Results 1-20 of 342 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 Carlile of Berriew

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (3rd Day) (Continued) (28 Oct 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, I declare an interest as the president of the Howard League for Penal Reform. I support the amendment. I do not think that I can improve on the eloquent way in which it has been proposed by my noble friend Lord Goodhart and supported by the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham. The Howard League has identified all the reasons that have already been given, so perhaps I can simply add this....

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (3rd Day) (28 Oct 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, I will speak briefly in support of the proposal that special advocates should be available in the type of case that is under consideration. Perhaps it is worth reminding noble Lords that special advocates have proved not only useful but very effective in control order cases involving terrorism suspects that have gone before the High Court. There are a number of cases—a number...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (2nd Day) (Continued) (26 Oct 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, I am grateful for all the speeches in this important debate. My understanding was exactly that of my noble friend Lord Lester and I am grateful for the confirmation that the Minister has just given about the four categories raised by him. I am also grateful for the explanation that the Minister gave about the consequences of retrospectivity. Those of us who were concerned about...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (2nd Day) (Continued) (26 Oct 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, in moving Amendment 65, I draw your Lordships' attention to its being grouped with government Amendments 66A and 135A. In the light of the previous debate, I should perhaps say that that is a result not of infidelity of any kind but of a meeting of minds on this subject. We are dealing now with the extraordinarily important and grave issues of war crimes, genocide and crimes against...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Report (2nd Day) (26 Oct 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: I, too, support this very important amendment. I say to the Government that there cannot have been many debates in this Chamber where we have heard the views not only of a very distinguished retired Law Lord, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd, but of a retired Lord Chief Justice and of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mayhew, who was both Attorney-General and Secretary of State for...

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

Lord Carlile of Berriew: I shall speak briefly in support of the amendment. I agree with every word said by the noble Baroness. I add what a pleasure it is to be on the same side as the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, immediately after the last debate; it shows what a civilised place we are. I too had the opportunity to read the Written Ministerial Statement issued this afternoon by the Lord...

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

Lord Carlile of Berriew: I start with something that has not been said as yet. As someone who is opposed to the noble and learned Lord's amendment I thank him for the measured way in which he spoke to it, as this can be a highly emotionally charged argument. However, I reject utterly two of his arguments. First, I suggest with great respect that the noble and learned Lord is deceiving himself if he believes that this...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: In the light of the Government's refusal to recognise the concept of developmental immaturity in relation to children, the lack of a transitional stage in a child's development as a potential criminal between the ages of 10 and 14 is a matter of great concern to these Benches. Set at 10 years of age, the threshold for criminal responsibility in England and Wales is one of the lowest in...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: It falls to me as the person who moved the amendment to thank everyone who has spoken in this interesting debate on this congeries of amendments, involving all kinds of issues. I am disappointed by the Government's response. Although the noble and learned Baroness may have received few, if any, representations about this matter, I offer her the prediction that textbooks will be written after...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: I apologise for interrupting the noble Earl but, with great respect, we ought to deal with the point raised by the noble and learned Lord, which the noble Earl has already mentioned. New subsection (1)(a) in Clause 42(1) makes it absolutely plain that one of the requirements is a recognised mental condition. Does the noble Earl agree that if an adult is suffering from a recognised medical...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: This is another amendment prepared by my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford which I beg leave to move. I shall speak also to Amendments 153 and 158 and any consequential amendments flowing therefrom. The amendments would amend Clause 42(1), which amends Section 2(1) of the Homicide Act 1957, to allow a charge of murder to be reduced to manslaughter if the person who killed another was...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: On behalf of these Benches, I, too, strongly support the amendment proposed by the noble and learned Lord following the cogent article or response to the Law Commission by Professor Spencer which I had earlier read. Earlier in this afternoon's debates, the noble and learned Baroness, the Attorney-General, told us of conversations that she has had with victims of murder. I do not doubt for one...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: I am very grateful to all those who have taken part in this interesting debate, and particularly to the noble and learned Baroness the Attorney-General for her very considered response. With regard to the criticism of the text of the amendment—I emphasised that it was a probing amendment—I feel like an actor performing a play. If it goes well, you take the credit, and if it goes...

Coroners and Justice Bill — Committee (4th Day) (Continued) (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: The amendment stands in the name of my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford. I hope that the Committee will grant me the indulgence of allowing me to be his, albeit inadequate, substitute. Rumour has it that my noble friend is in South Africa trying to persuade lions to roar three or four points louder than in the past couple of weeks. When I was a foal in a barrister's stable in which my...

War Crimes — Question (30 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for recent conversations which some of us have had with Ministers concerning potential changes in our own law relating to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, may I remind him of the introduction into the United States Senate only last week of a crimes against humanity Bill? That Bill provides for jurisdiction founded not on residence but on...

Courts: Summary Jurisdiction — Question (29 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, does the Minister agree that in many areas outside the big cities, such as shire counties, where very few real security issues arise in magistrates' courts hearings, summary justice could at last be brought much closer to local communities by holding hearings in community facilities, such as school halls and village centres? Does he agree that kind of approach would save the cost of...

Justice: Northern Ireland — Question (24 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, will the noble Baroness confirm that it is the Government's view that the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland has worked very hard to minimise delays and is indeed a very competent service? Will she encourage it to consider the use of hearsay provisions, such as are available on the mainland, to ensure that documents and evidence which may be useful in Northern Ireland...

Legal Aid — Question (23 Jun 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, I declare my interest as a barrister. Will the Minister recognise that the Legal Services Commission has paid no attention whatever to those very junior barristers who are required day after day to appear in magistrates' courts and are often losing money as a result of travelling to them? Will he bear in mind the fact that such barristers are actually dealing with people with social...

Prisons and Probation — Statement (27 Apr 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, as president of the Howard League I welcome the retreat from Titans. Given that 20 years ago in another place I and at least two noble Lords I can see on the Labour side of this House railed against three or four Members of the then Conservative Government whom I can see on this side of this House—and, indeed, one on the Labour side who has since changed sides—at a...

Health: Cognitive Therapy — Question for Short Debate (18 Mar 2009)

Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, I declare two interests: the first as a patron of a small but fascinating charity in the West Midlands called No Panic; and the other as president of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which deals with and advises many people who suffer from mental illness while in custody. I congratulate my noble friend Lady Tonge on asking this Question and securing this debate on a very...