Newspapers: Foreign Ownership
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Butler-Sloss(2 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
If there were any attempt to intervene in the direction of the newspaper, the Secretary of State would, as I have mentioned, have a specific duty to intervene. We have followed the CMA guidance very closely; I ask your Lordships’ House to note that page 20 of the CMA’s jurisdiction and procedure guidance sets out how the CMA assesses whether material influence arises. Generally, the CMA views shareholdings of below 25% as
“less likely to confer material influence”,
but it may scrutinise shareholdings below this figure to consider whether there are factors that indicate material influence.
As I mentioned, though, we should all be explicitly clear that the foreign state influence regime gives the Secretary of State not just the ability to intervene but an explicit duty to do so: she must intervene and refer to the CMA for investigation merger cases that she suspects may have resulted, or may result, in foreign state control or influence over a newspaper enterprise’s policy.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, how on earth would the Secretary of State know whether a particular individual on a particular committee was influencing that newspaper?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The Secretary of State does not have to have all the evidence: it is for the CMA to investigate. The regime has a duty to intervene where she suspects that there may be influence. I am happy to provide further information to the noble and learned Baroness, or to meet her and others who have questions about this. The Secretary of State does not have to have material evidence; she just has to have reasonable grounds to suspect that this might be the case. If it were to be the case—for example, if a newspaper took a radically different position or there was a nuance change—it is likely she could intervene in that regard.
Schools: World War II Anniversary
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Butler-Sloss
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
We are clear that this is an important part of the commemoration. As the noble Lord has identified, our victory and our freedom relied both on the 365,000 British troops and the 1.5 million Commonwealth troops who were deployed alongside 2.5 million soldiers from the pre-partition Indian army. It is right, as the noble Lord makes clear, that the sacrifices made by those serving across Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and all the troops who fought as part of the British and Commonwealth response, will be very much at the heart of the commemorations.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, I am probably the only person in this House today who was a child during the Second World War, between the ages of six and 12.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
And the noble Lord, Lord Dubs—of course. But there are not very many of us, I have to say. Does the Minister think it might be useful to have some views from those of us who lived through it on what happened: for example, on rationing?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I am not going to comment on how many noble Lords were children during the Second World War. I still have my great aunt’s ration card, which is one of my very valued family memories of the Second World War. I agree with the noble and learned Baroness that the stories of children from the Second World War, as told to children, will help them understand the full experience of what war was like. There are children still going through war situations now, including, very sadly, some of the children who may be in our schools. I will not go into the story about my mother talking about the first time she managed to eat chocolate and a banana and hated them, but all of this adds flavour and colour to the stories that we would all want children to learn from and understand.
National Youth Strategy
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Butler-Sloss
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
As the noble Lord will be aware, there is a whole host of other programmes delivered by the department in addition to the National Citizen Service. We did not want to do what the previous Government did with vinspired and let the organisation wither on the vine.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, what is the national youth strategy doing, if anything, about the issues surrounding county lines?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
One of the things about not having a youth strategy that goes across government is that we have not necessarily had joined-up work. I am happy to get a response to the noble and learned Baroness on that, but my understanding is that this is one of the issues that the Young Futures hubs will work on. They are committed to intervening early to stop young people being drawn into crime and other poor outcomes.
European Union
Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Butler-Sloss(9 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The Prime Minister has been unambiguous on that point, and that is not up for debate.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, do the Government support the free movement of young people between Europe and the UK?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The UK has no plans for an EU-wide youth mobility scheme. There will be no return to freedom of movement, and that includes in relation to school trips. Although the UK recognises the deep importance of cultural and educational exchanges between the UK and other nations, any discussions and decisions relating to our policy on school trip travel have to be made with due regard to the proper functioning of our immigration system.