I now close my speech with some points on which I hope we can agree. We agree in principle about the value of our Human Rights Act, but I have some more specific points. In his opening remarks, the noble Lord, Lord Lester, talked about the court being overwhelmed with...

I now close my speech with some points on which I hope we can agree. We agree in principle about the value of our Human Rights Act, but I have some more specific points. In his opening remarks, the noble Lord, Lord Lester, talked about the court being overwhelmed with...

I cannot give an answer on when it will begin; I am not in a position to do so. On getting the revised action plan on prisoners’ voting rights to the JCHR, which the noble Lord, Lord Bowness, mentioned, we are sorry that did not happen. It is our clear...

I cannot give an answer on when it will begin; I am not in a position to do so. On getting the revised action plan on prisoners’ voting rights to the JCHR, which the noble Lord, Lord Bowness, mentioned, we are sorry that did not happen. It is our clear...

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on Monitoring the Government's Response to Human Rights Judgements: Annual Report 2008 (HL 173 2007-08). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to take note of the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on Monitoring the Government's Response to Human Rights Judgements: Annual Report 2008 (HL 173 2007-08). Agreed to on question.

I thank all noble Lords who have taken part this afternoon, particularly the noble Lord, Lord Lester, for moving the debate. He has a deserved reputation in this field, not just from his advocacy in many of the leading cases themselves, but from his own work on the implementation of...

I thank all noble Lords who have taken part this afternoon, particularly the noble Lord, Lord Lester, for moving the debate. He has a deserved reputation in this field, not just from his advocacy in many of the leading cases themselves, but from his own work on the implementation of...

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of attempts to rename the President of Malawi ““Life President””, what steps they will take to make upholding democracy in that country, in particular the staging of free and fair elections in May 2009, a condition of United Kingdom aid to Malawi.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of attempts to rename the President of Malawi ““Life President””, what steps they will take to make upholding democracy in that country, in particular the staging of free and fair elections in May 2009, a condition of United Kingdom aid to Malawi.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to send parliamentary representatives to monitor the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to send parliamentary representatives to monitor the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to send representatives to monitor the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to send representatives to monitor the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh.

My Lords, I did not mean to interrupt the noble Lord. I can answer this question now: my noble friend is due to take leave of absence almost as we speak.

My Lords, I did not mean to interrupt the noble Lord. I can answer this question now: my noble friend is due to take leave of absence almost as we speak.

My Lords, I think that the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, was asking me the question. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, answered it admirably, if I may say so without seeking to flatter him unduly. We just have to disagree on this. The Government’s view is that, arguably, Standing Orders would...

My Lords, I think that the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, was asking me the question. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, answered it admirably, if I may say so without seeking to flatter him unduly. We just have to disagree on this. The Government’s view is that, arguably, Standing Orders would...

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, that is right, but in our view Standing Orders do not form part of the law of the United Kingdom. This is the important point of the debate—they would not be taken into account by the European authorities in determining whether we were compliant with EU law.

My Lords, that is right, but in our view Standing Orders do not form part of the law of the United Kingdom. This is the important point of the debate—they would not be taken into account by the European authorities in determining whether we were compliant with EU law.

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken for the interesting and lively debate that we have had so far. In particular, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, for moving his Motion this evening, and I am grateful to him and the noble Lord, Lord Norton of...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken for the interesting and lively debate that we have had so far. In particular, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, for moving his Motion this evening, and I am grateful to him and the noble Lord, Lord Norton of...

My Lords, perhaps I am being slow. I am missing the noble Lord’s point. I would have thought that the comments I have made about hereditary Peers apply to all hereditary Peers, all of whom were elected after the 1999 Act, unless they were elected in a by-election.

My Lords, perhaps I am being slow. I am missing the noble Lord’s point. I would have thought that the comments I have made about hereditary Peers apply to all hereditary Peers, all of whom were elected after the 1999 Act, unless they were elected in a by-election.

Yes, I can, my Lords.

Yes, I can, my Lords.

My Lords, I shall try to explain Regulation 4—I know that the House is sitting late tonight. I think that Regulation 4(1)(b) exercised the noble Lord in particular; he said that it is unnecessary. It follows the model in existing primary legislation, such as the Insolvency Act 1986. That is...

My Lords, I shall try to explain Regulation 4—I know that the House is sitting late tonight. I think that Regulation 4(1)(b) exercised the noble Lord in particular; he said that it is unnecessary. It follows the model in existing primary legislation, such as the Insolvency Act 1986. That is...

My Lords, I rely on the compromise that was reached between my noble and learned friend Lord Irvine and the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, then Viscount Cranborne. It made the number of hereditary Peers 90, plus the two. The House itself, not just hereditary Peers, having agreed that compromise might...

My Lords, I rely on the compromise that was reached between my noble and learned friend Lord Irvine and the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, then Viscount Cranborne. It made the number of hereditary Peers 90, plus the two. The House itself, not just hereditary Peers, having agreed that compromise might...

My Lords, it cannot be a hybrid order, because this is a negative resolution. I make it absolutely clear that we did not choose it to be a negative resolution because otherwise the issue of hybridity would arise. It is a negative resolution because, having taken advice on the issue...

My Lords, it cannot be a hybrid order, because this is a negative resolution. I make it absolutely clear that we did not choose it to be a negative resolution because otherwise the issue of hybridity would arise. It is a negative resolution because, having taken advice on the issue...

European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1647). Lords debate on a motion that an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty that the regulations be annulled. Motion debated and withdrawn.

European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1647). Lords debate on a motion that an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty that the regulations be annulled. Motion debated and withdrawn.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will, if approved, recognise the Nigerian presidential process as soon as the High Court in Abuja has delivered its verdict; and whether the United Kingdom High Commissioner will then call on the president to identify implementable initiatives to deepen the bilateral relationship.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will, if approved, recognise the Nigerian presidential process as soon as the High Court in Abuja has delivered its verdict; and whether the United Kingdom High Commissioner will then call on the president to identify implementable initiatives to deepen the bilateral relationship.

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the European Parliament (Number of MEPs and Distribution between Electoral Regions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2008. The noble Lord said: The order relates to the European parliamentary elections to be held in the...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the European Parliament (Number of MEPs and Distribution between Electoral Regions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2008. The noble Lord said: The order relates to the European parliamentary elections to be held in the...