"Will the Minister tell the House what he believes has been the effectiveness of individual and continuous registration in Northern Ireland? Does he accept the importance and value of continuing the annual household canvass to achieve robust electoral registration?..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"Lord Grade is reported as having accused channel bosses of breaking their legal duty of impartiality in threatening to stage the debates without the Prime Minister, but does that duty not also extend to the DUP, which is well represented in this House, given the inclusion of Plaid Cymru and …..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"Lord Grade, whom I mentioned earlier, writes that the BBC and the broadcasters
“are not the guardians of democracy.”
He also writes that they are “unequivocally playing politics.” Surely those are not characteristics of an independent BBC, and surely that means that an independent body to arrange the debates is …..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"To assist in this matter, could a Speaker’s conference be brought into existence immediately after the election to ensure we have a way forward for the following election?..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"Bearing in mind the shambolic nature of the proposals from the BBC, does the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that there are Members in this House who have no confidence whatever in the BBC or in the other broadcasters that are arranging the debates?..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"Does my right hon. Friend accept that it would be wrong for elected representatives in this House to fail to speak up for Northern Ireland, bearing in mind that they ought to be heard across the United Kingdom if the Democratic Unionist party were indeed able to assist any Government …..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Davies.
I congratulate those throughout the United Kingdom who have taken the bold step of starting a small or medium-sized enterprise, thereby creating employment in their local community and strengthening the local economy. I am sure that many Members agree …..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"I agree with my hon. Friend. That will certainly be part of the effort that I am endeavouring, through the debate, to achieve.
The Government plan for growth published alongside the Budget in March 2011 highlighted a number of policies stated to be of particular benefit to SMEs, including such …..." Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown - View Speech
"I agree, but even within the European regulations, there are things we can do and that the Government should do more of to alleviate some of the problems that my hon. Friend mentions.