(1 week, 1 day ago)
Lords Chamber
Lord Lemos (Lab)
That does not sound right to me. I do not know the answer to that question, but I will make sure my noble friend Lord Pitt-Watson writes to the noble Viscount.
Lord Mohammed of Tinsley (LD)
My Lords, I want to take up the issue of debanking, not just in the charity sector but in independent journalism. I do not know whether the Minister knows about the Canary, an independent journalism outlet that Lloyds Bank has debanked, meaning that it did not have access to substantial amounts of money to pay staff. Does the Minister think that fair and ethical in an open society where we value a free press?
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I am not familiar with that case, but if it is as the noble Lord suggests—and I have no reason to doubt that—that is a serious concern, and I am sure the FCA would want to know more about it.
Lord Mohammed of Tinsley (LD)
My Lords, there have been plenty of Conservative contributions. I want to press the Minister. He said the Government would regularly review potential action against those involved in illegal settlement activities. Will they commit to reviewing that on a monthly basis, as asked by my colleague Calum Miller in the other place?
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I do not think I quite have the authority to give that commitment on behalf of the Government today. As the noble Lord knows, and as I said in my opening response to the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, I am not going to give a running commentary on future arrangements about sanctions. That is not the Government’s view. However, as I have said, we are at the forefront in relation to West Bank settlements, and we will continue to review that as necessary.
Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)
We will hear from the Liberal Democrats.