Autumn Conference Conference Daily Sunday 18th September 2011 Plain text version This plain text document contains the text from the published Conference Daily. Photographs, graphics, advertisements and complex page layouts have been omitted. Note that page number cross references refer to the page numbers in the published Conference Daily, and are not applicable to this plain text version. Published by The Conference Office, Liberal Democrats, 8-10 George Street, London, SW1P 3AE. Design and layout by Mike Cooper, mike@mikecoopermcc.co.uk Conference Daily and other conference documents are available in plain text, large/clear print and as pdf files - ask at the Information Desk in The ICC in Birmingham or go to www.libdems.org.uk/autumnconferencepapers Conference Daily Information from the Conference Committee for Sunday 18th September and report back on the business of Saturday 17th. Please read in conjunction with the Conference Agenda. Report back for Saturday 17th September 3 Sunday 18th September 09.00-09.45 F9 Party business Accreditation for Party Conference 5 09.45-10.00 F10 Party business Report of the Campaign for Gender Balance F11 Report Diversity Engagement Group 6 10.00-10.55 F12 Party business Report of the Parliamentary Parties of the Liberal Democrats 6 10.55-11.15 F13 Presentation Liberal Democrat Group on London Borough of Sutton 7 11.15-11.35 F14 Speech Sarah Teather MP 11.35-12.20 F15 Policy motion Higher Education Fees for Part-Time Students 7 12.20-12.40 F16 Speech Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP 12.40 Deadline for questions to F18, Q&A session on Social Mobility 14.30-15.30 F17 Policy motion Education Credit 8 15.30-16.20 F18 Q&A session Social Mobility 16.20-16.40 F19 Speech Tim Farron MP 16.40-18.00 F20 Policy motion Protecting Individuals and Communities from Drug Harms 8 18.00 Close of session Emergency motions ballot 11 Please note that timings are approximate only. Some items of business may occur earlier than indicated.Conference representatives wishing to speak in any of the debates are requested to fill in and submit a speaker's card as soon as possible. Report Back for Saturday 17th September F2 Report Federal Conference Committee Approved Procedural motion to suspend standing orders Not carried F3 Report Federal Policy Committee Approved F4 Policy Motion Lords Elections by 2015 Passed (Amendments One, Two and Three passed) F6 Policy motion Employment and Support Allowance and Work Capability Assessments Passed (Amendment One passed) F7 Report Federal Executive Approved F8 Report Federal Finance and Administration Committee Approved Sunday 18th September F9 Accreditation for Party Conference Amendment One 10 conference representatives Mover: Lord Rennard Summation: Geoff Payne Delete lines 13-15 and insert: Conference notes that: a) A full risk and threat assessment is carried out for each conference and that for this conference Home Office and police advice was that accreditation was necessary and that they could not guarantee the safety and security of those attending without such accreditation being in place. b) The system of accreditation agreed with the police means that the party has the final say over whether someone attends conference or is refused access. Delete 3. (lines 24-27) and insert: 3. The Federal Conference Committee to continue to negotiate security arrangement to ensure that conference provides a safe and secure environment for those attending conference and the host city whilst ensuring that the party has the final say over who attends conference. Amendment Two Greater Reading, Glasgow North and 12 conference representatives Mover: Gareth Epps Summation: To be announced At end (after line 27), add: Conference rejects the current system of accreditation as it is discriminatory and has resulted in members being denied their constitutional right to attend Conference, and requests the Federal Conference Committee to refuse to operate it for future Conferences. F11 Report of the Diversity Engagement Group Q1. Submitted by Jonathan Hunt While welcoming training, mentoring and similar assistance for BME and other disadvantaged members, when will the group adopt other positive action measures (allowed under the law) including fast-tracking and remedies to reverse previous discrimination? Q2. Submitted by Leonora Brace How do we encourage more diversity among candidates at the local level when some councillors and activitists in the party prefer to pick people who are like themselves? F12 Reports of the Parliamentary Parties of the Liberal Democrats Questions to the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons Q1. Submitted by Hywel Morgan The following questions were tabled at spring conference 2011 to which no answer has been received. Could the Chief Whip explain why these questions were not answered and inform conference by what date an answer will be provided? i) English Council received a report of the FE meeting of 25th October from their FE representative. It states that at this meeting Nick Clegg was asked: "if any MP who voted against the Coalition proposal on Tuition Fees would be penalised in any way, he [Nick] promised that they would not." In light of this could the Chief Whip comment on why two PPSs subsequently resigned. Could the Chief