My Lords, going back to the question of mileage taxation on electric vehicles, does the Minister acknowledge that, in many rural areas, where there is often precious little public transport, there is a greater need for people to have a car, and therefore it would be disproportionately burdensome on those who live there? Have the Government any thoughts about finding a way of rebating the tax for those who are obliged to use a car in rural areas?

My Lords, going back to the question of mileage taxation on electric vehicles, does the Minister acknowledge that, in many rural areas, where there is often precious little public transport, there is a greater need for people to have a car, and therefore it would be disproportionately burdensome on those who live there? Have the Government any thoughts about finding a way of rebating the tax for those who are obliged to use a car in rural areas?

To ask His Majesty's Government which universities were represented in the delegation which accompanied the Prime Minister to India in October.

To ask His Majesty's Government which universities were represented in the delegation which accompanied the Prime Minister to India in October.

My Lords, I will ask a question to which I hope the Minister can give me a straight answer. Much has been said in this House, in the other place and in the media, and there has been much speculation. Will he take this opportunity to assert unequivocally that the...

My Lords, I will ask a question to which I hope the Minister can give me a straight answer. Much has been said in this House, in the other place and in the media, and there has been much speculation. Will he take this opportunity to assert unequivocally that the...

I would be grateful if the Minister could clarify that, if the amendment of the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, is carried, it will not scupper the Bill, but rather the Bill will go back to the Commons, where the Commons can provide an amendment in lieu. Therefore, the ball would...

I would be grateful if the Minister could clarify that, if the amendment of the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, is carried, it will not scupper the Bill, but rather the Bill will go back to the Commons, where the Commons can provide an amendment in lieu. Therefore, the ball would...

My Lords, I want to speak to my Amendments 58A and 59B. I have a lot of sympathy for what the noble Lord, Lord Grocott,

has just said. I tabled these amendments against a background of also aspiring to a wholly elected House, where appointments would not come into it.

What...

My Lords, I want to speak to my Amendments 58A and 59B. I have a lot of sympathy for what the noble Lord, Lord Grocott,

has just said. I tabled these amendments against a background of also aspiring to a wholly elected House, where appointments would not come into it.

What...

My Lords, I also thank the Leader of the House, and I echo what the noble Lord, Lord True, said about the debate we had last week. It was quite remarkable, for two reasons. First, there was a historic stain that we wanted to remove. Secondly, we had confidence in...

My Lords, I also thank the Leader of the House, and I echo what the noble Lord, Lord True, said about the debate we had last week. It was quite remarkable, for two reasons. First, there was a historic stain that we wanted to remove. Secondly, we had confidence in...

My Lords, I am happy to follow the Lord Privy Seal and the noble Lord, Lord True, in welcoming the Bill. I shall start by declaring interests: I am a member and elder of the Church of Scotland and a former moderator of the General Assembly.

I have known Lady Elish....

My Lords, I am happy to follow the Lord Privy Seal and the noble Lord, Lord True, in welcoming the Bill. I shall start by declaring interests: I am a member and elder of the Church of Scotland and a former moderator of the General Assembly.

I have known Lady Elish....

It was not signed during my term of office, but it was worked up during my term of office, and then approved at the General Assembly when I stood down, and signed by my successor.

It was not signed during my term of office, but it was worked up during my term of office, and then approved at the General Assembly when I stood down, and signed by my successor.

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Sheffield, who has made a very robust defence of the Lords spiritual in this House. As he was speaking and outlining the reasons why certain numbers would not work, it occurred to me that the...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Sheffield, who has made a very robust defence of the Lords spiritual in this House. As he was speaking and outlining the reasons why certain numbers would not work, it occurred to me that the...

Moved by

Lord Wallace of Tankerness

1: Clause 1, page 1, leave out line 13 and insert—

“(aa) a person providing a service who is regulated under section 47(1)(a) or 47(1)(b) of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010,”

Moved by

Lord Wallace of Tankerness

1: Clause 1, page 1, leave out line 13 and insert—

“(aa) a person providing a service who is regulated under section 47(1)(a) or 47(1)(b) of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010,”

My Lords, I beg to move the amendment standing in my name and those of the noble Baroness, Lady Fraser of Craigmaddie, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope of Craighead.

