An announcement today by Gordon Brown that ‘Failing hospitals may be taken over by the private sector’. At least that’s how the media are hyping up a variety of provisions to ensure that competent management interested in improving quality of care and getting best value for money. Mainly it will involve other good NHS management…
The Joint Committee on the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill took evidence this afternoon on the provisions of the Bill dealing with demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament. We heard from Milan Rai, who was arrested in 2006 when he was reading out the names of people killed in Iraq. (He was subsequently convicted, fined and,…
Both MPs and Peers had a brief recess last week, to cover the Bank Holiday and the half term for some schools. While we were all away from Westminster – and journalists were too – Government Ministers were up to their usual tricks. It is a favourite sport to get out controversial announcements when we…
Interest in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election has naturally focused on the result. What has been less commented on is the infrequency nowadays of by-elections. There can be significant changes in membership of the House of Commons at a General Election but relatively little change between elections. The situation is very different in the Lords. There…
I have previously done a post on the fact that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Life Peerages Act. The House Magazine has this week launched a competition to find the most outstanding life peer of the past 50 years. A shortlist of 12 names has been drawn up and…
Talking of attracting media attention brings me on to a related issue: the impact of select committees. There has been a significant growth in the number of committees in the Lords in recent years. They produce substantial and well-researched reports. However, one query that variously arises (as it does with committees in the Commons) is:…
In response to my earlier post on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Bedd Gelert made some suggestions as to how the House of Lords might increase its media profile. I have responded to his comments but I thought it may be helpful to reproduce my response here. He mentions that there is merit in…
Although I wasn’t involved in Lord Tyler’s question I found it a fascinating exchange and more than a little bit humorous at times! In the end we were rescued by one of the medical/scientific experts in the shape of Lord Winston – who you often see on television talking about children and health matters. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80521-0001.htm#08052171000007
On Monday the 19th May there was a question about the regulation of offshore tax havens, particularly the Channel Islands. I intervened as this is an interesting example of the constitutional position of these islands. Their financial activities are now subject to examination by the the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html ) but the…
