My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister and all those who spoke in the debate. I am particularly pleased that the Minister again said that the Government have unequivocal support for the rule of law. I never thought they would not have unequivocal support, but it is good to reaffirm these things. In that context, I very much welcome the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General to our...
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister and all those who spoke in the debate. I am particularly pleased that the Minister again said that the Government have unequivocal support for the rule of law. I never thought they would not have unequivocal support, but it is good to reaffirm these things. In that context, I very much welcome the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General to our...
Noble.
Noble.
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate as chair of the Constitution Committee. Noble Lords will have heard many times politicians and others praying in aid adherence to the rule of law and avowing its importance. Yet very few people seem to understand what it represents and how fundamental it is to our constitution. The Constitution Committee conducted a long and detailed...
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate as chair of the Constitution Committee. Noble Lords will have heard many times politicians and others praying in aid adherence to the rule of law and avowing its importance. Yet very few people seem to understand what it represents and how fundamental it is to our constitution. The Constitution Committee conducted a long and detailed...
My Lords, on Second Reading of this Bill, many, many months ago now—indeed, more than a year ago—I said that this was a nasty little Bill. I thought that, over the next few months, it would be improved. Sadly, it is still a nasty little Bill. History will relate that this was a wasted opportunity. There is no substantial reform and no clear thought about the role of your Lordships’...
To ask His Majesty's Government which current members of the House of Lords will be affected by the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill as currently drafted.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage close co-operation between Iran and Qatar over their combined interest in the exploitation of the South Pars/North Dome Gas field after the conclusion of the Vienna talks.
It remains the Government's continued intention that Lords appointments will be made with the objective of creating a second Chamber that is reflective of the share of the vote secured by the political parties in the last general election, and this commitment is taken into account by the Prime Minister when making appointments.
I do not intend to issue such guidance to Ministers. The Official Report is held in perpetuity and covered by parliamentary privilege, and therefore not every written response by a Minister to a point raised in a debate in the House will be suitable for publication as a Written Ministerial Statement.
No such Bill has yet been introduced to either House, and accordingly there is no lead Minister assigned in the House of Lords.
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I refer the noble Lord to my answer to the oral question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Dykes, on 29 October 2012 ( Official Report, col. 407) for information on the timing of the report. The total expenditure incurred by the Iraq inquiry, from its establishment on 15 June 2009 to 31 March 2012, is £6.1 million. The inquiry will publish its expenditure for 2012-13 in due course-the...
No such guidance has been given. I do not intend to issue guidance to that effect, as I expect Ministers to use their discretion in deciding when and how to offer an explanation for a delay. Where a Minister regularly interacts with the Peer who tabled the question, for example, informal channels may prove more appropriate.
