There was a statement on swine fever on Monday. A flu pandemic has been feared for some years and it was one of the issues covered in the report of the Intergovernmental Organisations Select committee that I chaired. http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm74/7475/7475.pdf The UK has a leading role in the identification and treatment of infectious diseases and we found…
We had a statement on counter terrorism policy yesterday. It makes sober reading. I intervened with a question (or my own statement!) pointing out that some vulnerable people and young people were targeted by terror groups using the argument that because bad things happen in a democracy we are therefore no better than some of…
Taking advantage of the fine weather the other day I went on the terrace of the House for a drink. There was a small speedboat coming under Westminster Bridge and towards the House. Now in these troubled times that gets a little police attention. Suddenly a river police boat appeared at a fair rate of…
This Bill received its second reading yesterday. It was moved by Peter Mandelson and a ‘fatal’ amendment was put down by Lord Clarke of Hampstead. Tony Clarke was a post worker throughout his life and feels very passionately against the Bill as he sees it as privatisation. He did not push his amendment to a…
I have just become a member of this Committee and attended my first meeting last week. The title makes it sound very dry and boring. In fact it isn’t and it performs an important Parliamentary function. Acts of Parliament are primary legislation. Ministers are given delegated powers by Parliament to avoid every detail being spelt…
