Moved by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—

“Restrictions on powers to exclude members

(1) No power exercisable under section 4 has effect unless—

(a) it is approved by a sub-committee of the council of which the independent members of the council will form a majority; and

(b) an...

Moved by

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—

“Restrictions on powers to exclude members

(1) No power exercisable under section 4 has effect unless—

(a) it is approved by a sub-committee of the council of which the independent members of the council will form a majority; and

(b) an...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Etherton, the noble Lord, Lord Bassam of Brighton, and the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, for putting their names to this amendment, as well as to a number of other noble Lords from across the House who signed...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Etherton, the noble Lord, Lord Bassam of Brighton, and the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, for putting their names to this amendment, as well as to a number of other noble Lords from across the House who signed...

My Lords, I rise to support this amendment, to which I have added my name. There are four fundamental legal principles which show the need for this amendment and why it should be supported by the Members of the House. Section 1 of the Charities Act 2011 states:

“For the purposes...

My Lords, I rise to support this amendment, to which I have added my name. There are four fundamental legal principles which show the need for this amendment and why it should be supported by the Members of the House. Section 1 of the Charities Act 2011 states:

“For the purposes...

My Lords, I am more than happy to be a co-signatory to this amendment. In agreeing with it, I want to make it plain that I bear the Royal Albert Hall, an iconic national and international institution, no malice or ill will. Who among us has not been to the...

My Lords, I am more than happy to be a co-signatory to this amendment. In agreeing with it, I want to make it plain that I bear the Royal Albert Hall, an iconic national and international institution, no malice or ill will. Who among us has not been to the...

My Lords, I apologise for being momentarily late, and point out that I have to chair the Grand Committee at 5.15 pm, so I hope that our deliberations will have concluded by then. I also declare my interests as set out in the register: I own a management consultancy that...

My Lords, I apologise for being momentarily late, and point out that I have to chair the Grand Committee at 5.15 pm, so I hope that our deliberations will have concluded by then. I also declare my interests as set out in the register: I own a management consultancy that...

My Lords, before I turn to the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Hodgson, which I support—and I commend him for the comprehensive way in which he introduced it—I want to make a few brief remarks about public expectations of the charity sector more generally.

When I became chair of...

My Lords, before I turn to the amendment moved by my noble friend Lord Hodgson, which I support—and I commend him for the comprehensive way in which he introduced it—I want to make a few brief remarks about public expectations of the charity sector more generally.

When I became chair of...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, for moving this amendment and for having had the skill to devise an amendment within the scope of the Bill.

I would be failing in my duty if I did not draw your Lordships’ attention to the special report that...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, for moving this amendment and for having had the skill to devise an amendment within the scope of the Bill.

I would be failing in my duty if I did not draw your Lordships’ attention to the special report that...

My Lords, I add my support to the work of my noble friend Lord Hodgson and add my name to the list of the hall’s fervent supporters. As others have said, it has been a beacon for over 150 years, and we all want to see it flourish for another...

My Lords, I add my support to the work of my noble friend Lord Hodgson and add my name to the list of the hall’s fervent supporters. As others have said, it has been a beacon for over 150 years, and we all want to see it flourish for another...

My Lords—

My Lords—

Front Bench!

Front Bench!

If noble Lords will forgive me, I am probably a fairly isolated member of your Lordships’ House in opposing this amendment. If the Front Benches will forgive me, I think somebody at least ought to speak on the other side of the debate that has happened so far.

I do not...

If noble Lords will forgive me, I am probably a fairly isolated member of your Lordships’ House in opposing this amendment. If the Front Benches will forgive me, I think somebody at least ought to speak on the other side of the debate that has happened so far.

I do not...

My Lords, I support the Bill but oppose the amendment, which would undermine the Royal Albert Hall, its finances and, indeed, its future. I declare my conflict of interest as a seat-holder at the Royal Albert Hall and as having previously worked unpaid on its council for seven years, for...

My Lords, I support the Bill but oppose the amendment, which would undermine the Royal Albert Hall, its finances and, indeed, its future. I declare my conflict of interest as a seat-holder at the Royal Albert Hall and as having previously worked unpaid on its council for seven years, for...

Shame!

Shame!

If noble Lords will hear the end of my sentence, they might understand why I caught that impression. The Bill Committee allowed someone with no locus standi to address the committee for half an hour, and then refused to allow the hall’s representative to present the other side—

If noble Lords will hear the end of my sentence, they might understand why I caught that impression. The Bill Committee allowed someone with no locus standi to address the committee for half an hour, and then refused to allow the hall’s representative to present the other side—

My Lords, I was not going to speak because the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Hale, did much better than I could in explaining what we did on the committee. But I have to note that on the night before we met, having prepared for this for some weeks beforehand,...

My Lords, I was not going to speak because the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Hale, did much better than I could in explaining what we did on the committee. But I have to note that on the night before we met, having prepared for this for some weeks beforehand,...

I express my regret to the noble Baroness for any inadvertent inappropriate language, but I repeat that an individual who it was agreed had no locus standi was allowed to speak for half an hour before the Bill Committee, and then the Royal Albert Hall was refused permission to put...

I express my regret to the noble Baroness for any inadvertent inappropriate language, but I repeat that an individual who it was agreed had no locus standi was allowed to speak for half an hour before the Bill Committee, and then the Royal Albert Hall was refused permission to put...

I am really sorry, but I do not think we can allow that to be said. Maybe it would be better for the chair of the Committee to say this, but I do not think an allegation like that, which is so inaccurate, can be made.

I am really sorry, but I do not think we can allow that to be said. Maybe it would be better for the chair of the Committee to say this, but I do not think an allegation like that, which is so inaccurate, can be made.

My Lords, I did not expect to have to answer that sort of accusation. The Select Committee was formed because there was a petition against the Bill from three people. The hall objected to the locus standi of the petitioners, and we heard both sides of that. That was when...

My Lords, I did not expect to have to answer that sort of accusation. The Select Committee was formed because there was a petition against the Bill from three people. The hall objected to the locus standi of the petitioners, and we heard both sides of that. That was when...

I regret any upset that I may have caused the noble and learned Baroness. Recollections may vary.

I have not completed my speech. As we have heard from my noble friend Lady Stowell, the Charity Commission also wishes to hijack this Bill. However, the commission has the power to intervene directly...

I regret any upset that I may have caused the noble and learned Baroness. Recollections may vary.

I have not completed my speech. As we have heard from my noble friend Lady Stowell, the Charity Commission also wishes to hijack this Bill. However, the commission has the power to intervene directly...

I will do my best; I have just a little bit left. As president of the Royal Albert Hall, I think the House deserves to hear from me, as against the many who did not know.

I and so many current seat-holders have, over many years, put our hearts into making...

I will do my best; I have just a little bit left. As president of the Royal Albert Hall, I think the House deserves to hear from me, as against the many who did not know.

I and so many current seat-holders have, over many years, put our hearts into making...