Asylum: Processing of Applications

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd March 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

There we go; saved by the bell.

Airports: Expansion

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Thursday 4th February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I think the House is calling for my noble friend Lord Tebbit.

[Lord Tebbit]

My Lords, should we not recollect that major international airlines cannot be compelled to fly into airports they do not wish to go to? Should we not all agree now that the alternatives to Heathrow are not Birmingham or Stansted, but Schiphol, Paris and Frankfurt? Either we can have the business in this country, in London, or it will go to the continent.

European Union: Schengen Agreement

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Tuesday 15th December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Noble Lords]

Order!

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I thought my noble friend had finished asking his question. I suggest that we allow him to finish his question and then go to the noble Lord, Lord Pearson.

[Lord Lawson of Blaby]

Would my noble friend, whom I greatly respect, like to correct his Answer to my noble friend Lord Forsyth? In answering, he said that we had control of our borders. So far as the European Union is concerned, we do not. Even though we are not in Schengen, we do not have control of our borders.

Syrian Refugees: Settlement in the UK

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Monday 7th December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Dubs (Lab)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I suggest that it is the turn of a Back Bencher—the noble Lord, Lord Dubs.

[Lord Dubs]

My Lords, what advice, support and help are the Government giving to local authorities to ensure that they have a satisfactory settlement, so that people can be helped into move-on housing and that the local medical and education support services, for example, are there? Given that we have previous experience—for example, when the Bosnians came here—please let us not waste it.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Walmsley]

My Lords, will the Minister note the activities of Siemens in Germany, which is offering—

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My Lords, I am so sorry. Although I understand why the noble Baroness is trying to get in, there are occasions when we should give priority to Back Benchers rather than Front Benchers. I suggest that if we are to have one more speaker, it should be a Back Bencher.

[Lord Judd (Lab)]

While no one would underestimate the complexities, and indeed the pressures on the Minister and his colleagues, is it not important for the consistency of our position to remember constantly to emphasise the values we are trying to protect in our society, one of which is the Christian value of generosity and warmth towards people in situations such as this? Must we not keep that in mind and remember to consider, with all our preoccupations, what we are adding to the preoccupations and problems of Jordan and Lebanon?

Channel Tunnel: Migrants

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Tuesday 1st December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Manzoor (LD)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I suggest that it is the turn of one of the minor parties. I propose that the noble Baronesses from the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party decide between themselves who would like to give way.

Paris Attacks: Violence Against Muslims

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Tuesday 1st December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Morgan (Lab)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I think we should go to the Labour Benches.

[Lord Morgan]

My Lords, is this not a two-way affair? I recently chaired a committee on student radicalism in our universities and I was saddened and appalled at how the Islamic societies there form themselves into self-created ghettos. I would like to discuss this with the Minister, and perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Bates, as well. They isolated themselves from, and in many ways were hostile to, the outside student community, not to mention sexual minorities and women groups. Muslims should not be attacked, obviously, but should they not also make their own positive commitment to community integration?

Identity Cards

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Thursday 26th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Noble Lords]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I have only just arrived. It is the turn of the Cross Benches.

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

I thank the Leader of the House. I do not see why we should not try identity cards. Those of us who drive have to carry a driving licence around with us, otherwise there are always difficulties with the police if you get stopped. I really do not know why we should not see whether it actually works. It works in other countries and why, as the noble Lord, Lord Deben, said, should we not learn from other countries and try it here?

Cyclists

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Monday 23rd November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hughes of Woodside (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston (Con)]

Order! It is the turn of the Lib Dems. Could I urge noble Lords to allow the Minister to sit down before they stand up and try to ask questions?

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Funding

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Thursday 19th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Noble Lords]

Cross Bench!

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, I think we are going to move on to the next Question, but it was the turn of the Cross Benches.

Police: Cuts

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Wednesday 28th October 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Paddick (LD)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)]

My Lords, if we are going round in order, it is the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches, which have not yet asked a question.

[Lord Paddick]

My Lords, last night on BBC’s “Newsnight” the head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Sara Thornton, predicted that the cuts that the Government are about to make will mean the end of routine police patrols. The Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said that he was anticipating losing 8,000 police officer posts in London—25% of its current establishment. Can the Minister please explain how the police can maintain relationships with communities, from which counterintelligence comes, in the face of such cuts?