My Lords, what a pleasure it is to follow such an interesting and constructive speech. I hope the noble Lord will take full part in Committee on the Bill. I declare my interest as chairman of the advisory panel of the technology company Thales UK. I thank the Minister for...

My Lords, what a pleasure it is to follow such an interesting and constructive speech. I hope the noble Lord will take full part in Committee on the Bill. I declare my interest as chairman of the advisory panel of the technology company Thales UK. I thank the Minister for...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Given that Fujitsu knew from the beginning that its system was faulty; that it knew that it was altering remotely sub-postmasters’ accounts without the knowledge of the sub-postmasters; that it knew that the Government and the Post Office were denying that these things could happen while prosecuting the sub-postmasters, how can Fujitsu possibly be a fit and proper organisation to do business with anyone in this country, let alone the Government? Or are we over a barrel?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Given that Fujitsu knew from the beginning that its system was faulty; that it knew that it was altering remotely sub-postmasters’ accounts without the knowledge of the sub-postmasters; that it knew that the Government and the Post Office were denying that these things could happen while prosecuting the sub-postmasters, how can Fujitsu possibly be a fit and proper organisation to do business with anyone in this country, let alone the Government? Or are we over a barrel?

To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to Fujitsu regarding making an interim payment towards the costs of investigation and redress in the Post Office Horizon case.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to Fujitsu regarding making an interim payment towards the costs of investigation and redress in the Post Office Horizon case.

My Lords, on Amendment 21, which is about the reliability of computer evidence, I am grateful to Sam Stein KC for his advice on this difficult issue. I am also extremely grateful to the Minister for meeting me and other signatories to this group, which is quite remarkable given her...

My Lords, on Amendment 21, which is about the reliability of computer evidence, I am grateful to Sam Stein KC for his advice on this difficult issue. I am also extremely grateful to the Minister for meeting me and other signatories to this group, which is quite remarkable given her...

My Lords, the Capture system was the predecessor of the Horizon system. The Government are paying compensation to all the Capture sub-postmasters—except those who have convictions. Given that the Post Office’s behaviour towards the Capture sub-postmasters was every bit as bad as that towards the Horizon sub-postmasters, and that we cannot expect Capture sub-postmasters to have retained documents for over 25 years to present to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, will the Minister acknowledge that for us to fail to overturn the Capture convictions perpetuates the most ghastly injustice?

My Lords, the Capture system was the predecessor of the Horizon system. The Government are paying compensation to all the Capture sub-postmasters—except those who have convictions. Given that the Post Office’s behaviour towards the Capture sub-postmasters was every bit as bad as that towards the Horizon sub-postmasters, and that we cannot expect Capture sub-postmasters to have retained documents for over 25 years to present to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, will the Minister acknowledge that for us to fail to overturn the Capture convictions perpetuates the most ghastly injustice?

My Lords, I will speak on Amendment 61. I did not speak at Second Reading, for which I apologise to your Lordships’ House. I lacked the ingenuity of the noble Baroness, Lady Chakrabarti, in moving an amendment to the Bill. I pay tribute to her for doing so. Everything she...

My Lords, I will speak on Amendment 61. I did not speak at Second Reading, for which I apologise to your Lordships’ House. I lacked the ingenuity of the noble Baroness, Lady Chakrabarti, in moving an amendment to the Bill. I pay tribute to her for doing so. Everything she...

Before the Minister moves on to Amendment 62, would she please comment on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Russell, about the Law Society’s contribution to the consultation about a system of assurances? That may be a way forward that might allow her to bring forward her own...

Before the Minister moves on to Amendment 62, would she please comment on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Russell, about the Law Society’s contribution to the consultation about a system of assurances? That may be a way forward that might allow her to bring forward her own...

My Lords, public inquiries have had a bad rap recently, partly because of the eye-watering sums of money spent by the Post Office on its legal fees and the Post Office inquiry. But the Post Office inquiry, so far as I can tell, has been doing a really good job. There is one problem the Minister might consider: public inquiries can be used as an excuse for organisations, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority, not to take action until the public inquiry reports. I understand why that is, but what can we do about it?

My Lords, public inquiries have had a bad rap recently, partly because of the eye-watering sums of money spent by the Post Office on its legal fees and the Post Office inquiry. But the Post Office inquiry, so far as I can tell, has been doing a really good job. There is one problem the Minister might consider: public inquiries can be used as an excuse for organisations, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority, not to take action until the public inquiry reports. I understand why that is, but what can we do about it?

