Contributions
1,897 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaThe Commonwealth is a vital international union of countries that can do much good around the world. As for ratification, the noble Lord is right—we have not ratified it yet, but…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaExactly what will be contained within the measures needs to be negotiated and worked through. We are working closely with the Government of Bermuda to get this right. Our aim is…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaThe noble Lord is absolutely right and that must not be allowed to happen in this case. This agreement is important and it seeks to resolve something that I think many noble Lords…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaTo say that Mauritius is unwilling is a bit harsh—it is very willing and it has committed to do this. We have committed to work alongside it to make sure that the waters around…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaAt risk of stepping on the toes of my noble and good friend Lady Hayman, the Defra Minister, I believe that Defra is either consulting on or has just concluded a consultation on…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaI think soft power can be very impactful, and you do not always need hard power to get what you want in the world, thank goodness. This is about oceans beyond national…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaNow that my noble friend asks me, I believe I am correct in saying that there were 12, 13 or 14 rounds of negotiations undertaken by the previous Conservative Government on the…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaReaching viable agreements was not a strength of the previous Government. However, the fact that they had so many rounds of negotiation did speak to the fact that there was a…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaIt is not for me to throw insults around this Chamber, but Mauritius itself has said that it does not feel that it is currently able to maintain and protect the ocean around the…06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaThe noble Lord, Lord Cameron, will confirm if you ask him that yes, he did pause the negotiations, but he restarted them because he could see that this was a necessary process.06 Jul 2026HANSARDInternational Marine Protected Area: Sargasso SeaI think the noble Baroness put that incredibly well. I take her encouragement in good spirit, and I will work with my fellow Ministers to do just that.06 Jul 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesMy Lords, the Government are firmly committed to the women, peace and security agenda. We see women’s representation not as an addition to peacebuilding but as central to more…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesWe fund many such organisations. The right reverend Prelate is right to highlight the significant role that women and women-led organisations play, not just in negotiating.…30 Jun 2026HANSARDUkraine: International Claims Commission ConventionThat is my mistake. At the moment, this is for Ukrainian nationals only but, as with other issues that were raised, there is the potential for that to change in the future. But…30 Jun 2026HANSARDUkraine: International Claims Commission ConventionI thank the noble Lord, Lord Johnson of Lainston, for making sure that we are here today to discuss this and to all those who have contributed. I particularly thank the noble and…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesIf only it was just Sudan—but it is not. The noble Lord asked about Sudan specifically. We have instigated and funded a fact-finding mission so that testimonies can be gathered…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesFor a peace process to be successful, it must be inclusive. That includes Palestinian representation, and it should include women, because in just about every example of any kind…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesI do not hesitate to support what the noble Lord has said about the inclusion of women. I would go a little bit further and say that peace which is achieved, or pauses in conflict…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesAs a woman who has worked in politics for longer than I care to admit, I welcome the noble Lord’s sisterly solidarity. What are we doing? We fund many women-led organisations. We…30 Jun 2026HANSARDWomen’s Representation in Peace ProcessesI will look very carefully at that. It sounds like the sort of initiative that the UK would be interested in supporting. There are so many examples of where sexual violence is…30 Jun 2026