Contributions
1,193 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address MotionMy noble friend is absolutely right. There have been several political appointments, as I have said, including of Members of your Lordships’ House, to ambassadorial and diplomatic…17 Mar 2026HANSARDLord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address MotionMy Lords, I believe I have said on numerous occasions that this is the first tranche of material that has been published, as did the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. More…17 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsCivil servants seconded outside the Civil Service, including internationally, do not cease to be civil servants and are expected to carry out their role with dedication and a…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsI thank the noble Baroness for her question. Obviously, standards are an important part of the regime—not least because the Prime Minister has now given me responsibility for…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsMy noble friend is absolutely right, and it suggests quite how unserious Reform UK is about governing. We have an independent Civil Service for a reason. It acts without fear or…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsThe noble Lord raises an interesting point. Every member of the Civil Service is subject to the Civil Service Code, regardless of seniority, and we expect them to be held…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsThe noble Baroness has asked four questions, so I will answer as many as I can. For all of them, the answer is the same, which is that chapter 4 of the Civil Service management…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsI am not sure how many secondments would work on that basis, but we already have in place keeping-in-touch conversations, where those who have been seconded must have regular…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsMy noble friend raises an interesting point. This is about who we end up seconding staff to and what happens while they are there, and the things they may see. There is a clear…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsI apologise; I thought I had answered the question. If a member of our staff is on secondment elsewhere and there are disciplinary concerns, the secondment process is likely to…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsMy Lords, I thank my noble friend, but I suggest that it is always about your individual management style; for example, as a Minister, working with people and bringing them on a…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK Public Servants: International SecondmentsThe noble Baroness has had significant experience of ministerial office. I have not, but among the civil servants who I have worked with, if there are those who may have made…16 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationMy Lords, I am disappointed that not everybody looks at the NCSC’s website in the same way that I do to ensure that they are updated. The noble Lord is right that we need to make…11 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationThe noble and gallant Lord knows much more than I do about how to fight a war. He is absolutely right that we need to be prepared on all fronts, and I want to reassure him that we…11 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationMy Lords, the Government have taken significant action so far. We have sanctioned the IRGC in its entirety, as well as 550 Iranian individuals and entities. We have also placed…11 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationYes, in opposition. But let me be clear: proscription powers are designed for non-state terror organisations, not state organisations. We have committed to taking forward plans…11 Mar 2026HANSARDProcurement Act 2023 (Specified International Agreements and Saving Provision) (Amendment) Regulations 2026That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 19 and 26 January be approved. Relevant document: 50th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in…11 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationThe noble Lord will be aware of my own voting record on the IRGC’s proscription—11 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationI thank my noble friend for the question, which is interesting. I have not been made aware that any of those behaviours have yet happened. Anyone who watches the news is aware of…11 Mar 2026HANSARDIranian State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: Mitigation and PreparationThe noble Baroness will be aware that the cyber security and resilience Bill is in the other place, which is a starting point. I am aware of what she has highlighted and we are…11 Mar 2026