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1,897 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesThis is a matter of great concern and the Government are, as the noble Earl said, looking at this incredibly carefully, not just in relation to Hindu nationalism but other forms…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesAs I said, we raise the issues that the noble Lord is concerned about directly with the Government of India. Animal welfare, plants and phytosanitary issues all relate to trade,…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesI would also add the Dalit community to that list. This is obviously a concern. There is no room for conversion laws—that is not something that we want to see, and it is a concern…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesMy Lords, India is a multifaith, multi-ethnic and multilingual democracy, and it remains among the most diverse societies in the world. It is home to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs,…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesI thank the noble and right reverend Lord for bringing our attention to this. It is an important issue and he is right to raise it. We have our network across India and will raise…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesWe raise these issues with the Indian Government, as my noble friend would expect us to. Clearly, it is for India to make its own choices, and it has been many decades,…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesI do not think that there is anybody in this House who would not agree that we should—and do—believe in the equal treatment of all people of all faiths and beliefs. This is…02 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesI hear the challenge, and it is a judgment, is it not? You are trying to get a trade agreement with the Government of India. Is that best served by including measures on human…02 Jul 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenWe are here to talk about the impact on children. The noble Lord has every right to ask whatever he wants, but that is a slightly strange choice when we have had no end of…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenI thank the noble Baroness again and should just say how well regarded she remains in the department; when I saw this Question this morning, there were many kind comments about…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenThe ODA budget faces a 40% cut because we have decided to spend more on the Ministry of Defence, and I think everybody here is aware of that. The best buy in education is actually…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenWe continue to support work on education, particularly in Afghanistan. As the noble Baroness and other noble Lords will know, it is a particularly difficult context in which to…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenMy Lords, to fund a necessary increase in defence spending, the Government have taken the decision in the current fiscal circumstances to reduce our official development…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenMy Lords, that would be straying slightly beyond my remit on development. However, I would point out that all of us ought to be deeply concerned about the lack of attendance at…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenThat is the aim of many countries that we are working in. They want to move on from being an aid recipient and be a partner with us, not least in the area of business and economic…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenI cannot speak for what will be in the national security strategy, but my noble friend is absolutely right in what he says about conflict. We will continue to support work on…23 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenFaith-based organisations have a huge role to play. This morning, I visited GSK’s vaccine laboratory in Stevenage to talk about our Gavi pledge, which is coming up on Wednesday.…23 Jun 2025HANSARDAbducted Ukrainian ChildrenIt is good see my noble friend and to hear his question. We all wish there was a lever that we could pull. At the moment, the first challenge is to locate the children. The…18 Jun 2025HANSARDAbducted Ukrainian ChildrenWe are supporting the ICC with funding and other measures and will continue to do so. It does matter that accurate records are kept and that, when the time comes, we are able to…18 Jun 2025HANSARDAbducted Ukrainian ChildrenIn the noble Lord’s question is the point about Russification, which tells us a lot about some of the motivation for the kidnapping of these children and for the war more…18 Jun 2025