Lord Alton of Liverpool Alert Sample


Alert Sample

View the Parallel Parliament page for Lord Alton of Liverpool

Information between 30th November 2024 - 10th December 2024

Note: This sample does not contain the most recent 2 weeks of information. Up to date samples can only be viewed by Subscribers.
Click here to view Subscription options.


Calendar
Thursday 19th December 2024
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Debate - Main Chamber
Subject: The policy towards China especially in relation to human rights and security issues arising from China’s actions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, and the South China Sea, and against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang
View calendar


Speeches
Lord Alton of Liverpool speeches from: Northern Ireland: Legacy of the Troubles
Lord Alton of Liverpool contributed 1 speech (259 words)
Thursday 5th December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Lord Alton of Liverpool speeches from: Great British Energy Bill
Lord Alton of Liverpool contributed 1 speech (1,428 words)
Committee stage part one
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Lord Alton of Liverpool speeches from: North-west Syria
Lord Alton of Liverpool contributed 1 speech (246 words)
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Leader of the House
Lord Alton of Liverpool speeches from: Great British Energy Bill
Lord Alton of Liverpool contributed 3 speeches (1,937 words)
Committee stage part two
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Lord Alton of Liverpool speeches from: Food Security
Lord Alton of Liverpool contributed 1 speech (98 words)
Monday 2nd December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Alton of Liverpool speeches from: UK Leadership on Sudan
Lord Alton of Liverpool contributed 1 speech (381 words)
Monday 2nd December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Leader of the House


Written Answers
South China Sea: Shipping
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Monday 2nd December 2024

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to increase the number and frequency of 'freedom of navigation' operations through contested areas in the East and South China Seas, including the Taiwan Strait.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely comment on future deployments for reasons of operational security. However, the UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the East and South China Seas along with the Taiwan Strait, and remains committed to upholding international law and to freedom of navigation.

Refugees: Uyghurs
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Monday 2nd December 2024

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have offered to receive any Uyghur refugees held in detention centres in other countries or facing repatriation to China.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The United Kingdom will always take seriously our responsibility, alongside others, to help those fleeing war and persecution. Under the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), the UK relies upon referrals from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

UNHCR has the global mandate to provide international protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees. UNHCR refer individuals for resettlement in accordance with their standard resettlement submission criteria, which are based on an assessment of protection needs and vulnerabilities. The UK does not seek to influence the cases that the UNHCR refers.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Taiwan
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Taiwan’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and to encourage other member states to endorse its bid; and whether they are seeking to expedite Taiwan’s CPTPP application and to ensure that it is considered independently of, or prior to, the application of China.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Discussion among CPTPP Members is progressing on how to take forward accession applications. The UK and other CPTPP members have reaffirmed on several instances that the CPTPP is open to Accession Requests by economies that can satisfy the “Auckland Principles”, namely being able to meet the agreement’s high standards, having a track record of compliance with trade commitments, and commanding consensus of the Parties. It is right that we work within the principles of the group to achieve a consensus decision, rather than providing our own individual narrative on the applications of specific economies.

Renewable Energy: Taiwan
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support UK firms participating in renewable energy projects in Taiwan to enhance energy resilience in that country.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

In November 2023, the British Representative in Taipei and the Taipei Representative in the UK signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) Arrangement setting out the UK and Taiwan’s priorities for the future cooperation, including an energy and net zero pillar. The Government regularly promotes international business opportunities to UK firms and has previously supported business delegations to Taiwan. UK Export Finance, the Government’s credit agency, has also provided over £900million of financing to Taiwanese offshore wind projects, supporting Taiwan’s energy transition and UK businesses.

Arms Trade: Taiwan
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure continued support for military and dual-use technology exports to Taiwan, including through the maintenance of existing export licences.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK operates one of the most transparent export licensing systems in the world. There is a long record of the UK granting licences for exports of controlled goods to Taiwan, on a case-by-case basis, where those applications are consistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

The Department for Business and Trade provides advice and support to prospective exporters of controlled goods where there is a reasonable expectation of securing licenses, but the support will vary with an individual case’s circumstances.

