European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Debate between Lord Forsyth of Drumlean and Lord Hughes of Woodside

Monday 19th March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean]

The noble Lord, Lord Hannay, is wrong.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside (Lab)]

Address the House!

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean]

I am responding to the noble Lord’s point.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside]

Addressing the House is not simply a matter of courtesy. When the noble Lord turns his back, we cannot hear him as the sound is not picked up.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean]

From past experience, I am sure that various people would like to change places with the noble Lord.

The noble Lord, Lord Hannay, is quite wrong. Employment measures at that time required unanimity. The working time directive was introduced as a health and safety measure and it was argued that it was so that it would require only qualified majority voting, and we would no longer have a veto. The issue was whether it was worth going to the court to argue that that was an improper act.