My Lords, if the structure that the Government have introduced of national policy statements, which are to attract the bulk of the debate, leaving the IPC to do a rather narrow job, is to be successful, consultation must itself be successful. I see no detail—obviously I have not had the...

My Lords, if the structure that the Government have introduced of national policy statements, which are to attract the bulk of the debate, leaving the IPC to do a rather narrow job, is to be successful, consultation must itself be successful. I see no detail—obviously I have not had the...

My Lords, this part of the Bill seems to attract a lot of comments, not necessarily consistent with one another. It seems to us that the Government have managed, at any rate, to satisfy one area of concern which was expressed to us during the earlier stages of the Bill,...

My Lords, this part of the Bill seems to attract a lot of comments, not necessarily consistent with one another. It seems to us that the Government have managed, at any rate, to satisfy one area of concern which was expressed to us during the earlier stages of the Bill,...

My Lords, my comments go back a stage earlier than the points that the noble Lord has just raised. These amendments, which were added to the Bill in response to the London Authorities Mutual Ltd case, seem to address a symptom, not the underlying disease. The analogy that occurred to...

My Lords, my comments go back a stage earlier than the points that the noble Lord has just raised. These amendments, which were added to the Bill in response to the London Authorities Mutual Ltd case, seem to address a symptom, not the underlying disease. The analogy that occurred to...

Does the Minister accept that the local government world probably will not know whether to be worried about something until somebody takes it to court?

Does the Minister accept that the local government world probably will not know whether to be worried about something until somebody takes it to court?

My Lords, when this debate started 24 and a bit minutes ago, I thought that it would be sufficient from these Benches to say that we welcome equality. I am not sure whether I can say much more than that, although I will confess to being a little puzzled. Although...

My Lords, when this debate started 24 and a bit minutes ago, I thought that it would be sufficient from these Benches to say that we welcome equality. I am not sure whether I can say much more than that, although I will confess to being a little puzzled. Although...

My Lords, because we are going back to an issue that we debated at the previous stage, I repeat my concern to see new primary legislation, because of the greater opportunities that that would give for amendment and reflection. Primary legislation need not take long—this Bill is in itself an...

My Lords, because we are going back to an issue that we debated at the previous stage, I repeat my concern to see new primary legislation, because of the greater opportunities that that would give for amendment and reflection. Primary legislation need not take long—this Bill is in itself an...

Like the noble Lord, Lord Cope, I have some difficulty envisaging a Member spending money on being prosecuted. I should like to ask the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin of Roding, whether he intends the term "investigation" to have a formal meaning or whether he is thinking of any informal—perhaps I...

Like the noble Lord, Lord Cope, I have some difficulty envisaging a Member spending money on being prosecuted. I should like to ask the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin of Roding, whether he intends the term "investigation" to have a formal meaning or whether he is thinking of any informal—perhaps I...

The noble Baroness’s defence of her approach to IPSA membership, the commissioner and so on, makes it very clear that hers is not a sunset clause as most of us would understand it but, as my noble friend said, a renewal clause. Indeed, she referred to the definitions. With primary...

The noble Baroness’s defence of her approach to IPSA membership, the commissioner and so on, makes it very clear that hers is not a sunset clause as most of us would understand it but, as my noble friend said, a renewal clause. Indeed, she referred to the definitions. With primary...

If IPSA and the commissioner are not working fine and the Government come up with their proposed solution in the form of a statutory instrument, the is no opportunity for Members to do other than say yes or no. The noble Baroness will accept the problem about there being no...

If IPSA and the commissioner are not working fine and the Government come up with their proposed solution in the form of a statutory instrument, the is no opportunity for Members to do other than say yes or no. The noble Baroness will accept the problem about there being no...

I am glad that the noble Lord described these as probing amendments. I was a little confused about the distinctions between what he is proposing and what the Bill proposes—but he has explained them. I do not wish to focus on the drafting, given his intention in tabling these amendments...

I am glad that the noble Lord described these as probing amendments. I was a little confused about the distinctions between what he is proposing and what the Bill proposes—but he has explained them. I do not wish to focus on the drafting, given his intention in tabling these amendments...

I will not press it, but I simply disagree with the noble Lord’s interpretation. I had certainly never thought of "payment" having the implication of a salary. A payment is money transferred—

I will not press it, but I simply disagree with the noble Lord’s interpretation. I had certainly never thought of "payment" having the implication of a salary. A payment is money transferred—

The noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, said that he felt that "payment" had the implications of "salary". My concern is that the legislation will pre-empt, which is exactly what I seek to avoid. Whatever the noble Lord has to say, even from the Dispatch Box, if something means one thing he...

The noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, said that he felt that "payment" had the implications of "salary". My concern is that the legislation will pre-empt, which is exactly what I seek to avoid. Whatever the noble Lord has to say, even from the Dispatch Box, if something means one thing he...

Clause 3: MPs' allowances scheme Amendment 23 23: Clause 3, page 2, line 4, leave out "pay allowances" and insert "make payments"

Clause 3: MPs' allowances scheme Amendment 23 23: Clause 3, page 2, line 4, leave out "pay allowances" and insert "make payments"

I will also speak to Amendments 24, 25 and 27 to 31. This group follows the previous debate very neatly; I hope that we need not spend long on it. It picks up on exactly the points that so many noble Lords have just made, and I will use their...

I will also speak to Amendments 24, 25 and 27 to 31. This group follows the previous debate very neatly; I hope that we need not spend long on it. It picks up on exactly the points that so many noble Lords have just made, and I will use their...

Amendment 36 36: Clause 5, page 3, line 28, leave out "regularly" and insert "from time to time"

Amendment 36 36: Clause 5, page 3, line 28, leave out "regularly" and insert "from time to time"

In moving Amendment 36, I will speak also to Amendments 37, 39 and 41. This is something of a ragbag of amendments. The first would change the term "regularly" to "from time to time" in Clause 5. "Regularly" suggests that the code will be reviewed at regular intervals, with the...

In moving Amendment 36, I will speak also to Amendments 37, 39 and 41. This is something of a ragbag of amendments. The first would change the term "regularly" to "from time to time" in Clause 5. "Regularly" suggests that the code will be reviewed at regular intervals, with the...

Clause 1: Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority etc Amendment 3 3: Clause 1, page 1, line 3, leave out "Parliamentary" and insert "House of Commons"

Clause 1: Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority etc Amendment 3 3: Clause 1, page 1, line 3, leave out "Parliamentary" and insert "House of Commons"

I shall speak to the Amendments 3 to 6 standing in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Shutt of Greetland. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, who has just referred to them. I hope that, in considering how to deal with the noble Lord’s...

I shall speak to the Amendments 3 to 6 standing in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Shutt of Greetland. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, who has just referred to them. I hope that, in considering how to deal with the noble Lord’s...

I am obviously disappointed with what the Leader of the House has had to say about our amendments. The noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, referred to the signals sent out. It is the signal sent out by this terminology that concerns us. I do not for one moment disagree with him...

I am obviously disappointed with what the Leader of the House has had to say about our amendments. The noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, referred to the signals sent out. It is the signal sent out by this terminology that concerns us. I do not for one moment disagree with him...