Nigeria: Chibok Abductions

Lord Hill of Oareford Excerpts

Wednesday 14th May 2014 Lords Chamber

[Noble Lords]

Tebbit!

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford) (Con)]

My Lords, let us hear from the Cross Benches.

[Baroness Cox]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that, while the kidnapping of more than 200 girls at Chibok is unprecedented in scale, the brutal policy of kidnapping girls and subjecting them to forced marriage and/or conversion has been widespread across northern Nigeria’s Sharia states for years, sometimes with the connivance of local authorities? Therefore, while the rescue of these girls must be the urgent priority, will Her Majesty’s Government urge the Government of Nigeria to require all state and local authorities to ensure that this abhorrent practice is no longer tolerated anywhere in Nigeria?

--- Later in debate ---

[Noble Lords]

This side!

[Lord Hill of Oareford]

My Lords, we must hear from the Labour Benches.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some of us in this House find it equally abhorrent that we should be talking about mediation with extremist groups such as Boko Haram, and that appeasement of such groups does not lead to peace but will encourage them to even greater atrocities?

Gibraltar

Lord Hill of Oareford Excerpts

Monday 20th January 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP)]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford) (Con)]

My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, is on his feet, perhaps we can hear briefly from him and then hear from the noble Lord, Lord Pearson.

[Lord Anderson of Swansea]

I will repeat: the sea incursions are clearly reckless and the border delays are highly damaging to the economy of Gibraltar. In October and November, the peak period, visitors to Gibraltar were down by 44%. Should not we urge the Spanish Government to respond to the recommendations of the European Commission—which we can do as we are now, and will remain, a member of the European Union—and should not the Spanish Government be told that these provocations will not help, because there is overwhelming support among all parties for listening to the Government and people of Gibraltar before there is any change in Gibraltar’s status?

Iran

Lord Hill of Oareford Excerpts

Wednesday 10th July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hylton]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford)]

My Lords, it is actually the turn of the Cross Benches. Perhaps we may have a quick question and a quick answer.