"My Lords, can I add one word? In my experience in dealing with a large number of offences where corporations were responsible, it is only fines—and fines of a substantial amount—that have any real effect. The fines in this Bill are modest, in my view. I hope everyone will realise …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"My Lords, I shall make a few brief remarks in support of the Government. I declare an interest as chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee, which issued a paper about two years ago now to try to explain the very complicated problems. This would be an easy matter to …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"Before the noble Lord sits down, can I ask him a question? The instrument says, “on the law”. We know that English law operates so that there are some obligations that are performable only by His Majesty’s Government, and other obligations that are accorded only into domestic law. He surely …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"My Lords, I hope I will be permitted to say something about Wales. I was going to make a much longer speech but my friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Llanfaes, made an excellent argument on the merits of the issues relating to Wales.
"When we had a debate in Committee, Wales was squeezed into the very short time we had on the Thursday afternoon before a debate had to start. It is no one’s fault but Wales is being squeezed again. It is now 11.30 pm and this is serious—it is no-one’s fault, …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"My Lords, I have a brief observation about Clause 12. The costs of private prosecution mean that money disappears from the overall Treasury contribution to the justice system. I think we should pause long and hard before we remove the power of the Government to control those costs. My own …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"I too welcome the obtaining of this debate by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, and want to return, as we often should, to the actual Question in the debate. We shall have plenty of time to look at the Bill when it gets here. We are not on the Bill …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"My Lords, I briefly rise in support of the aims of the amendment in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman. I urge that we get on—as the noble Baronesses, Lady Hayman and Lady Penn, have so eloquently said. Listening to the debate, I do not think that there …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech
"My Lords, I will make one or two brief observations about this, if I may. First, I must declare an interest, in that about 10 years ago I was made an honorary vice-president of CILEX. In case it is thought that I am speaking with the interests of CILEX in …..." Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - View Speech