Whip also confirm whether any pressure was brought to bear on those two individuals requiring them to resign? ii) Could the Chief Whip confirm whether all MPs made a contribution to the Party from their Parliamentary salaries as is required of local councillors? If not what steps are being taken to address this? Q2. Submitted by Mike Ward In the light of last year's conference motion 'Human rights and the war on terror' that called for the Detainee Inquiry to show 'demonstrable independence from the Intelligence Services' and the recent withdrawal from the inquiry by 10 leading NGO's, because of their belief that the inquiry as set up is sufficiently thorough, independent and subject to public inquiry to comply with international human rights standards, please explain the actions that the Parliamentary Party has taken, is taking and will take in future to secure changes in the protocol and terms of reference for the Inquiry. Q3. Submitted by Leonora Brace How do we ensure that Federal Party practices, policies and procedures comply with new legislation such as the provisions of the Equality Act 2010? Questions to the European Parliamentary Party Q1. Submitted by Hywel Morgan The Bones report (Party Reform Commission report) made an 'urgent' recommendation in 2008 that it be a condition of becoming an elected Liberal Democrat (at all levels) that you tithe to the party. Does the Whip believe that members of our European Parliamentary party are complying with the spirit of this recommendation? If not would he recommend any steps to achieve compliance? F13 Presentation by Liberal Democrat Group on London Borough of Sutton Aide: Geoff Payne F15 Higher Education Fees for Part-Time Students Amendment One Liberal Youth Mover: Sarah Harding Summation: Tom Wood Delete lines 26-27 and insert: Conference therefore calls on the Government to: A. Change the proposals, so that no student in higher education will have to repay their tuition fees before they have completed their degree. B. Ensure that the principle of equality between part-time and full-time students is reflected throughout the Higher Education white paper. Background briefing This motion calls on the government to review government policy on fee loans for part-time students. Existing party policy is set out in the 2010 general election manifesto, Change That Works For You, and policy paper 90, Investing in Talent and Building the Economy (2009). F17 Education Credit Amendment One 16 conference representatives Mover: Linda Jack Summation: John Howson In 2. (line 28), at end add: ' - for example ensuring that housing policy recognises that poor and insecure housing impacts upon children's attainment'. After b) (line 36), insert: c) All gypsy/traveller children. Amendment Two Plymouth Mover: Stuart Bonar Summation: Col Terry Scriven After b) (line 36), insert: c) All children of serving members of the UK's Armed Forces. There will be separate votes on D. (line 15), on 7 a) (lines 54-55) and on 7 b) (line 56). Background briefing This motion creates new policy on an Education Credit. This builds on existing policy for a pupil premium set out in the 2010 general election manifesto, Change That Works For You, and in policy paper 89, Equity and Excellence (2009). F20 Protecting Individuals and Communities from Drug Harms Amendment One 10 conference representatives Mover: Adam Corlett Summation: To be announced After E. (line 50), insert: F. Issues such as housing, family and youth support, mental health and tackling unemployment and high inequality should not be overlooked as means of both averting problematic drug use and supporting recovery. Amendment Two 17 conference representatives Mover: Prateek Buch Summation: To be announced After 5. (line 68), add: 6. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to retain a majority of independent scientific and social scientific experts in its membership and no changes to drug laws be made without receiving its advice as per the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act. Background briefing This motion substantially updates and develops party policy on reform of the drug laws. Existing party policy is set out in policy paper 47, Honesty, Realism and Responsibility (2002). Emergency Motions Ballot F22 b Emergency Motion There will be a ballot to select one of the following motions to be debated in this time slot. Please complete and return the attached ballot paper to the ballot box in the auditorium of The ICC between 09.00 and 13.00 on Sunday 18th September. Emergency Motion 1: Pensions Glasgow North and 19 conference representatives Conference notes with concern the final report of the Workplace Retirement Income Commission announced on 1st August 2011 which concluded that millions of people face poverty in old age because they are falling through the cracks of private pension provision. Conference reaffirms: A. The fundamental Liberal Democrat principle that "none shall be enslaved by poverty". B. The commitments in the Coalition Agreement to "safeguarding key benefits and pensions" and to "simplify rules and regulations relating to pensions to help invigorate occupational pensions encouraging companies to offer high quality pensions to all employees". Conference notes: i) Lord Hutton's statement that public service