🗣️ Speeches and Debates
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My Lords, I did not intend to contribute to this debate, but sitting here listening to some of the speeches, not least the wonderful remarks we have just heard, reminded me of what I think was the most difficult period of my life, when I was responsible for the committee that, after the Good Friday agreement, reorganised the police service in Northern Ireland. With my colleagues—people such...
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I apologise for not taking part in the Second Reading debate on this Bill, but I have made amends by sitting through the entire debate this afternoon. I am sure that, when I reflect on the last few hours, I will realise how much I learned. There are two points I would like to make. First, I am surprised that, despite the intervention of the right reverend Prelate—and despite, I am sure, his...
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I would like to follow what my noble friend just said, or at least the beginning of his remarks following the speech by the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott. If the Chinese Communist Party, through its quisling administration in Hong Kong, was introducing legislation like this, we would denounce it. The Foreign Office would denounce it—it would be in its six-monthly report about attacks on...
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My Lords, I will speak in support of those observations. I speak at a university that is in receipt of an extraordinary stream of revenue from its academic press. I think it is true to say that it has the largest academic press in the world, which is hugely successful and is a very large international business. I am puzzled at the suggestion that the contracts it negotiates elsewhere are...
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I will add to the comments of the noble Baroness, and declare an interest as the chancellor of a moderately well-known university. A university does not need legal advice in this case to defend freedom of research or expression; all it has to do is stop its subscription to the QAA—the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education—which only recently produced advice on the curriculum which...
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I will not begin by following my noble friend with an autobiographical diversion, but I want to start with what he said at the beginning of his remarks. It is not outwith our experience in this Chamber or elsewhere to begin a speech by saying that everything one wanted to say has already been said, then to say it all over again rather less well than some others said it. I wish to be very...
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I support the noble Lord, Lord Alton, and I will be even more brief. It may have been obvious that I have been able to contain my enthusiasm during much of the discussion of this Bill to within the bounds of public decorum, but on this occasion I want to say without any reservation how strongly I support what the Government have done. We have a continuing moral responsibility to the people of...
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I will be very brief in supporting that speech and this amendment, not because I do not feel passionately and strongly about it—I do—but, first, out of a late-evening act of charity to the crowds that are still with us this evening and, secondly, because the purpose of the amendment was explained so clearly by the noble Lord a moment ago. I perhaps do not spend enough time praising the...
More of Lord Patten of Barnes's speeches and debates
✍️ Written Questions and Answers
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To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pets have (1) entered, or (2) re-entered, the UK under the PETS Travel Scheme since it was launched; and how many cases of rabies have been diagnosed in relation to the scheme.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in arranging for a new system of pet travel requirements between the UK and the EU after 1 January 2021; and whether they intend to acquire status as a Part 1 listed country of the PETS Travel Scheme.
More of Lord Patten of Barnes's written questions