In my speech on Report on an amendment moved by my noble friend Lady Barker, I expressed support for...

My Lords, I beg to move the amendment standing in my name and those of the noble Baroness, Lady Fraser of Craigmaddie, and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope of Craighead.

In my speech on Report on an amendment moved by my noble friend Lady Barker, I expressed support for...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lords and noble Baronesses who have participated in this debate. In particular, I thank my noble friend Lady Kramer for accepting the spirit of the amendment to what was originally her and my noble friend Lady Barker’s amendment. I also thank the Minister for...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lords and noble Baronesses who have participated in this debate. In particular, I thank my noble friend Lady Kramer for accepting the spirit of the amendment to what was originally her and my noble friend Lady Barker’s amendment. I also thank the Minister for...

My Lords, I echo some of the comments made by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope of Craighead, who identified some key Scottish voluntary organisations that play a vital role in supporting particularly vulnerable people.

I draw attention to CrossReach, the social care arm of the Church of Scotland. CrossReach...

My Lords, I echo some of the comments made by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope of Craighead, who identified some key Scottish voluntary organisations that play a vital role in supporting particularly vulnerable people.

I draw attention to CrossReach, the social care arm of the Church of Scotland. CrossReach...

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to signing and ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents.

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to signing and ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents.

My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak after the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde. In asserting my support for this Bill, it in no way detracts from the respect and esteem in which I hold the noble Lord, or indeed the other hereditary Peer who has already spoken in the...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak after the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde. In asserting my support for this Bill, it in no way detracts from the respect and esteem in which I hold the noble Lord, or indeed the other hereditary Peer who has already spoken in the...

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Scottish Government set up a review by the former chief executive of the Scottish Law Commission to look into the dual role of the Lord Advocate, first, as the head of the prosecution service in Scotland, and, secondly, as an adviser to the Scottish Government? If the review suggests that there should be a division of these responsibilities, which would require legislation in this Parliament, would His Majesty’s Government be willing to facilitate that, should the Scottish Parliament ask?

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Scottish Government set up a review by the former chief executive of the Scottish Law Commission to look into the dual role of the Lord Advocate, first, as the head of the prosecution service in Scotland, and, secondly, as an adviser to the Scottish Government? If the review suggests that there should be a division of these responsibilities, which would require legislation in this Parliament, would His Majesty’s Government be willing to facilitate that, should the Scottish Parliament ask?

Does the Minister agree that if Ministers in a devolved Administration wish to embark on a course of action or incur expenditure that may well be beyond devolved competence, one might reasonably expect civil servants to seek a written ministerial direction? What information does she have about the number of written ministerial directions sought from Scottish Ministers in the last five years, and what conclusions does she draw from either their frequency or their infrequency?

Does the Minister agree that if Ministers in a devolved Administration wish to embark on a course of action or incur expenditure that may well be beyond devolved competence, one might reasonably expect civil servants to seek a written ministerial direction? What information does she have about the number of written ministerial directions sought from Scottish Ministers in the last five years, and what conclusions does she draw from either their frequency or their infrequency?

To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) tools, and (2) criteria, the Department for International Trade will use to monitor Pakistan's compliance with the human rights and labour provisions of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) tools, and (2) criteria, the Department for International Trade will use to monitor Pakistan's compliance with the human rights and labour provisions of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking or plan to take to implement the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro's independent review of the FCDO support for persecuted Christians: assessment of recommendation's implementation, published on 4 July.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking or plan to take to implement the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro's independent review of the FCDO support for persecuted Christians: assessment of recommendation's implementation, published on 4 July.

To ask His Majesty's Government what role the Foreign Policy and Security Council will play in co-ordinating inter-departmental collaboration between the Department for International Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

To ask His Majesty's Government what role the Foreign Policy and Security Council will play in co-ordinating inter-departmental collaboration between the Department for International Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.