pensions are far from gold-plated; and that the average pension in payment is currently œ7,800 a year, with women's pensions about half that. ii) That about 2.4-million private sector employees are active in Defined Benefit (DB) schemes which are under threat, and even more are in Defined Contribution (DC) schemes of which many are destined not to provide an adequate pension. Conference believes that: a) There is now a major crisis in occupational pension provision and, while welcoming the introduction of NEST and the coalition proposals for reform of the state pension as important steps forward, acknowledges that neither of these proposals can in themselves solve this major crisis. b) The retreat of private sector employers from providing high quality pensions is the result of the failures of previous Labour and Conservative governments. Conference calls upon Liberal Democrats in Government to: 1. Reconsider the proposal to impose cuts in take-home pay on millions of public sector workers through increased pension contributions at the same time as reducing their pension benefits and increasing scheme retirement ages at a time of pay freezes, redundancies and spiralling cost of living; 2. Reject ideologically motivated proposals to allow private sector companies winning public sector contracts to lower their bids and increase profits by ending the privatised workforce's pension scheme membership; 3. Act with urgency to protect private sector DB pension schemes including through reforming current rules and regulations; 4. Urgently clarify the law on trust-based collective DC schemes to allow the private sector to explore European models of provision of better quality, lower cost DC schemes; 5. Investigate and act in relation to pensions industry charges, fees, transparency and disclosure in order to enable pension schemes and their members to achieve better value for money. Applicability: Federal. Emergency Motion 2: Responding to the Riots Guildford, Glasgow North and 12 conference representatives Conference: I. Condemns the August riots as unjustified and outright criminality and understands and regrets the deep trauma caused to the residents and businesses affected, particularly the families of those who died. II. Appreciates with gratitude the effective nationally co-ordinated actions taken by police and emergency services who put themselves in harm's way to protect lives and livelihoods. III. Notes the use of private networks and social media not only by those set on rioting, but, also in a more effective way, by those getting help to people at risk, and mobilising the clean-up operations. IV. Recognises that it was the threat of arrest and prosecution due to CCTV images and higher police concentration, rather than interventions by politicians, that brought the disturbances to an end. Conference notes with concern: A. The temporary loss of control by the forces of law and order to gangs of looters and arsonists, suggesting a shortage of deployable officers with appropriate training and equipment. B. The large number of lengthy custodial sentences and remands handed down by the courts which put much more pressure on our overcrowded prisons, when research clearly shows that prison is not an effective way of rehabilitating non-violent offenders or preventing re-offending. C. The proposal that social housing eviction be extended, beyond a sanction for causing a nuisance to other tenants and the immediate local community, to one for criminal behaviour generally; and that this would not only be unfair to innocent family members but would also discriminate against social housing tenants compared with private housing tenants or owner occupiers. Conference believes that: i) Sentencing is a matter for the courts, taking into account the crime, deterrence, and the impact on the defendant and their family, but not calls by the media or politicians for tougher sentences. ii) The way communities responded to the disturbances demonstrates that society is not broken, but that there are examples of a lack of respect for the law and rights of others to be found at the top and bottom of the socio-economic scale. iii) Additional powers to censor, restrict access to or close public social networking sites beyond existing arrangements are neither justified nor practical. iv) The reduction in the provision and funding of Youth and Connexions Services, especially at a time of high youth unemployment, and the increase in gang culture leaves young people more vulnerable to an antisocial way of life. v) The imposition of curfews and over-use of dispersals would be counterproductive and breed resentment among young people. vi) The removal of benefits from those involved in the disorder and their families will simply create more deprivation and encourage more criminality. vii) More needs to be understood about the causes of the riots, and also the actual impact on the communities concerned in order to ensure that government responses are based on evidence and not knee jerk reaction. Conference also reaffirms its policies outlined in policy paper 96, Free to be Young, and policy paper 99, Taking Responsibility, which would focus on effective ways of preventing young people from being drawn into gang culture and lead more productive lives. Conference supports