BBC: Independence
Debate between Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Earl of Courtown
The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, I think the noble Lord refers to the distinctiveness issue that is in the BBC’s new mission. I draw the attention of the House to the mission:
“To act in the public interest, serving all audiences with impartial, high-quality and distinctive media content and services that inform, educate and entertain”.
The noble Lord mentioned another point towards the end of his question to which I do not have the answer. I will write to him.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP)
My Lords, do the Government agree that the important thing is to make sure that the new board is composed of genuinely independent people, which it will not be if the same sort of people are appointed in the same old way by the same old establishment? Therefore, what do the Government think of the suggestion that the board, or a proportion of it, should be elected by the licence fee payers?
The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, I think that the noble Lord or somebody else mentioned that point when we previously discussed this issue. As I have said, the appointment process for board members will follow OCPA guidance and public sector best practice. The majority of board members will be put forward by the BBC.
EU Withdrawal: Tourism and Hospitality Industries
Debate between Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Earl of Courtown
The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, I am aware of the public position of many of the tourist trade bodies. As the noble Lord, Lord Lee, mentioned, UKinbound has come out publicly to support remaining in the EU; 84% of its members believe that staying in the European Union is important for their business.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP)
My Lords, does the Treasury not estimate that the pound might fall in the early stages of Brexit, which would be helpful to our tourism industry? When our economy inevitably strengthens later, will our elected Government not be able to lower our VAT rates, to the advantage of our tourism and other industries?
Refugee Crisis: European Anti-migrant Parties
Debate between Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Earl of Courtown
The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, as most people in the House will realise, I find it a great honour to be part of this Government. The noble Lord referred to the refugees in Syria. We should also congratulate the Turkish people on all that they have done over this period; they have nearly 3 million refugees in their country. I do not think that I need to draw the attention of the House to this, but I will all the same. At the Syria conference at the beginning of February, €11 billion was raised in a day—the largest amount ever raised in a day for refugees. The UK pledged £2.3 billion. At the Valletta summit £200 million in bilateral aid was pledged to Africa, including £65 million humanitarian assistance as part of our response, £10 million of which is allocated to refugee children in Europe.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP)
My Lords, do the elections in Germany and elsewhere in the EU not just show that democracy is at last starting to take over from the failed corporatist project of European integration? The quicker that that is abandoned, surely the better.
The Earl of Courtown
Democracy, to which the noble Lord referred, is the bedrock of this country as well but I would never dream of commenting on or advising on what has happened in Germany.
European Union Referendum Bill
Debate between Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Earl of Courtown(9 years, 1 month ago)
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Lord Hamilton of Epsom
I think that was for me. I am confused by the noble Lord, Lord Liddle, because he always produces these amendments in jest. I remember another one that said that the referendum should be delayed until 2019. That was tongue in cheek, was it not? The fact is that the Government do not control a free press in this country. You either have a free press or you do not, and if it is free it can take whatever line it wants to take. Perhaps we should be controlling the Guardian, with its attitudes to all this. This is absurd. We have a free press, which takes different sides on different things, and that is not a responsibility of the Government. Does the noble Lord want me to give way again? No, he does not.
The Earl of Courtown (Con)
I remind the House that before the dinner break I suggested that noble Lords should read page 151 of the Companion. I will repeat it, because obviously noble Lords have not been able to remember it:
“On report no member may speak more than once to an amendment, except the mover of the amendment in reply or a member who has obtained leave of the House, which may only be granted to: a member to explain himself in some material point of his speech, no new matter being introduced”.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch
My Lords, I think this is the only time I have spoken on this amendment, and with the permission of the noble Lord, Lord Liddle, and your Lordships, I will do so. I would add the BBC to the list of media outlets that my noble friend has been good enough to name. I ask the noble Lord, Lord Liddle, whether he has read the News-watch website about the BBC’s behaviour in this matter and whether he hopes that the BBC—
The Earl of Courtown
Order. The noble Lord has not yet moved his amendment.
Europe: Renegotiation
Debate between Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Earl of Courtown(9 years, 1 month ago)
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The Earl of Courtown
Of course, my Lords, the security of this country is paramount, as we show in many different ways. I will have to look at that particular part, and I will write to the noble Lord if I can add anything.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP)
My Lords, I ask the Minister how seriously the Prime Minister takes his belief, according to the Statement, that if powers do not need to reside in Brussels, they should be returned to Westminster? Does the Minister think the Prime Minister understands that this requires the breaking of the acquis communautaire, the one-way ratchet to complete union? Surely that will require unanimity. It will require treaty change. I suppose the real question is that if the others do not agree this revolutionary concept in the project of European integration, does that mean that the Prime Minister will campaign to leave?
The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, the noble Lord mentioned treaty change, and of course it will eventually have to be made in various areas. As for the first part of the noble Lord’s question, I will write to him.
European Union Referendum Bill
Debate between Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Earl of Courtown(9 years, 1 month ago)
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