"An important feature of the strategic defence review will be the defence investment plan. Can the Minister update the House about whether that will be published, as it was intended to be, before the Christmas Recess, and how the national conversation is going on between the Ministry of Defence and …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"Can the Minister be clear? If we decided to limit—whether by age or in some other way that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, might decide—and put that into primary legislation, is that then not the law of the country? All that the European court could then do is …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"My Lords, before I speak to my Amendments 300A and 306A, let me just pick up, briefly, a couple of issues that have been raised in the debate.
First, I was very pleased that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, said it was very important, in response to the …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"In that case, I now understand the noble Lord. When he was talking about primary care, I thought he was suggesting that we had a wider remit, so I am very pleased to hear that.
I will now address my amendments and their purpose. They are intended to deal with …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"I do not think that is the experience of the National Health Service. There is a whole cadre of staff—the overseas visitors managers—who deal with people who are trying to access a service. I do not think it is the case that this is straightforward and that in the vast …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"My Lords, I want briefly to respond to a point made earlier in the debate by the noble Lord, Lord Winston, whose medical expertise I respect greatly. He quoted a comment from Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, which has not been said already in this debate, and talked about the context in which …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"I want to try to make progress, which is why I was trying to keep my remarks very brief; if the noble Lord keeps interrupting me, they will necessarily take longer. All I was going to do was make one further point.
"I am trying to make a brief remark. I have been speaking for only one minute and 45 seconds; if I keep getting interrupted, I will not be able to sit down. I was going to make literally one more point, having listened to the debate. After all, this is …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"The noble Baroness referred to the two amendments that I have on the Marshalled List that I have not yet spoken to. She seemed to be ascribing motives to the amendments. She referred only to two amendments—the two amendments I have tabled—and she seemed to be suggesting they were designed …..." Lord Harper - View Speech
"My Lords, I listened very carefully to the excellent question from the noble Lord, Lord Spellar, but I was astounded by the Minister’s answer. I think I heard correctly that she talked about modernising the trade union regime. In the Employment Rights Bill, the Government are going to make it …..." Lord Harper - View Speech