Results 1-20 of 98 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 Bates

Fast-track Legislation: Constitution Committee Report: Motion to Take Note (10 Nov 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I rise in this important debate to congratulate the members of the Constitution Committee on bringing forward this report and giving us this timely opportunity to discuss the fast-track process. I am a relatively new Member of the House and an even fresher Member of the Front Bench on this side. So much of politics today is focused on product and so little attention is given to...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, as was said in the other place when this was debated, we strongly support this clause and the amendments which have been put forward. They are essential protection, particularly for the sub-contractors, who are often the people we read about in our newspapers day after day, going out of business as a result of funds not being passed on to them at an appropriate speed by main...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Lord Bates: I thank the Minister for his courtesy in, as always, giving way. The more general point is that it was not an opinion poll as to whether authorities were in favour or against; the Government went out to consultation when detailed responses were given about Zurich. Can he explain how that information given by very busy people in organisations who have put a lot of time and thought into it has...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I have a couple of brief points, although we are basically on the same page and we support this enabling measure. The Government are fond of consulting extensively, and we approve of that. However, the Minister said that there were 96 responses to the consultation. What consideration has been given to them? We were offered a headline figure of 82 per cent which agreed with the...

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I wish to comment on the new clause. I thank the Minister and his team for setting out its purpose so clearly and I register the apologies of my noble friend Lady Warsi, who is unable to take part in this important debate. This measure draws to everybody's attention the difficulties that arise when we open up these ancient bodies to scrutiny in the modern day. We find that some...

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) Regulations 2009 — Motion for an Humble Address (21 Oct 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, very briefly, I am aware of the time, but there are assurances from the usual channels that we are not limited to an 8.30 pm finish for this debate. I will be very quick indeed. I made some remarks, when these matters were considered previously, about the welfare of the child provision, particularly the importance of considering fathers in that respect. I seek some assurances from...

Non-Domestic Rating (Deferred Payments) (England) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (14 Oct 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, the Minister has made an attempt at a defence, but it goes nowhere near the real defence that was needed regarding the jobs that are being lost and the businesses that are going out of business as we speak as a result of an own goal by the Government and an unbelievable level of intransigence. I would again leave ringing in the ears of Members opposite the words of Mr...

Non-Domestic Rating (Deferred Payments) (England) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (14 Oct 2009)

Lord Bates: Will be the Minister be absolutely clear on that point? Is he saying that at the moment the view of the department is that primary legislation would be required, but that the recently received counsel opinion or legal opinion states that that may not be the case?

Non-Domestic Rating (Deferred Payments) (England) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (14 Oct 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, this is not the first time that the case of backdating taxes on port-side operators has been drawn to the attention of this House and I suspect that it will not be the last. What Her Majesty's Government should know is that we on this side of the House will take every possible opportunity to raise the matter in order to protect vital jobs, because the threat is real. The conduct of...

Political Parties and Elections Bill: Commons Amendments (20 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, the Minister cannot get away with that. It is not a question of satisfaction. It is a question of what the Government said in this place—what he put on record, speaking on behalf of Her Majesty's Government—and what Her Majesty's Government then said in the other place just a couple of weeks later.

Political Parties and Elections Bill: Commons Amendments (20 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I welcome this chance to speak to the Motion before us. If the House will bear with me, it is worth taking a few minutes to recap as to how we come to be in the position we are now in. An attempt was made by Mr Prentice to table an amendment on Report in the other place. The government business managers decided that they did not want the matter to be debated and therefore it came to...

North-East England: Socio-Economic Prospects — Question for Short Debate (14 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I am grateful for this opportunity to speak about the north-east of England. In initiating this debate, I refer noble Lords to my interests listed in the Register. The purpose of this debate is, first, to celebrate the rich social and economic history of the region, to consider the facts of our recent economic performance and then to offer some advice on how the Government could...

Political Parties and Elections Bill: Third Reading (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, just to clarify, are we taking government Amendment 6 in this group?

Political Parties and Elections Bill: Third Reading (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, the noble Lord moved Amendment 5.

Political Parties and Elections Bill: Third Reading (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I thank the Minister for the amendments he has brought forward and, in doing so, pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Marlesford for bringing forward these important checks and balances on the potential for an overzealous application of the powers of investigation granted to the commission under the Bill. As this will be my final opportunity to speak on the Bill, I also extend to the...

Political Parties and Elections Bill: Third Reading (9 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I welcome the amendment but I have one or two questions for clarification. The Minister referred to the conversations that he had had with the Electoral Commission but I wondered whether he had had any conversations with the Speaker's Committee or whether he can say what view the committee has expressed on this. Clearly, the amendment will impose an additional responsibility on the...

Charities: Appeals — Question (8 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, of the £42.5 million announced by Liam Byrne, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in February to help charities deal with the effects of the recession, how much has so far been spent?

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009: Motion to Approve (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I raise the issue of fatherhood in the context of the regulations. In doing so, I am conscious of the great scientific expertise which has been drawn to these important regulations and the knowledge which is there. It is a great strength of this House to have that level of scientific understanding. I cannot pretend for one moment to come anywhere near to understanding that, but...

Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009: Motion to Approve (7 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her question. Of course, that was the information that I directly referred to. There is also some excellent work that has been done by the Centre for Social Justice. Most fundamentally, I was drawing on my own personal experience of having been blessed by having a father, and of being a father to two children.

National Express East Coast Franchise — Statement (1 Jul 2009)

Lord Bates: My Lords, does the Secretary of State agree that transport links are particularly important to peripheral regions, such as the north-east of England, and their economy? Is he aware that with the loss of flights between Durham Tees Valley airport and London Heathrow, another major link between the capital and the north-east of England has gone and, therefore, there is a potential worrying...