To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide with preparations for the 2009 elections in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide with preparations for the 2009 elections in Afghanistan.

The Government are today publishing a consultation paper which seeks views on whether candidates' addresses should continue to be disclosed automatically during UK parliamentary elections. The proposal has been made following the removal of MPs and peers from certain provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. It is argued that...

The Government are today publishing a consultation paper which seeks views on whether candidates' addresses should continue to be disclosed automatically during UK parliamentary elections. The proposal has been made following the removal of MPs and peers from certain provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. It is argued that...

Draft European Parliament (Disqualification) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2009. (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Ministry of Justice. Laid before Parliament for approval by resolution of each House. Coming into force the day after the order is made.

Draft European Parliament (Disqualification) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2009. (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Ministry of Justice. Laid before Parliament for approval by resolution of each House. Coming into force the day after the order is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department plans to issue a formal response to the Electoral Commission's August 2008 document, Electoral Administration in the UK; and if he will make a statement on its recommendations for regional electoral management boards in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department plans to issue a formal response to the Electoral Commission's August 2008 document, Electoral Administration in the UK; and if he will make a statement on its recommendations for regional electoral management boards in England.

I thank everyone who has taken part in this important debate, including of course the Minister for his full but in some respects somewhat bleak reply. I am sure that these proceedings will be read not only in this country, but beyond it. In fact, the Committee of Ministers is...

I thank everyone who has taken part in this important debate, including of course the Minister for his full but in some respects somewhat bleak reply. I am sure that these proceedings will be read not only in this country, but beyond it. In fact, the Committee of Ministers is...

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...

That proves the obvious: that the European convention cannot right all wrongs. The matter remains grossly unfair and I hope that some day a Government of this country will take the courage to do something about it.

That proves the obvious: that the European convention cannot right all wrongs. The matter remains grossly unfair and I hope that some day a Government of this country will take the courage to do something about it.

Can the Minister tell us when the second stage consultation will begin and end?

Can the Minister tell us when the second stage consultation will begin and end?

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Lester, on having secured this debate on what is by any standards a very important issue, and one which I fear has been much neglected in political and parliamentary discussions; namely, are we as a country and a Government sufficiently energetic to comply with...

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Lester, on having secured this debate on what is by any standards a very important issue, and one which I fear has been much neglected in political and parliamentary discussions; namely, are we as a country and a Government sufficiently energetic to comply with...

I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Lester, on securing this debate. I shall speak briefly as a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to support what the noble Lord has said today and to emphasise that members of the committee of all parties and of no party...

I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Lester, on securing this debate. I shall speak briefly as a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to support what the noble Lord has said today and to emphasise that members of the committee of all parties and of no party...

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, too, begin by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Lester, on securing this debate and thank him for introducing it with characteristic eloquence. I also want to use the occasion to pay a personal tribute to him. On both the Joint Committee on Human Rights and outside he has played...

I, too, begin by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Lester, on securing this debate and thank him for introducing it with characteristic eloquence. I also want to use the occasion to pay a personal tribute to him. On both the Joint Committee on Human Rights and outside he has played...

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...

As I was about to say, we on these Benches believe that the Human Rights Act, which gives such prominence to our legal and parliamentary system in the European Convention on Human Rights, is a noble and long-established doctrine but that it has shifted the balance of our constitution too...

As I was about to say, we on these Benches believe that the Human Rights Act, which gives such prominence to our legal and parliamentary system in the European Convention on Human Rights, is a noble and long-established doctrine but that it has shifted the balance of our constitution too...

I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Lester, for obtaining this debate. In doing so, he has enabled your Lordships' House rightly to participate in holding the Government to account, which is one of the principal aims of Parliament. I am sure that the Minister will welcome the opportunity to...

I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Lester, for obtaining this debate. In doing so, he has enabled your Lordships' House rightly to participate in holding the Government to account, which is one of the principal aims of Parliament. I am sure that the Minister will welcome the opportunity to...

rose to move that this House takes note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Monitoring the Government’s Response to Human Rights Judgments: Annual Report 2008 (31st Report, HL Paper 173). The noble Lord said: I am a member of the committee, as are the noble Lords,...

rose to move that this House takes note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Monitoring the Government’s Response to Human Rights Judgments: Annual Report 2008 (31st Report, HL Paper 173). The noble Lord said: I am a member of the committee, as are the noble Lords,...

I welcome very warmly the action of my noble friend Lord Lester of Herne Hill in bringing this report before the Grand Committee. Many lawyers like myself and indeed those working beyond the legal world believe that my noble friend is the leading expert on human rights in this country,...

I welcome very warmly the action of my noble friend Lord Lester of Herne Hill in bringing this report before the Grand Committee. Many lawyers like myself and indeed those working beyond the legal world believe that my noble friend is the leading expert on human rights in this country,...

European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2009. (Affirmative instrument) (SI 2009/186). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Ministry of Justice. Approved by each House. Coming into force the day after the regulations are made on 29 January 2009..

European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2009. (Affirmative instrument) (SI 2009/186). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Ministry of Justice. Approved by each House. Coming into force the day after the regulations are made on 29 January 2009..

Tenth Sitting (morning). Written evidence reported to the House. Clause 8, as amended, under consideration when the Committee adjourned till this day at One o'clock.

Tenth Sitting (morning). Written evidence reported to the House. Clause 8, as amended, under consideration when the Committee adjourned till this day at One o'clock.