Mr Denzil Davies: I do not want to prolong the debate on the Mittal affair, which I presume will continue next week, but regardless of misgivings that might exist, does my right hon. Friend agree that the argument that we have just heard—that because Mr. Mittal purchased a Romanian steelworks, it is in direct competition with Corus—is one of the weakest? If Usinor, the French company, had purchased that...
Mr Denzil Davies: On the question of the devaluation of the pound, does my right hon. Friend agree that one way of engineering such a devaluation would be to put up domestic taxation, thereby achieving a better balance between monetary and fiscal policy?
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list the names and present occupations of the non-executive members of her Department's Management Board.
Mr Denzil Davies: Recently, my right hon. Friend met the Italian Prime Minister to discuss European Union matters. Is he not concerned that Silvio Berlusconi and Jacques Chirac are able, with their votes in the EU, to shape legislation that is binding on the people of Britain, despite the facts that neither is accountable to the British electorate and that both face serious corruption allegations? Also, their...
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of (a) the ratio of borrowing to GDP and (b) the proportion of public debt to GDP as laid down by the treaty of Maastricht and the growth and stability pact in 2004 of each of the countries applying for EU membership.
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the planned expenditure in England on the national health service as a percentage of England's GDP in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the annual cost to the CAP budget of paying to (a) Poland and (b) the other accession candidate countries, one-quarter of the value of direct payments normally made to EU farmers.
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the percentage of the total revenue from income tax which, in the last year for which figures are available, accrued from the emoluments of public sector employees.
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for implementing the EU Council Framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia as it relates to (a) religion or belief and (b) national origin.
Mr Denzil Davies: My right hon. Friend has mentioned the rather bizarre concept of two flags, three voices. He has also mentioned Spain's so-called historic claim to Gibraltar. Can he give us an assurance that, if agreement is reached on the two flag concept, an express condition will be that Spain give up its historic claim?
Mr Denzil Davies: Has my right hon. Friend seen reports that the European Commission has censured the Government of Germany for straying too close to the 3 per cent. ceiling on borrowing, as set out in the Maastricht treaty? Given that Germany is struggling to get out of a recession, does my right hon. Friend not agree that the Commission's action shows that there is a fundamental flaw in both the 3 per cent....
Mr Denzil Davies: The report in the business section of today's edition of the Western Mail, to which my right hon. Friend referred, shows that optimism in manufacturing in Wales is now at a two-year high. Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it gives the lie to those—including, sadly, some Ministers—who constantly denigrate the currency of the country in which they live?
Mr Denzil Davies: My hon. Friend has spoken about the power of the Attorney-General. As she knows, other measures provide for a discretion that he exercises in the public interest. I suggest to her, however, that the Government are fettering that discretion in respect of the guidelines. If that is the case, should not those guidelines come before the House so that we can debate them?
Mr Denzil Davies: The amendment refers to conduct consisting of "the legitimate expression of religious belief". What is meant by a legitimate expression, and will that be defined when the guidance comes along?
Mr Denzil Davies: I shall be brief. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be surprised to hear that someone who is sitting behind him and who is a lawyer supports him in the belief that he has gone as far as he possibly can in a very difficult situation. I promise him, and my hon. Friends around me, that I will never do it again.
Mr Denzil Davies: It is indeed. I find myself in some difficulty in that I appear to be at least indirectly endorsing the views of Lord Donaldson. I was in the House a long time ago when he existed in a different incarnation. Perhaps he was not quite the civil libertarian in those days that he has become since, especially when he was made Master of the Rolls. I shall not follow the hon. Member for Southwark,...
Mr Denzil Davies: One would have to consider each particular circumstance, but the exclusion of evidence could well be seen to be a considerable procedural defect and would constitute an error on the record. The hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey cited Lord Donaldson's speech in the other place. One of the most interesting speeches in the other place was made by Lord Lester of Herne Hill, who has...
Mr Denzil Davies: I have some sympathy with what the hon. Gentleman is arguing, but in all fairness the Home Secretary asked a question towards the end of his speech, I think in relation to amendment No. 6 and the word "suspect". It may be difficult, or so the argument goes, for a public authority that is not involved in the murky world of pursuing terrorists and suspected terrorists. That public authority may...
Mr Denzil Davies: My right hon. Friend talked about simplifying the treaties; lawyers get a bit worried when they hear such talk. Will the simplified treaties be legal documents and, if so, will the European Court of Justice adjudicate on them?
Mr Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the companies listed by guarantee which received financial assistance from her Department in financial year 2000–01.
