Results 1-20 of 76 for in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates' speaker:Baroness Prashar

Global Migration and Mobility (EUC Report) — Motion to Take Note (6 June 2013)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Hannay, for introducing this debate so comprehensively. It is an absolute privilege to work on the sub-committee under his leadership, along with other colleagues who I worked with on this report. This is a very important report because it is measured and has come at a time when there is a great need for a rational debate on issues of migration—a...

Commonwealth and Commonwealth Charter — Motion to Take Note (7 March 2013)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, in recent years we have seen a number of developments in the Commonwealth: the Eminent Persons Group report triggered some changes to increase the effectiveness of the Commonwealth; the adoption of the new Commonwealth charter; and a renewed focus on the Commonwealth by this Government, thanks to the efforts of the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford. All these changes are very...

Visas: Student Visa Policy — Motion to Take Note (31 January 2013)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, following on from the excellent and constructive introduction by the noble Lord, Lord MacGregor, I just want to ask some questions. In the face of such compelling evidence of the damage that this policy is doing to our reputation and long-term benefits, why are the Government not willing to remove international students from their target to reduce net migration as recommended by...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Third Reading (18 December 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I, too, welcome this amendment and thank the Minister for accepting the arguments. The Judicial Appointments Commission recommended this way back in 2008 and I am delighted that it has been agreed and that it is recognised that promoting diversity is a tripartite effort and that leadership is much needed. I want to put on record my thanks.

Civil Service: Permanent Secretaries — Question (13 December 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, the explanatory note by the Civil Service Commission clearly states the appropriate involvement of Ministers in the appointment of Permanent Secretaries. It clearly indicates that it has not crossed the line that would in any way jeopardise the impartiality of our Civil Service. Does the Minister accept that the current Administration hold the Civil Service in trust for the next...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Amendment 79B withdrawn. (4 December 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I rise to speak as the former chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission. I have put my name to this amendment because I feel very strongly about this issue. I absolutely agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, and the noble Lord, Lord Marks, have said. I think everyone now recognises that promoting diversity is a common endeavour-a joint...

Immigration: Foreign University Students — Question (3 July 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, now that the Government have taken the steps to deal with bogus students, what steps are being taken to encourage bona fide and genuine students to come to the UK, and who is taking responsibility for that?

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee (4th Day) (27 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: I, too, support the amendment. The JAC wrote to the then Lord Chancellor about this in 2008. If we are committed to promoting diversity, it is vital that some movement takes place. There has been no progress on this over the past few years. If the responsibility was taken seriously by the Lord Chancellor, there would have been some movement.

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee (4th Day) (27 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I support the amendment and that tabled by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, and the noble Lord, Lord Beecham, because this duty should be extended to the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. I will say at the outset that I strongly refute the comments I have heard elsewhere that this will be perceived as gesture politics. I do not think that it will be, because it...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee (4th Day) (27 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: I thank the Minister for giving way. I now want to turn to another point on which I and the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, asked a question. The provision states that the Lord Chancellor "may" sit on the panel. If that is the case, on what basis will he decide to sit on the panel? If he decides to do so, will that not send a different signal? Will it not suggest that there is a reason why he wants...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee (4th Day) (27 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: I do not want to go into detail but, as the noble Lord knows, I had the privilege of being involved in some of these selection processes. When a selection panel is set up, there is a proper, transparent way of consulting at the appropriate time. There were no nudges and nods. In my initial submission, I said that I think that the present system works because, if there is a rejection or a...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee (4th Day) (27 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: To describe the question of rejection or reconsideration as "the nuclear option" is not really appropriate because it is part of the process. I would use the word influence. In fact, the Lord Chancellor has the opportunity to discuss the process, is consulted at appropriate times during the process and is able to give a view of the kind of person he or she would like. So it is not right to...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL]: Committee (4th Day) (27 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I endorse the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Pannick. I expressed my concerns about this provision in the Bill on Second Reading, so I will not repeat them this afternoon. However, following the Second Reading debate, the noble Lord, Lord McNally, very kindly copied me into the letter he sent to the noble Baroness, Lady Jay of Paddington, which explains in more detail the...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL] — Committee (3rd Day) (Continued) (25 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: Let me explain this by giving an analogy. When you make senior appointments, let us say to the High Court, you make a selection. It is like knowing that you want fruit: do you want apples, pears or whatever? That is the point at which you make a judgment. What the noble and learned Lord read from basically explains that you judge the candidate against those criteria. You will take all those...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL] — Committee (3rd Day) (Continued) (25 June 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, perhaps I may help the Committee, having been the inaugural chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission. My experience is the one that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, has described. Let us take two candidates about whom we can say that, although no two people are equal, there is merit. People are assessed against the criteria that have been set out. There may be two...

Crime and Courts Bill [HL] — Second Reading (28 May 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I wish to speak about the part of the Bill which relates to judicial appointments. In so doing, I declare interest as the former inaugural chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission, a post which I held from 2005 to 2010. I fully endorse the comments made by the noble Baronesses, Lady Jay and Lady Neuberger, and commend them both for the way that they have handled the issue of...

Minority Ethnic and Religious Communities: Cultural and Economic Contribution — Motion to Take Note (24 May 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, when I saw that the noble Lord, Lord Bilimoria, had secured this debate, I, too, was reminded of the story that he told about the Zoroastrians coming to the shores of India, and about milk and sugar. History has borne out the fact that wherever the Zoroastrians emigrated to, they sweetened the country. Here in the UK, diverse immigration has not only sweetened Britain but spiced it...

Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee: Commonwealth — Question (20 March 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, Her Majesty the Queen said this morning that the strength of the Commonwealth is its people. How vibrant they are was only too evident at the Commonwealth People's Forum in Perth at the Heads of Government Meeting last year. Will the Minister please tell the House whether Her Majesty's Government are planning to support the non-governmental organisations that are working in this...

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill: Report (1st Day) (5 March 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I support this amendment, which was so ably moved by the noble Lord, Lord Bach. He moved it in a very rational and considered manner. Therefore, there is not much that I wish to add, other than to say that the Government justified the cuts to legal aid in Part 1 on two grounds: savings to the public purse and the fact that these changes can be made without seriously damaging access...

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill: Committee (9th Day) (9 February 2012)

Baroness Prashar: My Lords, I support the amendment. As the former chairman of the Parole Board, I agree with most of the comments that have been made so far in the debate. The discretion should be with the Parole Board and there should be an automatic review after 30 years. The concepts of hope and incentive are very important. In my experience, the fact that cases would go before the Parole Board was an...