Middle East

Debate between Lord Polak and Lord Lemos

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Polak (Con)]

Let me help the Minister. In a previous answer, he said that it is difficult to go to Israel. El Al flies twice a day from Heathrow, and I am sure any Government Minister who wishes to can go to Israel. In the Statement, the Foreign Secretary said that the Minister for the Middle East was due to go to a meeting, I think today, with the Charity Commission’s chief executive specifically to discuss UK charities having links in disputed areas. Will the Minister explain whether the said Minister raised the issue of charities in the UK supporting the IRGC, the Muslim Brotherhood or Palestinian rejectionists or—dare I say it—is it just Jewish charities that are concerning the Government?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I am sure I did not mean to say that it is difficult to go to Israel, but even if I did say it, I am grateful for the helpful advice on that. I think the noble Lord knows what I meant, which is that this is a complex dynamic and who we talk to when is not straightforward. On the Charity Commission, the meeting took place this morning. I can confirm that it was not confined to charities that support West Bank settlements. I am very happy to ask the department to write to the noble Lord about the others, but I know it involved some of the places, charities and activities that he is talking about. I was not there, obviously.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Lord Polak and Lord Lemos

Committee stage
Friday 23rd January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Polak (Con)]

My Lords, I have great respect for the noble Lord, Lord Birt, and his practical ideas are very sensible, but I think that there is a much more fundamental problem that probably frustrates him. The Government are hiding from us what in fact they want to do on this Bill. I do not blame the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, for this. We are being encouraged to pass a Bill that, as we have heard, will put enormous obligations on the health service’s budget and people, but we are being given no direction by the Government. Will they pay? Do they have the money? Do they have the trained staff to deal with it? While HMG hide behind this flawed Private Member’s Bill, noble Lords are being urged to legislate blind. It is not remotely acceptable or responsible for noble Lords to make life and death decisions when there is no clarity about the future intentions of the Government. I say to the noble Lord, Lord Birt, that this is a great idea, but who pays for it?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I apologise but I must remind noble Lords of the guidance of the House, which is that noble Lords should not summarise or repeat others at length. I know I try to find a different way to say this every week, and broadly speaking I fail. I also realise that noble Lords have spent a lot of time preparing their remarks, but it is my duty to remind them of the guidance of the House.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Debate between Lord Polak and Lord Lemos

Committee stage
Friday 21st November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Polak (Con)]

My Lords, I want to respond to the noble Lord, Lord Griffiths, who is a member of the Labour Party. With respect, I would like the Committee to listen.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)]

Does my noble friend Lady Hayter want to make one point? Then we can hear from the noble Lord, Lord Polak.

[Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Lab)]

My one point is that it would very nice if somebody who supports the Bill could also have a hearing.