Government statement on public disorder repeated in the Lords
11 August 2011
The Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde, repeated a Government statement on public disorder in the Lords at midday on Thursday 11 August. Both Houses of Parliament were recalled during this summer recess in response to recent incidents of rioting and looting in London and other cities
Two written statements concerning support for businesses and steps to support local communities affected by the disorder were also published.
- Watch the statement on Parliament TV: Public disorder
- Lords Hansard: Read a transcript of the statement and discussion
- Written statement: Public disorder – Support for business
- Written statement: Public disorder – Local response and support
The Leader of the Opposition, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, responded to the statement. Lord Strathclyde replied.
Comments and questions were then taken from the Members of the Lords on both the front and backbenches of the chamber.
Several Members of the Lords with strong connections to the communities affected by the disorder made interventions. These included:
- Baroness Hussein-Ece, former councillor for the Dalston ward of Hackney Borough Council
- Lord Harris of Haringey, Chair, Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody, member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and former leader of Haringey Council
- Baroness Young of Hornsey, a former social worker and Professor of Cultural Studies at Middlesex University
- Lord Alton of Liverpool, former MP and councillor
- Lord Morris of Handsworth, former head of the Transport and General Workers Union.
Lord Laming, Convenor elect of the Crossbench Peers and who conducted public inquiries into the deaths of Baby P (2009) and Victoria Climbie (2003); Baroness Berridge, barrister and former executive director of the Kainos Community, a charity working to reduce reoffending; Baroness Lister of Burtersett, former director of the Child Poverty Action Group; Lord Hunt of Kingsheath, for Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice; Lord Dear, former Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner (1981-85); Lord Empey, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, councillor on Belfast City Council; Lord Imbert, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner; Lord Adonis, former Parliamentary Under-Secrectary of State for Education (2005-08); the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu; and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon also made contributions.
Home Office Minister Baroness Browning then replied to these contributions.
Further information
Statements
Government ministers and spokespersons make statements in the Lords chamber, announcing important policy initiatives, reports on national and international issues and government actions.
There is a limited time for immediate questioning of the minister or spokesperson, allowing Members another opportunity to raise concerns and seek further information on government decisions.
Recalls of the House of Lords
If there is an important development during a recess period, the House of Lords and/or the House of Commons may be recalled.
The House of Lords was last recalled during recess on 24 September 2002 for a debate on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction.