Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government: How many neonatal units were closed to admissions during 2003 and 2004; and in each case, for how long the unit was closed.
Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they are taking to encourage the promotion of women's rights in the Middle East.
Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they are taking to encourage the United States to work co-operatively to promote women's rights in the Middle East, in particular with Saudi Arabia.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, the very recent, appalling atrocities in Amman are yet another reminder, if any are needed, of the very real and present danger that terrorism represents to us all and the vital necessity of doing all that we reasonably can to combat this threat, but without adopting measures which in themselves may fuel it. It is natural that the bombings here in London on 7 July should have been...
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, I welcome the Bill. I welcome its three objectives set out in the Explanatory Notes: first; to provide a simple, efficient and cost-effective framework for British business in the 21st century; secondly, to adopt principles that are simple and as accessible as both possible for companies and their advisers; and thirdly, to avoid imposing unnecessary burdens. However, I do not...
Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government: When the next Government study into identity fraud will be published; and When the next Cabinet Office study into levels of identity fraud in the United Kingdom will be published.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, I have added my name to this amendment and support the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, and the noble Lord, Lord Sharman. I hope that the Government look at this again before Third Reading, and carefully consider what all of us said on Second Reading, in Committee and tonight.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, I am very happy with these government amendments. I will not move my amendment when we reach it.
Baroness Goudie: moved Amendment No. 347: Page 243, line 10, leave out from "of" to end of line 14 and insert "any circumstances connected with his ceasing to hold office which he considers should be brought to the attention of the members or creditors of the company, or if he considers that there are no circumstances, a statement that there are none"
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, in moving Amendment No. 347, I wish to speak also to my other amendment which is grouped with it. While the intention to change the existing Companies Act makes it more difficult for auditors to be candid about the circumstances of the loss of office, the proposed amendment reinstates the relevant voting. My second amendment makes Clause 506 redundant. I would like the Government to...
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, may I come back on Amendment No. 349 as well? The policy proposed by the Audit Quality Forum recommends a statement of the circumstances which the auditor considers are connected with his seeking to hold office. That qualification is important as it is a statement from the auditors and therefore involves judgment, and the current wording does not make that clear.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, I thank the Minister and look forward to hearing from him at Third Reading. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Baroness Goudie: moved Amendment No. 435: After Clause 589, insert the following new clause— "PART 19A LIMITS OF PRIVATE COMPANY'S POWER OF DISTRIBUTION CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS PROHIBITED In this Part, "distribution" means every description of distribution of a company's assets to its members, whether in cash or otherwise, except distribution by way of— (a) an issue of shares as fully or partly paid bonus...
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, in moving Amendment No. 435, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 436 to 439. They all relate to the new Part 19A that I would like to add to the Bill. This new clause meets in considerable part the urgent need to reform the rules on dividends. The present rules in Part VIII of the Companies Act 1985 are now in disrepute because, first, the link between distributions and accounts...
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, in the light of my noble friend's reply, I am happy not to press my amendments and look forward to Third Reading. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, in raising a wider issue, I declare an interest, as I am involved with Vital Voices, among other organisations. Twenty-six European nations have signed up to the Council of Europe convention on trafficking, so why have the British Government not signed up to it? The convention covers not only young girls, but boys, women and people who are signed up and sold into slavery.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, is it not outrageous that, the Prime Minister having said that he would sign the convention, we are now prevaricating? This convention must be not only signed but ratified, and we must have a timetable for ratification soon. While this is happening, women and children—girls and young boys—are going through terrible, horrendous lives and many are being killed.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, the Minister recently announced that the Government were putting together a timetable for the signing of the Council of Europe's treaty on human trafficking and for ratification of the treaty. It would be better if we could know when that timetable is to be announced, as there is great concern in all parts of this House.
Baroness Goudie: My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gould, on arranging this debate and for reminding us of our history, which so many people take for granted. Today we are celebrating International Women's Day—invest in women to improve the world. I applaud the Prime Minster and the Chancellor for leading the Cabinet to implement legislation in the United Kingdom and encourage legislation in...
Baroness Goudie: I am sorry, my Lords, I thought I had turned off my phone. In the Iraqi elections in December of the same year, women won 31 per cent of the core vote in parliament; one of the highest levels of women's political participation in the world. Women in Africa are the greatest untapped resource of Africa. They are the future and more and more are educated to an increasingly high standard. They...