Results 1-20 of 43 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 Boyd of Duncansby

Libya — Statement (12 Oct 2009)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords—

Libya — Statement (12 Oct 2009)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: I have an interest, but go on.

Libya — Statement (12 Oct 2009)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, noble Lords will know that I was Solicitor-General for Scotland when the two accused were handed over in Libya for trial and I was Lord Advocate at the time of the prosecution. I appeared myself for parts of the prosecution and was responsible for it. I have been asked on many occasions for my view on the compassionate release of Mr Megrahi and have taken the view that it would not...

Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]: Report (3rd Day) (19 May 2009)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, is he aware that there is a very considerable programme of training and education for justices of the peace which was initiated when the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, was a Minister of Justice in Scotland? Does he agree with me that this programme, which was initiated by the noble Lord, means that justices of the peace are now much better trained than...

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I did not support the Government in the Lobbies on the vote last week. Although I was in the building, I absented myself from the vote. That was because I am a member of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, which had reached a clear view on what the proper procedure should be. For those reasons, I felt that I could not support the Government. I would certainly have...

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I take that point; I was referring more to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart. Nevertheless, this House took a decision last week, albeit by a small majority, on the way ahead. The second reason why I oppose this is that it seems to bring a new procedure into the legislature. I have been a member of this House for only two years, but I have never seen any procedure like...

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, the super-affirmative provision within the legislative reform procedure is there because we are dealing with primary legislation. This is not primary legislation; it is subordinate legislation.

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I am not aware of that provision; the noble Lord has the advantage of me in that respect. It does seem, however, that this is a new procedure within primary legislation to deal with subordinate legislation. The third reason why I cannot support the amendment is that it seems to have flaws. The new procedure would provide that no subordinate legislation would be made by the House of...

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I say with the greatest respect to the noble Lord that new subsection (3) says: "During the period of 60 days— (a) either House of Parliament may— (i) debate, or pass a resolution relating to, the regulations, or (ii) refer the regulations to any committee for a report". It seems to me that if, on the 59th day, the regulations are referred to any committee for a report,...

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, in one sense, that makes my point. If, towards the end of the 60 days within which it can refer the matter to a committee, the House refers it to a committee, that makes the whole thing pretty pointless. In my submission, this House has taken a decision on the correct way forward and has said that it is content that the House of Commons should exercise its privilege in financial...

Planning Bill (18 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I declare my interest and refer in particular to the fact that I am a solicitor in private practice advising on planning issues. I am also a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution. The noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, has moved an interesting amendment in relation to cross-border railways. He is right to say that the responsibility for cross-border railways lies with the...

Planning Bill (10 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I, too, support this amendment. I moved a similar amendment in Committee that related only to renewable energies, but this amendment better addresses the point that I sought to make. The point is well made in relation to wind energy, because we in this country have an objective to increase the amount of energy coming from renewable sources. Much wind energy will come from...

Planning Bill (10 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I warmly welcome the government amendments, which I respectfully suggest address the issues raised in Committee. I direct the House's attention to the terms of Amendment No. 43, which would insert new provisions into Clause 12 and in particular to proposed subsection (1C), which states: "For the avoidance of doubt, section 5(3) to (7) continue to apply where the Secretary of State...

Planning Bill (6 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, it may be my fault, but I fail to understand the noble Lord's point about the approval of the House of Commons. The Bill sets out in clear detail the way in which the national policy statements must be arrived at. I understand the noble Lord to say that if there was a flaw in the procedure, that could not be challenged in court if it had been approved by the House of Commons. I do...

Planning Bill (6 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I shall speak briefly to the amendments in the name of my noble friend Lord Berkeley, who wishes me to apologise to the House on his behalf for the fact that he cannot be here. These matters have been dealt with by my noble friend. The Integrated Transport Authorities are a product of the Local Transport Bill, which is currently going through Parliament and renames the Passenger...

Planning Bill (6 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I had not intended to speak but, given the comments made by the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, I thought that I should make one or two points in relation to Scotland. I should perhaps declare an interest as a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution. It is right to say that the Bill has tangential effects on Scotland. In effect, however, it extends to England and Wales and...

Planning Bill (6 Nov 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: My Lords, I, too, declare interests, which are in the Register. My law firm also deals with planning matters, including infrastructure issues. The noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, quoted my intervention in Committee, and it may be said, as someone who has just been acting as counsel in a planning inquiry in Scotland, and having just received a positive response from Ministers to my client's...

Planning Bill (16 Oct 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: Amendments Nos. 409A to 409C stand in my name. Like the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Berkeley, they deal with the relationship between the national policy statement and the local development plan, particularly in relation to renewable energy. The principal purposes of the Bill are to ensure that we speed up the planning process and provide the infrastructure to deal with climate...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (15 Oct 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: I strongly support Clause 40. When I was Lord Advocate, I pressed for universal jurisdiction on the basis of my experience in examining the evidence put before me to support a terrorism offence. It rapidly became clear that the lack of universal jurisdiction might hamper a prosecution. Such was the nature of terrorism offences that it seemed that that should be remedied. I am pleased that the...

Counter-Terrorism Bill (15 Oct 2008)

Lord Boyd of Duncansby: I have considerable sympathy with the amendments in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Tankerness. In Scotland, the accused is under the protection of the court, as he has said, and interference in the rights of the accused may be manifest at the point of questioning. In particular, Amendment No. 55, which would remove the role of the constable and the superintendent, is appropriate,...