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.

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[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?

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?

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.

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?

Asylum

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Wednesday 16th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Higgins (Con)]

My Lords—

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

My Lords, we have time. I suggest that we go first to the Cross Benches, if we go round in order, and then to my noble friend Lord Higgins.

[Baroness Afshar]

My Lords, is there any awareness of cause and effect in this process as to why all these people are coming out? Which countries have contributed to this problem? Is there a moral duty to think about what has caused this process? The people who come are the best, and they serve the countries to which they go to the best of their ability. I have done so and I am sure that many others might do so also.

Syria: Christian Refugees

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Wednesday 9th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wright of Richmond (CB)]

My Lords—

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

My Lords, it is not necessary for the noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis, to sit down because it is the turn of the Labour Benches.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords, people of many faiths and none have sought refuge from oppression not only in Syria but elsewhere. Accordingly, are they not entitled to expect to be regarded in a much more benign and civilised way than this Government have exhibited so far?

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[Baroness Berridge]

My Lords—

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My Lords, the House is calling for my noble friend Lady Berridge. I suggest that we hear from her, and if we are brief we can get to the noble Lord.

Airports Commission

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Excerpts

Monday 7th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, I wonder if the Minister would make an educated guess—

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

Order. It is actually the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches.