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1,897 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCorruption: Low and Middle-income CountriesAs the noble Lord will appreciate, we speak to our friends in the United States about a range of issues all the time, and illicit finance is certainly one of those issues.29 Oct 2025HANSARDCorruption: Low and Middle-income CountriesMy Lords, the Government remain committed to reducing the harms of illicit finance on developing countries and to holding those responsible to account. The National Crime Agency’s…29 Oct 2025HANSARDCorruption: Low and Middle-income CountriesAs he knows, we do not comment on future designations, but I thank him for reminding us of the role of illicit gold mining, in particular, in this. This is how many billions of…29 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictI think that is right, and that is what this Government are trying to do. This is a delicate and long-standing situation, and there is a need for absolute pragmatism at all times.…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictThat is exactly what we do. My response to the noble Lord was about his specific Question around evidence. We do not have that. What we understand, though, is the way that Iran…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictI absolutely do not. I will resist the temptation to speculate from the Dispatch Box, but I am sure that I can get the noble Lord the information that he needs.27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictI could not agree more with what the noble Lord has just said—he is absolutely right. The way that the UK is conducting itself as we move on is with pragmatism and in accordance…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictMy noble friend and I could have quite a long discussion about our support for the KRI and for Kurds more generally. I would be very happy to do that, although perhaps not during…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictMy Lords, regarding the allegation, the UK has not seen evidence of Iranian support for the Polisario Front. However, we continue to monitor Iranian activity in the region. The UK…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictI assure the noble Lord that mutual admiration is not something that we are engaged in. Minister Falconer did meet the Polisario on 5 August in the context of the declaration that…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictMy noble friend met Polisario and that was in no way in contradiction to the statements that we have signed up to, alongside Morocco. We feel that there is a resolution in sight…27 Oct 2025HANSARDWestern Sahara ConflictIt is important to have dialogue with parties to these conflicts in a way that is transparent, pragmatic and helpful, which is what has been done. The noble Lord says that he has…27 Oct 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportAs I have said, it is not for any politician or indeed the Government to determine whether or not genocide has been happening. It is for a competent court, and we will respect the…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportMy Lords, the Government’s long-standing position remains that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred should be made following a judgment by a competent…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportWe respect and will always continue to adhere to the convention that the noble Baroness refers to, but it will remain the Government’s position—I genuinely think that this is…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportThe legal test must be heard by a court. I understand that this report can be considered by the ICJ as part of its deliberations, and to that extent I think it is helpful. Whether…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportThe noble Baroness needs to read the letter in full. The letter was in response to an inquiry by the IDC, I think, on the issue of F35s. It is not for this Government to determine…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportIf the Government of Israel do not wish the United Kingdom Government to do what they said they would do about six weeks ago—we can all read a calendar, and we know what is…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportLike my noble friend, I worry about our immunity to this and that we lose our capacity for compassion and to feel the horror of what is happening. I note the concern that we see…18 Sept 2025HANSARDGaza: UN Commission of Inquiry ReportThere are processes under way at the ICJ and the ICC. Although we do not take it upon ourselves to attribute genocide, that does not mean that we do not consider other breaches of…18 Sept 2025