Refugees: Uyghurs
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Monday 2nd December 2024

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent they take account of the resolution of the House of Commons of 22 April 2021 declaring Uyghur Muslims to be subjected to a genocide in Xinjiang when determining their policy with regard to refugee status.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of any relevant caselaw and the latest available country information. Our position on the Uyghurs in China is set out in the relevant country policy and information note on the gov.uk website.

When someone establishes a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm in their country, they are normally granted protection and are not expected to return there.

China: Uyghurs
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Tuesday 3rd December 2024

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication on 10 November of the story of the Uyghur refugee Hasan Imam in The New York Times, what assessment they have made of the risk that Uyghurs in the UK may be subjected to transnational repression by the government of China.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Security is the first duty of this Government.

This Government is completely committed to responding to foreign interference, including those actions which amount to transnational repression. Home Office officials work closely with operational partners, the FCDO and other departments to review the threat picture and determine how best to respond.

We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated and will be thoroughly investigated.

Anyone who thinks they might be a victim should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police.

Overseas Students: Hong Kong
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Monday 9th December 2024

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following a letter from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Hong Kong Watch on 3 October, in which it was suggested that Hong Kong British National (Overseas) students who cannot afford international university fees could appeal to have their fees waived, what assessment they have made of the number of international students that have successfully waived their fees, in whole or part, due to financial shortcoming.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

Higher education (HE) institutions in England are autonomous bodies and it is for them to assess whether applications for fees which do not meet the criteria for automatic home fee status should be reduced or waived in line with individual circumstances. The department has not made an assessment on the number of international students that have successfully had their fees waived.

There are a range of resources and support for international students looking for scholarships, which can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website and the British Council’s Study UK page.

Many HE institutions in the UK offer a range of bursaries and scholarships to international students and the department encourages students to contact their institution to find out what support may be available. We have not carried out an assessment of the number of university scholarships or bursaries available to prospective students on British National (Overseas) visas.

Overseas Students: Hong Kong
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Monday 9th December 2024

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of university scholarships or bursaries available to prospective students on British National (Overseas) visas to help them afford international fees for tuition.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

Higher education (HE) institutions in England are autonomous bodies and it is for them to assess whether applications for fees which do not meet the criteria for automatic home fee status should be reduced or waived in line with individual circumstances. The department has not made an assessment on the number of international students that have successfully had their fees waived.

There are a range of resources and support for international students looking for scholarships, which can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website and the British Council’s Study UK page.

Many HE institutions in the UK offer a range of bursaries and scholarships to international students and the department encourages students to contact their institution to find out what support may be available. We have not carried out an assessment of the number of university scholarships or bursaries available to prospective students on British National (Overseas) visas.




Lord Alton of Liverpool mentioned

Parliamentary Debates
Great British Energy Bill
44 speeches (11,617 words)
Committee stage part two
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 - Lords Chamber
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Mentions:
1: Lord Offord of Garvel (Con - Life peer) My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, and the noble Earl, Lord Russell, for their - Link to Speech




Lord Alton of Liverpool - Select Committee Information

Calendar
Wednesday 18th December 2024 2 p.m.
Human Rights (Joint Committee) - Private Meeting
View calendar
Wednesday 11th December 2024 4 p.m.
Human Rights (Joint Committee) - Private Meeting
View calendar


Select Committee Documents
Thursday 19th December 2024
Correspondence - Letter from Justin Madders MP, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets, Department for Business and Trade to the Committee regarding the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill

Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Thursday 19th December 2024
Correspondence - Letter from Lord Alton of Liverpool, Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to Baroness Anderson regarding the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill

Human Rights (Joint Committee)


Select Committee Inquiry
19 Dec 2024
Mental Health Bill
Human Rights (Joint Committee) (Select)

Submit Evidence (by 24 Jan 2025)


 

Background

In the King’s Speech in July 2024, the new Government announced its intention to “legislate to modernise the Mental Health Act so it is fit for the twenty first century”. The Mental Health Bill was subsequently introduced in the House of Lords on 6 November 2024 and Committee Stage in that House is scheduled to commence on 14 January 2025.

