All 1 Debates between Baroness Neville-Jones and Lord Peston

Parliament Square

Debate between Baroness Neville-Jones and Lord Peston
Monday 8th November 2010

(14 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Neville-Jones Portrait Baroness Neville-Jones
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The noble and learned Baroness puts her finger on a real issue. In the short term, that will not be very easy to do. But, certainly, over the longer term it is something that might be looked at.

Lord Peston Portrait Lord Peston
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My Lords, I speak as a member of the Joint Committee on Security, which has been looking at this for years and has got nowhere. At our last meeting, we were told something quite extraordinary; namely, that although what surrounds the square may look like a pavement and, if you fell on it, would feel like a pavement, the High Court has announced that, as it does not go anywhere, is not a pavement—which shows the idiocy of judges. That is one of the things that prevents anyone, including the Met, from doing anything about these squatters.

Baroness Neville-Jones Portrait Baroness Neville-Jones
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This is getting into territory on which I tread with some trepidation. I think that the noble Lord is referring to the judgment which stated that, given the circumstances of the pavement in front of Carriage Gates which, I think it was judged, “did not lead anywhere”, it was permissible for the two protestors and those who were attached to them to continue their protest there.