the actions taken by the Deputy Prime Minister to: a) Establish a Grassroots Communities and Victims Panel to listen to the views of those affected by the riots. b) Implement a 'riot payback scheme' using restorative justice to make offenders build up their local communities and be confronted by those that their offending harmed, and calls for the inclusion of people released from imprisonment post-conviction to ensure that as many as possible do not re-offend. c) To undertake an urgent review of the causes of the riots, together with the implementation of the proposed programme of research and community liaison to identify lessons to be learned. Conference also calls for: 1. The imposition of custodial sentences only where no other sentence is justified but encourages, wherever justice permits, the use of non-custodial measures that allow the offender to carry out productive work, retain their livelihoods, homes and family ties, and thereby not be driven to future reliance on the state. 2. Recognition of the important work of the Probation Service in promoting rehabilitation, especially in the context of the cuts it faces. 3. The continued separation of politicians and police operational control and for there to be stronger checks and balances on any elected police commissioners by locally elected representatives than are currently set out in legislation. 4. A full inquiry into the riots following the publication of the findings of the Grassroots, Communities and Victims Panel in Spring 2012 should this be necessary. Applicability: England and Wales. Emergency Motion 3: The Detainee Inquiry Mole Valley Conference notes that: a) The motion passed at last year's autumn conference called for the Detainee Inquiry to "ensure that both the public and torture victims, in respect of whom the complicity of the Government or the Intelligence Services is alleged, can have confidence in the inquiry's thoroughness, impartiality and rigour in securing full accountability". b) The Protocol for the inquiry, agreed between the Inquiry panel and the Government provides that all material provided to the inquiry that has not previously been in the public domain will be regarded as secret and not for publication unless a specific application for publication by the Inquiry panel is approved by the Government, that there will be no independent review of such Government decisions and that the final decision on disclosure will be made by the cabinet secretary. c) Alleged victims and their lawyers will not be granted special status under the protocol for the inquiry, be able to see secret information relating to their mistreatment, or cross-examine witnesses. d) There will be no power for the inquiry to compel witnesses to attend or require documents or other evidence to be produced. e) There will be no attempt made to obtain testimony from foreign witnesses. f) 10 relevant NGOs, including Amnesty International, have withdrawn from the Inquiry as it has currently been established stating that "the Inquiry simply will not be able to achieve its intended outcome of establishing the truth about the allegations that UK authorities were involved in the mistreatment of detainees held abroad." Conference welcomes the focus by the Inquiry on Government policy and the recognition of the need to learn from past mistakes. However, whilst recognising that there will be some information that will have to remain secret in the public interest, conference believes that the list of potential reasons for non-publication of information is currently too broad. Conference reaffirms its belief that justice for the alleged victims and public confidence in the behaviour of the Intelligence Services both require the Inquiry to be independent, thorough and subject to public scrutiny to the maximum extent possible. Therefore, conference calls on the Government to revise the proposed protocol for the inquiry to 1. Allow the publication of all evidence and material provided to the inquiry unless it falls within clearly defined categories that are tightly drawn and provide for independent review of any decision not to publish. 2. Treat alleged victims as key participants in the inquiry and support them throughout the inquiry with appropriate legal representation at the expense of the inquiry 3. Give the inquiry the power to compel attendance of witnesses and provision of documents and other evidence with criminal penalties for non-compliance 4. Require the inquiry to seek all relevant evidence from parties overseas and to use all appropriate means to secure the participation of such parties. Irrespective of the outcome in respect of the Detainee Inquiry, conference commits the party to continue to campaign for a transparent, thorough and independent inquiry leading to prosecution of anyone found guilty of wrong-doing and compensation for victims should their claims be substantiated. Applicability: Federal. Emergency Motions Ballot Paper Please vote by indicating your preferences in order (1,2,3). Pensions Responding to the Riots The Detainee Inquiry Please return this ballot paper to the ballot box in the auditorium of The ICC between 09.00 and 13.00 on Sunday 18th September. Please note that you will need to show your voting representative's photo pass when submitting the ballot paper.