I want to write to Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: .... I do not think that he spoke for a moment too long. The House was very grateful to hear what he had to say and for his covering the issues so comprehensively. I declare an interest as chairman of the Arab-British Chambers of Commerce and a frequent visitor to the Arab League countries. My other interests are all covered in your Lordships' Register of Interests. As the Minister has said,...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for initiating this debate today and attracting such a very impressive list of speakers. I offer my congratulations to the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, on her maiden speech. It was a remarkably powerful and memorable maiden speech. She will be an enormous asset to this House. I welcome the Foreign Secretary's commitment in his speech of 15...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the proposal in the Foreign Secretary's speech of 1 July "to inspire others with our values of political freedom" relates to their cut in support for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy of £380,000 this year.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the proposal in the Foreign Secretary's speech of 1 July "to inspire others with our values of political freedom" relates to the cut in their programmes on human rights and democracy of £560,000 this year.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I, too, warmly congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford, on his appointment and on his opening speech. Of course I wish my party were still in government; but given that we are not, it is a real pleasure to see him at the government Dispatch Box and to know that his experience and wisdom will be brought to bear on the coalition's policies. He is a sensible and good man...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, the gracious Speech concentrated on four main themes, which the Government are determined to pursue in this next short parliamentary term. The first and overriding priority is, and must continue to remain, delivering a fair and prosperous economy for families and businesses. In the past 18 months, we have had to confront the first truly global economic recession. No matter where one...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, is not the real problem that Parliament is the embodiment of freedom of speech in this country and that if access to Parliament is limited, however worthy the demonstrators' cause, that undermines the fact that they, too, have freedom of speech? The fact is that, if we cannot get to Parliament, freedom of speech is fundamentally undermined.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: ...how terrorist organisations are sustained through individuals and organisations that glorify terrorism. As noble Lords on the other side were not continually interrupted, perhaps, as apparently one of very few speaking in support of the clause, I might be allowed to finish a couple of my points at least. Through the glorification of their own deaths terrorists have a very potent recruiting...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I agree strongly with the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Wallace. I can do no better than to quote from President Talabani's inaugural speech yesterday. In a strong and forthright speech, he said that having secured freedom from the most horrific dictatorship—and I pause there, particularly for the benefit of those who do not think we should have helped in securing that...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary in response to a Private Notice Question on the legal questions around Iraq. The Statement is as follows: "Let me take the two parts of the Question in turn. First, the circumstances surrounding Ms Wilmshurst's letter to the Foreign and...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The current political parties law forbids the political use of languages other than Turkish in either written material or public speeches. Under this law charges have been brought against a number of individuals. The European Commission 2004 progress report on Turkey states that "several provisions of the law fall short of European standards". The Turkish Government passed a new press law in...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I did not accuse the noble Lord of thinking short term. However, if he looks to the recent past he will see that what I am trying to illustrate is not an exclusively difficult question for this side of the House; it is one that his side of the House lamentably failed to deal with. The noble Lord, Lord Monro, asked specifically about the Black Watch. It will be back by Christmas and...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The EU and the UK have had a political dialogue with the Cuban Government for many years. Respect for human rights remains the key issue in the EU's relationship of constructive engagement and dialogue with the Cuban Government, as set out in the common position. Following a crackdown on the peaceful opposition in March 2003, the EU—in line with the common position and alongside other...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I too am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for raising the question of North Korea in the House today. He did so in a characteristically measured and powerful address and, as we all know, he is, indeed, very thorough in his follow-up. I agree very much with what the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford, said about the after-sales service of the noble Lord, Lord Alton—it is,...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell) made a speech at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights this year in which he noted the Government's serious concerns about the human rights situation in China, including freedom of religion. We believe the best way to tackle this and other human rights issues is...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I, too, thank my noble friend Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede for bringing this important issue before the House. As he says, the imminent enlargement of the European Union has given new impetus to strengthening relations with Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. The EU has a clear interest in ensuring that the countries on its borders are stable, democratic and prosperous. As my noble friend...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I have listened with enormous interest to the contributions made by your Lordships today. As the noble Lord, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, said, this is certainly not the first time that we have considered his proposal. Once more, as on previous occasions, noble Lords around the House have made eloquent and forceful speeches. I was particularly struck by the heartfelt words of the noble...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: ...this issue through oral and written parliamentary Questions over the past six months or so. I thank, too, all noble Lords who have shown such a very active interest in the continuing efforts of NATO and the United Nations to improve security in Afghanistan. Helping the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country is important, not only for Afghanistan itself but, as many noble Lords have...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have participated in the debate today. It has of course, as many noble Lords have remarked, been very far ranging in terms of the geography of the countries covered and the nature of the issues discussed. The over-arching themes of this year's foreign defence and development agenda have been Iraq, the Middle East, Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan and the...
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, for securing a debate on this very important subject and for what I thought was a tremendous opening speech. It gave us much to kick off on and to discuss as the debate continued. I should also like to congratulate the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Newcastle on his maiden speech. Not only was it very thoughtful, but I am bound...