Order of the Companions of Honour Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Order of the Companions of Honour

Baroness Trumpington Excerpts
Thursday 6th June 2013

(11 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Trumpington Portrait Baroness Trumpington
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My Lords, the Minister will be aware that there is to be a debate later in this Session about making Alan Turing a non-criminal. Despite the fact that he made an enormous contribution to this country’s future, would his criminal conviction, as things stand, prevent him being made a Companion of Honour?

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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My Lords, my briefing assured me that honours were not to be withdrawn from people who have died, and I think that the awarding of honours to people who have died would also be outwith the honours system as it is currently understood. However, we would all strongly agree that Alan Turing suffered quite appalling discrimination. Both my parents-in-law worked with the noble Baroness at Bletchley Park.