• [May ] Lord Razzall (Liberal Democrat): My Lords, I am sure that the students of politics in your Lordships' House, of which there are many, will entirely understand why the noble Baroness thinks that this is all the fault of the Government and blames the whole thing on government policy. However, we ought first to put into perspective what has happened to government expenditure during the period of the coalition. In real terms, expenditure has hardly been reduced at all.
• [May 16] Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat): WOULD your Lordships agree that many individuals would like the opportunity to put their ISAs into sustainable investments? Is that not an argument for looking at the green investment bank as an opportunity? Are the Government considering opening up the possibility of investment into the green investment bank for institutions and individuals who could then use their ISAs in this way?
• [May 15] Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat): MY Lords, it is after 10 o'clock; I am speaker number 57; I am on camera, as all of us have been; and the sky has not fallen in-as it has not over the many years of debates being broadcast from this and another Chamber. That may be enough for now on cameras in court save to say, in answer to the concern that counsel will play to the gallery-and this may be a risky observation-don't they always?
• [May 16] Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat): TO ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the hunger strike taking place among Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): My Lords, the Government have followed closely the mass hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners. In the past week we have raised our long-standing concerns over Israel's extensive use of administrative detention and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners with the Israeli Vice-Prime Minister, the Israeli Foreign Minister and the Israeli national security adviser. We welcome the Egyptian-brokered agreement, which has brought an end to the hunger strike.
• [May 15] Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat): MY Lords, the revelations that senior Metropolitan Police officers accepted inappropriate hospitality have led to the Met setting up a monthly register that now lists all gifts and hospitality that police officers have accepted. Do the Government agree that all police forces should be required to set up such a register and to publish it monthly?
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commenting on new proposals from Transport for London to allow Oyster card users to check their accounts online and to allow Oyster customers to submit refund applications online said:
• [May 14] Vincent Cable (Secretary of State, Business, Innovation and Skills; Twickenham, Liberal Democrat): THE measures set out in the Queen's Speech reassert the coalition Government's fundamental commitment to rescuing the UK economy and promoting growth. There is no easy route out of the debris of a financial collapse. I start with that point, since one of the most important pieces of legislation in the Queen's Speech is structural reform of banking, which I have worked on closely with the Chancellor.
• [May 14] Baroness Kramer (Liberal Democrat): MY Lords, I think that a significant number of companies are somewhat fixated around the idea that 16 hours is the gold standard for part-time work. Given that for many people affected by this change, 24 hours becomes the standard number of hours they would wish to be in employment, are there means by which the Government could communicate, through the trade associations and others, to try to change some of the cultural attitudes towards the various shift structures and others that set part-time hours?
