Vol. 724 Tuesday No. 104 1 February 2011 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT ORDER OF BUSINESS Introductions: Baroness Tyler of Enfield, Lord Stirrup, Baroness Lister of Burtersett Black Rod Retirement of Sir Freddie Viggers and introduction of Lieutenant General David Leakey Questions Roads: Charging Banking: Royal Bank of Scotland Religions for Peace Police: Officer Numbers Parliament Square (Management) Bill [HL] First Reading Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill Committee (16th Day) Grand Committee Children: Sexual Exploitation Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority/Human Tissue Authority Education: Children with Diabetes Railway Heritage Questions for Short Debate Written Statements Written Answers For column numbers see back page £3·50 Lords wishing to be supplied with these Daily Reports should give notice to this effect to the Printed Paper Office. 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BOUND VOLUMES OF DEBATES are issued periodically during the session. Single copies: Commons, £105; Lords, £40. Standing orders will be accepted. THE INDEX to each Bound Volume of House of Commons Debates is published separately at £9·00 and can be supplied to standing order. WEEKLY INFORMATION BULLETIN, compiled by the House of Commons, gives details of past and forthcoming business, the work of Committees and general information on legislation, etc. Single copies: £1·50. Annual subscription: £53·50. All prices are inclusive of postage. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2011, this publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ 1295 Introductions[1 FEBRUARY 2011] Black Rod 1296 Sir Freddie assumed the office of Black Rod in House of Lords April 2009 following a distinguished career in the Army. He had served in Bosnia as part of the NATO Tuesday, 1 February 2011. implementation force in the 1990s and as senior British military representative in Iraq in the immediate aftermath 2.15 pm of the conflict there in 2003. In the final years of his career, he was appointed Adjutant General. Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of Guildford. Upon assuming the office of Black Rod he could have rested on his laurels, but that was not his way. Introduction: Baroness Tyler of Enfield Colleagues describe Sir Freddie as full of energy. Better still, he liked to “get things moving”, said the Yeoman 2.23 pm Usher, in whose lexicon this surely counts as the most fervent of tributes. Claire Tyler, having been created Baroness Tyler of Although he held a grand and historic office, Enfield, of Enfield in the London Borough of Enfield, Sir Freddie had time for everyone—Members and was introduced and took the oath, supported by Baroness staff, senior and junior. To paraphrase, he could walk Barker and Lord Bichard, and signed an undertaking to with the Clerk of the Parliaments and not lose the abide by the Code of Conduct. common touch. Sir Freddie’s appointment coincided with the Introduction: Lord Stirrup establishment of the new Department of Facilities, headed by the Director of Facilities, Carl Woodall. He 2.28 pm and Mr Woodall worked closely and effectively to make a success of the new structures. The fact that Graham Eric Stirrup, Knight, GCB, AFC, having been they can now be taken for granted by his successor will created Baron Stirrup, of Marylebone in the City of be one of Sir Freddie’s lasting legacies to this House. Westminster, was introduced and took the oath, supported I know I speak for the whole House when I say that by Lord Craig of Radley and Lord Boyce, and signed an Sir Freddie’s sudden and serious illness last year was a undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct. great shock to us all. Introduction: Baroness Lister of Burtersett Noble Lords: Hear, hear. Lord Strathclyde: His recovery has been impressive, 2.34 pm not least thanks to the resolve which we have come to admire in him, and to the dedicated support of his Margot Ruth Aline Lister, CBE, having been created wife Jane, to whom we also extend our regards. Baroness Lister of Burtersett, of Nottingham in the County of Nottinghamshire, was introduced and made Sir Freddie’s decision to retire last autumn was no the solemn affirmation, supported by Baroness Kennedy doubt a difficult one to reach. It merits our respect, of The Shaws and Baroness Coussins, and signed an much as it may be tinged with sadness that such a undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct. promising period of service to the House has been cut short. We wish him the very best for his continued recovery. Black Rod Your Lordships will be aware that in the months Retirement of Sir Freddie Viggers and introduction since Sir Freddie was taken ill, the Yeoman Usher, of Lieutenant General David Leakey Lieutenant Colonel Edward Lloyd-Jukes, has stepped in to serve tirelessly and effectively as acting Black 2.40 pm Rod. Ably supported by the team in Black Rod’s Office—Joanne Fuller, Nicola Rivis and Paul Murphy—he The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord took on the challenge of the ceremonies of the opening Strathclyde): My Lords, I have to inform the House of Parliament and the State Opening at very short that Her Majesty has appointed Lieutenant General notice, and ensured their success. He also played a David Leakey, CMG, CBE, to be Gentleman Usher of major role in ensuring that the visit to Parliament by the Black Rod, in succession to Sir Frederick Viggers, His Holiness the Pope in September last year, held KCB, CMG, MBE, and that he is at the Door, ready to magnificently in Westminster Hall, was so memorable. receive your Lordships’ commands. He did all this while continuing to perform his own duties as Yeoman Usher and taking part in countless Noble Lords: Hear, hear. introduction ceremonies for new Peers. We are greatly indebted to him and are in a position to ensure that Lord Strathclyde: My Lords, it is the custom of the the new Black Rod—lest he were in any doubt—will House to pay tribute to the outgoing Black Rod on the have a formidable team at his disposal. day that his successor assumes the office. Sir Freddie It only remains for me to welcome Lieutenant Viggers held the office of Black Rod for less than two General David Leakey to the House, and to reiterate years, and yet he is as firmly lodged in the House’s our thanks to the outgoing Black Rod, Sir Freddie affection and esteem as any of his equally accomplished Viggers, for the outstanding service that he has given predecessors. That feat alone almost says it all, but to this House, to its Members and to Parliament as a with the leave of the House, I will elaborate just a little. whole. 1297 Black Rod[LORDS] Black Rod 1298 Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, days like Indeed, across his role, Sir Freddie has brought to the this are always a mixture of sadness and pleasure—sadness job that impressive and admirable mixture of decisiveness at taking leave of an excellent servant of your Lordships’ and consideration, courteousness and care, wisdom House, and pleasure at welcoming a successor who and judgment, great effort and good humour, not to will, I am confident, give service to this House of the mention that wonderful twinkling of the eye. The fact same order. that he has done all these things at the same time, and Before I speak of either the retiring Black Rod or with unfailing cheerfulness, is both astounding and the new Black Rod, I too should like to join the tribute entirely like him. to the acting Black Rod, the Yeoman Usher, who has He is a very hard act to follow; but I know that the carried out the duties of Black Rod extremely well in leadership of the House, across all sides of the House, the interim period, which concludes today, and stepped is wholly confident that in Lieutenant General David into the breach when circumstances required it. This Leakey we have someone who will rise to that challenge House has greatly benefited from the way that he and for whom the House, when it gets to know him, picked up the torch and not only got on with the job will have an equally warm regard. We welcome him to but did so in a way that was clear, courteous and his new post as Black Rod. We are sad to let his comprehensive. Of course, he will probably also go predecessor go, but the House has, and will, benefit down in history as having the world record in from the services of both.