The Mental Health Bill is the product of years of preparatory work. In 2017, then-Prime Minister Theresa May commissioned an independent review of the Mental Health Act 1983. The review, chaired by Professor Sir Simon Wessely, published its report in December 2018. The Government subsequently brought forward a White Paper in 2021. Following a public consultation on that White Paper, the Government published a draft Mental Health Bill in June 2022. Parliament’s Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill carried out pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill and published its findings in January 2023. These findings have informed the Mental Health Bill which is now before Parliament.

The Government’s proposals

The Bill aims to amend and reform a number of aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983. The Mental Health Act 1983 is the principal legislation governing the detention and compulsory treatment in England and Wales of people suffering from mental disorders.

The Government’s proposals in the Bill are wide-ranging, covering policies on multiple areas including:

  • Autism and learning disabilities
  • Grounds for detention
  • Nominated persons
  • Advanced choice documents
  • Community treatment orders
  • Changes to the statutory Codes of Practice

Role of the Joint Committee on Human Rights

The Joint Committee on Human Rights carries out scrutiny of legislation to ensure its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards.

The Mental Health Bill deals with the detention and compulsory treatment of patients against their will. As such, it raises important issues concerning liberty and autonomy, as well as issues of public and personal safety.

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – which has been incorporated into domestic law through the Human Rights Act 1998 – includes a number of rights that may be engaged by the measures in the Mental Health Bill. For example:

  • Article 5 ECHR guarantees the right to liberty and security. Article 5 states that “[n]o one shall be deprived of his liberty” except where it is in accordance with a “procedure prescribed by law” and one of the exemptions in the exhaustive list set out in Article 5. Article 5(1)(e) states that a person can be deprived on their liberty in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law where it is for the lawful detention of “persons of unsound mind”. Article 5 requires certain safeguards and procedures to be in place before a person can lawfully be deprived of their liberty.
  • Article 8 ECHR guarantees the right to respect for private and family life. Article 8 is relevant to many aspects of mental health and medical treatment. For example, mental health is regarded as an indispensable precondition to effective enjoyment of the right to respect for private life. An individual’s right to refuse medical treatment falls within the scope of Article 8, including in the case of a mentally ill patient.
  • Article 14 ECHR prohibits discrimination. Article 14 is not a stand-alone or general right against discrimination; the prohibition on discrimination only applies to discrimination in the enjoyment of the other rights set out in the Convention. It can therefore be relevant to arguments made under the other substantive rights, such as Articles 5 and 8.
  • Articles 2 and 3 ECHR may also be relevant. Article 2 guarantees the right to life. The UK has responsibilities under Article 2 to protect the lives of vulnerable people in its care. Article 3 prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Where forced medical intervention is medically necessary and procedural safeguards are in place, it is usually not considered to amount to inhuman or degrading treatment. However, where medical necessity is lacking, medical treatment can be found to be incompatible with Article 3.

Other international human rights instruments may also be engaged by the provisions of the Bill, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

12 Dec 2024
Northern Ireland Legacy Remedial Order
Human Rights (Joint Committee) (Select)

Submit Evidence (by 20 Jan 2025)


Send us your views: Proposal for a Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2024.

On 4 December 2024, the Northern Ireland Office laid a proposal for a draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2024 (the ‘Proposed Remedial Order’).

The Joint Committee on Human Rights would like to hear your views.

What is a remedial order?

A remedial order is a form of secondary legislation. They can be used to amend primary or secondary legislation in circumstances specified in section 10 and Schedule 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998. In particular, remedial orders can be used in response to declarations of incompatibility issued by the courts under section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Background and Declarations of Incompatibility

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (‘the Legacy Act’) received Royal Assent on 18 September 2023. The Act was intended to “address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles and promote reconciliation”.

