who has proved to be a strong contributing Member of your Lordships' House. I personally owe her a great deal. In 2001, she became the chair of English Partnerships; she led it with force and success. English Partnerships owned the land on which...

Queen's Speech — Debate (1st Day) (3 Dec 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, my noble friend had the good sense to sell it. The current success of the Dome, now known as the O2 Arena, owes much to her. Before she arrived on the Dome scene, I was able to achieve what no other Minister in government, before or since, has achieved—namely, to have every single national newspaper call for my resignation on the same day. I waited patiently for the storm to...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: If I thought that this provision for 42 days would make any difference in the fight against terrorism I would unhesitatingly support it. I agree completely with what the noble Lord, Lord Carlile of Berriew, said about the level and nature of the threat. The speech of the noble Earl, Lord Onslow, although delivered in good part, did not have the ring of authority that the intervention of the...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: That is nonsense because you can arrest only with a reasonable suspicion, and a reasonable suspicion is sufficient to allow the wait.

Counter-Terrorism Bill (13 Oct 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. The reasonable suspicion is the reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a criminal offence. That is what justifies the continued detention. There is a misunderstanding about what those senior police officers are saying to my noble friend.

Counter-Terrorism Bill (8 Jul 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, I look forward keenly to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller. We are very lucky to have her in this House. Having worked with her on the sort of issues that we are dealing with today, I know the huge contribution that she has made to the defence of the United Kingdom. I shall speak of only one issue in my remarks: the extension of pre-charge detention to...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (8 Jul 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, I completely accept that it was in place at that time. The extent to which it could be used was not known; the extent to which it became the basis of most terrorist charges was not known. Now that it is known, the basis for an extension to 42 days completely disappears. The test allows charging where the authorities believe that the evidence will come, for example, from the forensic...

Health: Allergy (Science and Technology Committee Report) (8 May 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, before my noble friend Lord Bhattacharyya rises, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Perry, for interrupting her excellent speech with my mobile telephone. I apologise to her and to the rest of the House.

Prisons: Woodhill (4 Feb 2008)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, I support the Statement made by my noble friend. The inquiry is incredibly sensible and I can think of no one better than Sir Christopher Rose to conduct it. He is a man of great independence. I have two questions. Can I assume that the inquiry will cover the current standing arrangements for the enforcement of the Wilson doctrine? Can I further assume that the Wilson doctrine will...

Prisons: Carter Review (5 Dec 2007)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, I express my support for what the Minister said about prisons and I express my admiration for what my noble friend Lord Carter has done. He has selflessly devoted himself to a whole series of public policy issues and has produced reports that show real perception. This report is one of them. I also pay tribute to the Prison Service led by Phil Wheatley. The impression given by some...

Criminal Justice: Rehabilitation of Offenders (20 Jun 2007)

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My Lords, one of the six core aims of the new Ministry of Justice is to reduce reoffending and to protect the public by combining punishment with rehabilitation. We are committed to reducing reoffending by 10 per cent by the end of the decade. At the heart of our vision is end-to-end case management for offenders and a strong focus on commissioning the most effective interventions for men and...