My noble friend and former boss as Secretary of State for Scotland has just stolen the second plank of my argument, but she put it very well indeed. It is a serious matter, because the parents of potential students at Scottish universities from London, Belfast and Cardiff are paying money...

My noble friend and former boss as Secretary of State for Scotland has just stolen the second plank of my argument, but she put it very well indeed. It is a serious matter, because the parents of potential students at Scottish universities from London, Belfast and Cardiff are paying money...

My Lords, the noble Lord is being far too modest in saying that he went on an expedition to Antarctica. He climbed Mount Vinson, the highest mountain there, and he sent many of us dispatches which we received with great interest. He also raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for...

My Lords, the noble Lord is being far too modest in saying that he went on an expedition to Antarctica. He climbed Mount Vinson, the highest mountain there, and he sent many of us dispatches which we received with great interest. He also raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for...

Not moved.

Not moved.

Will the Minister confirm that South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are not included in the definition of Antarctica?

Will the Minister confirm that South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are not included in the definition of Antarctica?

As I understand it, the Falklands are a dependent territory of the United Kingdom and the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia are dependencies of the Falklands. I presume that they are not included because of that. That is important given recent statements in Argentina and the importance of those...

As I understand it, the Falklands are a dependent territory of the United Kingdom and the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia are dependencies of the Falklands. I presume that they are not included because of that. That is important given recent statements in Argentina and the importance of those...

22: After Clause 14, insert the following new Clause— ““Variation of student fees according to origin of British students In Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the 1998 Act, under Head L (miscellaneous) at the end insert— ““L8. Variation of student fees according to origin of British students The setting...

22: After Clause 14, insert the following new Clause— ““Variation of student fees according to origin of British students In Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the 1998 Act, under Head L (miscellaneous) at the end insert— ““L8. Variation of student fees according to origin of British students The setting...

I think that things are moving up the scale, although they are taking some time to do so. We are making a little bit of an impact there now. I want to make it clear that in moving the amendment I am conscious of the sensitivities in relationships between Westminster...

I think that things are moving up the scale, although they are taking some time to do so. We are making a little bit of an impact there now. I want to make it clear that in moving the amendment I am conscious of the sensitivities in relationships between Westminster...

My Lords, it is my pleasure to move Amendment 22, which would prevent the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament from imposing discriminatory fees on students at Scottish universities who are resident in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, has a similar amendment, Amendment 24. I...

My Lords, it is my pleasure to move Amendment 22, which would prevent the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament from imposing discriminatory fees on students at Scottish universities who are resident in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, has a similar amendment, Amendment 24. I...

My noble friend, who was a distinguished administrator and academic at the University of Aberdeen—he was vice-principal—has put his finger on one very important matter. In fact, he has taken away a major part of my speech. Never mind about that. It is a massive irony, as my noble friend...

My noble friend, who was a distinguished administrator and academic at the University of Aberdeen—he was vice-principal—has put his finger on one very important matter. In fact, he has taken away a major part of my speech. Never mind about that. It is a massive irony, as my noble friend...

26A: After Clause 14, insert the following new Clause— ““Rail passenger services (1) In Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the 1998 Act, section E2 (rail transport) is amended as follows. (2) In the exceptions insert— ““Services for the carriage of passengers by railway which start and finish in Scotland,...

26A: After Clause 14, insert the following new Clause— ““Rail passenger services (1) In Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the 1998 Act, section E2 (rail transport) is amended as follows. (2) In the exceptions insert— ““Services for the carriage of passengers by railway which start and finish in Scotland,...

My Lords, I shall be very brief on this because I know that we have some of the most distinguished lawyers from Scotland waiting in the wings to talk about the Supreme Court. I am looking forward to hearing them do so. This amendment was moved by my colleague Thomas...

My Lords, I shall be very brief on this because I know that we have some of the most distinguished lawyers from Scotland waiting in the wings to talk about the Supreme Court. I am looking forward to hearing them do so. This amendment was moved by my colleague Thomas...

I will deal with that very point. I started by saying very much what the Minister has said in his last few words. I am very aware of that sensitivity. I will come back to this in a few minutes, but I am really grateful to the Minister for agreeing...

I will deal with that very point. I started by saying very much what the Minister has said in his last few words. I am very aware of that sensitivity. I will come back to this in a few minutes, but I am really grateful to the Minister for agreeing...

What I am proposing would not overturn the structure of the railways in Great Britain as a whole, as the Minister just said, but is merely filling a little gap in the model, the kind of franchise that can be agreed by the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament. It...

What I am proposing would not overturn the structure of the railways in Great Britain as a whole, as the Minister just said, but is merely filling a little gap in the model, the kind of franchise that can be agreed by the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament. It...

On every previous occasion, I have said that I am really grateful to the Minister for listening carefully to the arguments and being sympathetic, accepting some of the arguments and going away and looking at the amendment. In this case, I am disappointed. I could have gone on at much...

On every previous occasion, I have said that I am really grateful to the Minister for listening carefully to the arguments and being sympathetic, accepting some of the arguments and going away and looking at the amendment. In this case, I am disappointed. I could have gone on at much...