Judicial review proceedings were brought against the Government in the High Court in Belfast in the case of Re Dillon and Others [2024] NIKB 11. The Applicants challenged the compatibility of various provisions of the Act with the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’), in particular:

  • Article 2 (right to life) and Article 3 (prohibition of torture) ECHR. Article 2 ECHR provides that everyone’s life shall be protected by law. Article 3 ECHR provides that no one shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Both Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR impose an obligation on the state to ensure that there is an effective official investigation where conduct in breach of the relevant Article is suspected. The UK is obliged to have in place an effective system of criminal law which is capable of deterring the commission of offences by the prevention, investigation and sanctioning of breaches.
  • Article 6 (right to a fair trial) ECHR. This right guarantees the right to fair and public hearings before an independent tribunal for determination of civil rights and obligations (or criminal charges). Article 6 can be limited in certain circumstances. However, any restriction must pursue a legitimate aim and be proportionate.

The High Court handed down its judgment on 28 February 2024. The High Court found the following provisions to be incompatible with the ECHR and issued declarations of incompatibility under section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 in respect of them:

  • The provisions providing for conditional immunity and prohibiting criminal enforcement action: sections 7(3), 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 39 and 42(1) of the Legacy Act. These provisions were found to be incompatible with Articles 2 and 3 ECHR;
  • The retrospective bar to the continuation of all Troubles-related civil actions brought between the First Reading of the Bill in Parliament in May 2022 and the date it came into force in November 2023: section 43(1) of the Legacy Act. This provision was found to be incompatible with Article 6 ECHR;
  • The exclusion of material provided to or produced by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery being used as evidence in other cases, such as civil and coronial proceedings: section 8 of the Legacy Act. This provision was found to be incompatible with Articles 2 and 6 ECHR; and
  • The provisions related to the retrospective validation of defective interim custody orders and the bar on civil actions based on those defective interim custody orders: sections 46(2), (3) and (4) and 47(1) and (4) of the Legacy Act. These provisions were found to be incompatible with Article 6 ECHR and Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the ECHR.

The Government and the Applicants both appealed aspects of the High Court’s judgment to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment on 20 September 2024 (Re Dillon and Others [2024] NICA 59). The Court of Appeal found the following additional aspects of the Legacy Act to be incompatible with the ECHR and issued declarations of incompatibility under section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 in respect of them:

  • The provisions barring all future Troubles-related civil actions: section 43(2). This provision was found to be incompatible with Article 6 ECHR;
  • The provisions related to disclosure of sensitive material. The Court of Appeal found aspects of the Legacy Act’s disclosure regime to be incompatible with Articles 2 and 3 ECHR; and
  • The lack of provision in the Legacy Act for effective next of kin participation, especially in the form of Legal Aid for investigations being carried out by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The Court of Appeal found this to be incompatible with Articles 2 and 3 ECHR.

It was a manifesto commitment of the new Labour Government to “repeal and replace” the Legacy Act. In an oral statement on 4 December 2024 announcing the laying of the Proposed Remedial Order, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set out that the Proposed Remedial Order would remedy all of the human rights deficiencies in the Legacy Act which had been identified by the High Court, as well as one of the issues identified by the Court of Appeal. The Secretary of State also indicated that the Government would introduce further primary legislation when parliamentary time allows to address the issue of inquests and other aspects of the Court of Appeal’s judgment. In parallel, the Government is seeking permission to appeal some aspects of the Court of Appeal’s judgment to the Supreme Court.

The Proposed Remedial Order

The Proposed Remedial Order seeks to remedy all of the incompatibilities found by the High Court in Northern Ireland and one of the incompatibilities found by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland by:

  • Removing the provisions in the Legacy Act which set up the conditional immunity scheme and the prohibition on criminal enforcement action (see Article 2 of the Proposed Remedial Order);
  • Removing the ban on using evidence provided to or produced by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery in civil proceedings and inquests (see Article 3 of the Proposed Remedial Order);
  • Removing the bar on new and existing civil actions relating to the Troubles (see Article 4 of the Proposed Remedial Order);
  • Removing the provisions which sought to retrospectively validate defective interim custody orders and prevent civil claims for compensation in relation to them (see Article 5 of the Proposed Remedial Order);
  • Making various amendments to other enactments which are consequential on the above changes (see Article 6 of the Proposed Remedial Order).

The Proposed Remedial Order does not seek to resolve the other incompatibilities found by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, namely those relating to:

  • Effective next of kin participation, including legal aid; and
  • Disclosure of sensitive information.