Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: As I mentioned in the Statement, we have been working hard to try to ensure that we disrupt smuggling. That is why we have been fulfilling our obligations as part of Operation Sophia to provide assistance to people in distress, respond to those in need and tackle the callous smugglers. Our Royal Navy and border forces have rescued more than 26,000 migrants. On the noble Lord’s points about...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: I can tell the noble Baroness that we are united on delivering the best deal for this country.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: I hope I have made it clear that the Prime Minister has been very clear that her objective remains wanting to give reassurance. We have made our intentions clear and we need other European leaders to match our commitment. My noble friend is absolutely right that we need to provide certainty where we can, which is why the Prime Minister has once again reiterated to our European partners that...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, I think I have been very clear. Our objectives are extremely clear: to deliver the best deal for the British people.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: Perhaps I can further reiterate on the deal that we want. We want to give companies the maximum freedom to trade with and co-operate in the European market and allow European businesses to do the same. We want to deliver the deepest possible co-operation to ensure our national security and the security of our allies. We want to ensure that we are a fully independent sovereign state and...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: The noble Lord is absolutely right. We are deeply concerned by reports that the regime forces and their supporters are carrying out summary executions, including of women and children, and that hundreds of men have disappeared on leaving eastern Aleppo and entering regime-held areas. That is why we are very pleased that the UN Security Council has adopted a resolution today which demands full...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: We have been very clear that we are implementing the will of 17.4 million people in delivering a referendum and now organising our withdrawal from the EU. We will, of course, comply with all constitutional and legal obligations that apply to the deal we negotiate with the EU.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, first, before I answer those questions, I apologise, because I suggested that the Government had committed £100 million to UNICEF. That would be extremely generous of us, but I am afraid it is only £10 million. It is still obviously an important contribution, but I wanted to put that on record and apologise for getting the wrong figure. As for the questions the noble Baroness and...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, with the leave of the House I will now repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in another place. The Statement is as follows: “With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a Statement on last week’s European Council. Both the UK and the rest of the EU are preparing for the negotiations that will begin when we trigger Article 50 before the...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, as the noble Lord graciously said, these amendments were tabled within the tabling deadline. I am afraid I do not have anything further that I can add, but I am sure there will be an interesting debate tomorrow during the course of the Bill. Motion agreed.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Conservative Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, I am grateful to everyone for their contributions to the debate and to my noble friend Lord Cormack for securing the opportunity for us to discuss this important matter. Today’s debate has shown that across the House there is a strong desire to ensure that we continue and, indeed, improve the way we perform our critical scrutinising and revising role. What has also come across...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her comments. I am sorry that she takes the view that she does. All I can say is that the Government of course recognise the conventions of this House. I reiterate what I said last week: “We recognise the valuable role of the House of Lords in scrutinising SIs, but there is no mechanism for the will of the elected House to prevail when they are...
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Lords, we will go to the Bishops’ Bench.