Results 1-20 of 52 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 Warsi

Justice: Sharia Law — Question (4 Jun 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, can the Minister confirm whether the Government, and specifically their officials connected with the area, are appropriately aware of the distinction between Sharia and Sharia law? Are Muslim arbitration tribunals engaged in the adjudication of dispute resolution in the spirit of Sharia, or in the implementation of Sharia law as an alternative to English law?

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Third Reading (29 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, before the Minister speaks formally to her amendment and replies to the others, it may be appropriate for me to say a few words about the amendments. We have debated this issue in Grand Committee and on Report. Indeed, my noble friend Lord Hanningfield unsuccessfully sought the support of noble Lords on a similar amendment. It remains the view of the Opposition that if we are to...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Third Reading (29 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I take the point that the noble Lord, Lord Judd, has made. I hope that the Minister will tell us that she accepts the principle, if not the amendment. I realise that it is a late stage at which to accept an amendment that might need to be redrafted to fit the Bill, even though the principle is sound. However, I echo the call of the noble Lord, Lord Tope, for the Minister to take the...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Third Reading (29 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, the Government have laid these amendments as a direct response to earlier opposition amendments. I am grateful that the noble Lord, Lord Patel, gave a commitment on Report to come back with these amendments. I am pleased that the Government have been prepared to concede that in this area at least their original ideas were probably not the best ones. We have said all along that the...

Polygamy — Question (28 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their position on polygamous marriage in the United Kingdom.

Polygamy — Question (28 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, but is he aware that Chapter 13.20 of the entry clearance guidance issued by the UK Border Agency to entry clearance officers states: "Even where it is suspected that a divorce of convenience has taken place and that a man ... is continuing to live with a previous wife, entry clearance cannot be withheld from a second wife, even if a polygamous...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (4th Day) (22 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, we made it clear in Grand Committee that we have reservations about Clause 16. The noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, quite rightly expressed those concerns again today. We said then, and we say now, that officers are appointed to serve the whole council. They are not there to second-guess the will of the administration. It remains our view that the Government did not think through the...

Racial Hatred: "Undercover Mosque" — Question for Short Debate (20 Apr 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, on securing a debate of such importance. It is also a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Dholakia, who, as always, was thoughtful and gently probing. Eminent lawyers surround me. Details regarding the law and procedure have already been discussed, to which I am sure the Minister will respond. My focus is to be more on...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (Second Day) (Continued) (23 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, in moving the amendment I shall speak also to Amendments 149 and 157. I return to the simple point: we agree with the principle of conducting assessments. We agree that when a local authority is conducting an economic assessment of its area it is right that relevant bodies and persons should be consulted. Where we disagree is on the need to spell out in such great detail which those...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (Second Day) (Continued) (23 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I am delighted to hear what the Minister has said. It has taken me a little by surprise. At this stage, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 148 withdrawn. Amendment 149 not moved. Amendment 150 Moved by Earl Attlee 150: Clause 65, page 48, line 14, at end insert— "( ) When conducting an assessment under this Part, a principal local authority must consider the...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (Second Day) (Continued) (23 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I will also speak to Amendment 146. These amendments, which, I am delighted to see, have been endorsed by the Minister, are designed to keep ownership of economic assessments with the local authorities that conduct them. They get rid of the overbearing role of the Secretary of State, which would have allowed her to tell a local authority to revise any aspect of an assessment that...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (Second Day) (23 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her guidance. As one of the newer Members of your Lordships' House, I look to your Lordships for guidance. I am grateful that the Government have heeded our advice and I am delighted to support their amendment. Although the amendment does not go as far as we would like, the Bill is improved by its inclusion and we welcome that. We on these...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (Second Day) (23 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I am not sure at what point I should speak on this, but it is important that I should clearly lend my support to the Government's amendments. Both my noble friend Lord Hanningfield and I have put our names to the amendments tabled by the Minister. We have done so because the Government have clearly listened to what the Opposition and other noble Lords said in Grand Committee. I am...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (Second Day) (23 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, they are grouped together.

Local Government: Business Rates — Question (19 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I thank the Minister for referring to the small business rate relief, but is she aware that in the north-west, the south-east, the Midlands and even in London fewer than 50 per cent of small businesses that are entitled actually claim that relief? In some cases, it is 26 per cent. At a time when there is tremendous pressure on small businesses, does she accept that the Government...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (First Day) (17 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I raised my concerns about the duties and responsibilities potentially being placed on small and under-resourced authorities at Grand Committee. I cited the burdens that would be placed specifically on parish councils and the concerns about the placing of such burdens without clear affirmative action rather than by default. I am pleased that the noble Lord has taken away those...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (First Day) (17 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I see the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, has tabled "leave out" amendments to each of the clauses which deal with petitions. My noble friend Lord Hanningfield and I, in Grand Committee, added our names to all the equivalent stand-part Questions. We argued then, and I have much sympathy with the noble Lord when he says today, that these clauses are not necessary. We argued this point at...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (First Day) (17 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, I thank the Minister for tabling these amendments. My noble friend Lord Hanningfield and I have added our names to a number of them. Following a meeting with the noble Baroness between Grand Committee and today, she impressed on us that the Government had been looking again at the whole issue of petitions. I think that all of us who have followed the progress of this Bill knew that...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (First Day) (17 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, unfortunately, I do not support the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, in seeking to leave out Clause 10. We on these Benches are not opposed to an e-petition scheme; on the contrary, we believe that it is likely to assist both the local authority and those making petitions. I seldom compliment the Government on what they do but the introduction of the online petition scheme at Downing...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Report (First Day) (17 Mar 2009)

Baroness Warsi: My Lords, the Minister might have been surprised when he saw that my noble friend Lord Hanningfield and I had added our names to the government amendment. I assure noble Lords that we have not been bought off. We still have serious doubts about many aspects of this Bill. However, when the Government have made a concession—and the noble Lord may not like that word, but that is what it...