To ask His Majesty's Government in which year space weather was recognised as a risk sufficiently severe to feature in the National Risk Register.

To ask His Majesty's Government in which year space weather was recognised as a risk sufficiently severe to feature in the National Risk Register.

I rise with great diffidence—and apologise to noble Lords—because I have not spoken on this Bill, and I did not speak at Second Reading. This issue seems to me to be relatively simple. We in the Conservative Party had a rather odd ambition during the previous Government to stop the...

I rise with great diffidence—and apologise to noble Lords—because I have not spoken on this Bill, and I did not speak at Second Reading. This issue seems to me to be relatively simple. We in the Conservative Party had a rather odd ambition during the previous Government to stop the...

My Lords, the Minister is quite right that this matter has taken place over many years, under Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative Ministers. We should all, frankly, hang our heads in shame. I went along to the Oval last week to listen to Sir Wyn give his excellent report, and...

My Lords, the Minister is quite right that this matter has taken place over many years, under Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative Ministers. We should all, frankly, hang our heads in shame. I went along to the Oval last week to listen to Sir Wyn give his excellent report, and...

My Lords, Fujitsu has paid not one penny towards the victims of the havoc and misery that it helped to cause. Is the Government

—is the country—over a barrel to Fujitsu? If not, why is Fujitsu still winning government work? If we are, what are the Government doing about it?

My Lords, Fujitsu has paid not one penny towards the victims of the havoc and misery that it helped to cause. Is the Government

—is the country—over a barrel to Fujitsu? If not, why is Fujitsu still winning government work? If we are, what are the Government doing about it?

My Lords, when I was Opposition Chief Whip in another place, I was never really sure whether it was my job to make sure that legislation was as good as possible for the good of the country or as bad as possible in order to make sure that the Government...

My Lords, when I was Opposition Chief Whip in another place, I was never really sure whether it was my job to make sure that legislation was as good as possible for the good of the country or as bad as possible in order to make sure that the Government...

My Lords, the Minister is right that it is essential that data collected needs to be accurate and that that applies to data on sex as well as on gender. He is also right that the

passport does not contain reliable data on sex, and I am grateful to him...

My Lords, the Minister is right that it is essential that data collected needs to be accurate and that that applies to data on sex as well as on gender. He is also right that the

passport does not contain reliable data on sex, and I am grateful to him...

Is the Minister able to tell us what proportion of our annual electricity comes from undersea cables, whether from abroad—France, Norway or eventually, possibly, Morocco—or from our own offshore wind farms? Because we know what President Putin has his eye on.

Is the Minister able to tell us what proportion of our annual electricity comes from undersea cables, whether from abroad—France, Norway or eventually, possibly, Morocco—or from our own offshore wind farms? Because we know what President Putin has his eye on.

Lords question for short debate on what steps they are taking to ensure all NHS staff have sufficient access to single-sex spaces.

Lords question for short debate on what steps they are taking to ensure all NHS staff have sufficient access to single-sex spaces.

My Lords, if there is any area of the country that is greatly affected by the Supreme Court judgment, it is the NHS: one of the largest organisations in the country, with over a million employees working long hours, at the most horrendous times of the day and night, in...

My Lords, if there is any area of the country that is greatly affected by the Supreme Court judgment, it is the NHS: one of the largest organisations in the country, with over a million employees working long hours, at the most horrendous times of the day and night, in...

Before the Minister stands up, we have the benefit of having the chair of the EHRC in the Room with us. I wonder whether it is your Lordships’ wish that we hear from her.

Before the Minister stands up, we have the benefit of having the chair of the EHRC in the Room with us. I wonder whether it is your Lordships’ wish that we hear from her.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 27 March (HL5807), what are the names of the companies where the UK taxpayer is the only shareholder which brought a private prosecution using common law powers preserved under section 6(1) of the Prosecution of Offences...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 27 March (HL5807), what are the names of the companies where the UK taxpayer is the only shareholder which brought a private prosecution using common law powers preserved under section 6(1) of the Prosecution of Offences...

To ask His Majesty's Government how many police officers are currently assigned to the Operation Olympos investigation into the Post Office Horizon case; what ranks they hold; whether they are full time or part time; and where they are based.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many police officers are currently assigned to the Operation Olympos investigation into the Post Office Horizon case; what ranks they hold; whether they are full time or part time; and where they are based.