20 June 2014

Whats Coming Up

Monday: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill, the Lib Dem Co-Chair for
Defence, and Baroness Jolly, as Minister, will be talking in the
Second Reading debate on the Armed Forces Bill. This Bill will
reform the service complaints system creating a fairer working
environment for the nations armed servicemen and women.







Tuesday: Lord Wallace of Tankerness will be leading a debate on
the constitutional future of Scotland in light of the referendum.



Question for Short Debate from Lord Storey (@LordStorey)
ensuring that schools, sports clubs and public service buildings
have defibrillators as part of their first aid provision. Mike has
campaigned alongside the Oliver King Foundation, established in
memory of a 12 year-old Liverpool boy who sadly died of sudden
death syndrome at his school in 2011, a death that arguably could
have been avoided if a defibrillator was available on site.





Wednesday: World War One Debate

Baroness (Shirley) Williams will be making a speech during
these debates. Shirleys mother, Vera Brittain, was a writer,
feminist and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the
best-selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her
experiences during World War I and the beginning of her
journey towards pacifism.




Quote of the Week

Mr Humphrey Amos, who
works in the Whips Office for
the Liberal Democrats,
immediately said, You must
mention this church because
there is an appeal going on at
the moment for a roof fund and
any plug will be particularly
good. So, even though he was
useless at predicting the time
of this debate, I promised him
that I would raise it.

Lord Redesdale shows his
appreciation for the hard work
done by the Lib Dem Whips
Office


Tweet of the Week


Lord Strasburger (@lordstras)
comments on the story that
security chief Charles Farr has
said GCHQ can legally snoop on
British use of Google, Facebook
and web-based email without
specific warrants











Thursday: Lib Dem Debate Day

Baroness Scott of Needham Market to move that this House takes note of role
played by the voluntary and charitable sectors.

Lord Storey to ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to promote
British values in all educational establishments in the United Kingdom in the next
year.

Baroness Walmsley to move that this House takes note of the measures being
taken by Her Majestys Government to prevent and address the abuse of children
and vulnerable adults.

Full schedule here



Next weeks bills

Armed Forces (Service
Complaints and Financial
Assistance) Bill

Medical Innovation Bill

Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill

Parliamentary Privilege
(Defamation) Bill





Last Weeks Business

Paving the way for new UK Infrastructure, The Lib Dems deliver in the Infrastructure Bill
Lord Teverson (@LordTev) has welcomed the fact that key Lib Dem policies have made it into the Infrastructure Bill,
which received its Second Reading last Wednesday. The Bill, which is being led by Lib Dem Transport Minister,
Baroness Kramer, leads the way for rebuilding the UKs infrastructure. A move that is vital for the economy and a key
Lib Dem priority.
This Bill contains significant Lib Dem achievements, in particular it paves the way for new zero-
carbon homes, gives greater powers to communities to buy into local green energy projects and
creates a new strategy to help improve our roads.
Robin, in a recent post on Lib Dem Voice said: As a Party we understand that long term planned
investment in our national infrastructure is an important practical policy goal where past
Governments have so often failed.
Lib Dems have already driven through this Parliament an Energy Act which will not just make sure that when it
comes to energy infrastructure the lights stay one but that we decarbonise our energy supply. Weve been rolling out
super-fast broadband across the British countryside. Often forgotten we also have a 35 billion railway investment
programme over the next five years and that doesnt include HS2. This Bill will deliver a cluster of Lib Dem policies
that will expand on the achievements we have already made.




The Lib Dems are the only party truly fighting for Lords Reform
Lord Stephen attacked the Labour Party during the debate on the Labour Peers Working
Group report on the future of the House of Lords and its place in a wider constitution. The
Labour Party has flip-flopped for years on the issue, making promises and then not following
through with them once in power. The Labour Party, in 1997, promised to: make the House of
Lords more democratic and representative, in the 17 years since they have not only failed to
bring about any major changes but also failed to support Lib Dem attempts to do so.
Speaking in the debate Lord Stephen said: When I first came to this Chamber I expected quite quickly, as I hoped, to
vote for and deliver radical reform of the House of Lords, and now I wonder. I thought that in voting for that radi cal
reform I would have the support of the Labour Party, and now I wonder.
The preface to the report says that the majority of the authors think that a majority of their group believes that,
Election would lead inexorably to the Lords challenging the primacy of the Commons.
That has not historically been the Labour Party view on this issue, as has been described, but wide consultation and
engagement will not stop anyone who insists on that point. It also ignores the fact that elected Chambers work
alongside each other in many other Parliaments.


Cracking down on serious crime
The Serious Crime Bill had its Second Reading last Monday. Whilst crime is down under the coalition government,
this Bill seeks to deal with organised crime and offences that, whilst hugely damaging to the countrys economy and
society, often arent the first thing to come to mind when thinking of crime fighting.
Speaking on the Bill in the chamber, Lord Paddick (@BrianPaddick) said: Crime is
significantly down since this Government came to power. Indeed, in many crime
categories it is at the lowest levels ever recorded. However, serious and organised
crime remains a very serious problem, not least because it is an area of crime that
many members of the public are less concerned aboutcertainly less concerned
than they are about personal crime such as burglary, robbery and anti-social
behaviourso there is the potential that police and crime commissioners, perhaps
focusing on being re-elected, may be disinclined to champion it.
The Lib Dems have had a hard slog recently standing up for Liberal ideas when it comes to crime fighting. Our Lib
Dem MPs took a stand against the other two parties on mandatory sentencing related to knife possession. It is very
concerning that 60% of those who serve short sentences reoffend within a year of release- rising to around 70% of
youngsters who serve short sentences. The policies of the other parties will only bring more youngsters into this
harmful cycle.
Baroness Hamwee, the Lib Dem co-chair on Home Affairs has written an article for Ad Lib Blog highlighting the Lib
Dem victories in this Bill. The article can be read here: Sally Hamwee: proud of Lib Dem ideas in the serious crime bill


On the blog this week:

o Robin Teverson: infrastructure bill delivers a cluster of liberal democrat priorities
o Sally Hamwee: proud of Lib Dem ideas in the serious crime bill
o Tim Clement-Jones: more action to safeguard busking needed!
o Lindsay Northover: global recognition of need to tackle sexual violence must lead to action
o James Palumbo: despite the austerity narrative, public spending continues to rise and debts continue to
grow
o Mike Storey: qualified teachers and a national curriculum


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