Contributions
1,619 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUkraine UpdateIn the course of responding to the conflict in Ukraine we have been encouraged by the attitude and decisions of our friends within the EU. Very constructive measures have been…05 Sept 2022HANSARDUkraine UpdateIf I may, I will take the noble Viscount’s second question first. As I indicated to the noble Lord, Lord Newby, we are in the early days of understanding what the inspection has…05 Sept 2022HANSARDUkraine UpdateOn the specific question about the 2 million tonnes of grain, I do not have information as to where that has gone or which countries have received it. I can undertake to make…05 Sept 2022HANSARDUkraine UpdateAgain, I say to the noble Baroness that is somewhat out of my ministerial sphere but I am very sympathetic to her concerns. The Statement said that we will do our best to monitor…05 Sept 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]There is a part of the Bill that allows the Secretary of State to exclude a supplier; that is a specific provision in the Bill. Where defence and security contracts are concerned,…18 Jul 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]As the noble Baroness will be aware, the National Audit Office reports not to the MoD; it reports to Parliament. It is a very powerful line of accountability that introduces the…18 Jul 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]Well, yes, within the law the MoD can, and this Bill provides more flexibility for past performance to be taken into account. However, there are legal constraints which govern how…18 Jul 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]What I said to the noble Lord was that, as happens with any committee report, the department is preparing a response to the committee, and that is currently being done. I do not…18 Jul 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]What I think is important is that we accord the National Audit Office the absolutely critical character of independence, which is necessary for it to do the job it does. I think…18 Jul 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]My understanding is that the Government’s response has been framed to that report and is currently under review. I have no more up to date information, but I will write to the…18 Jul 2022HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]I am endeavouring, my Lords, not to tip my water down the back of my noble friend’s neck, although he might welcome that refreshment. First, I thank all noble Lords for their…18 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesI thank the noble Lord for the tenor of his remarks. Yes, it is the case that the RMP has asked the BBC, the “Panorama” production team, to produce this evidence on which it…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesI thank my noble friend. I am sure the House will have paid close attention to his authority in relation to these matters. I reassure the House that the RMP is a professional,…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesMy understanding is that the Royal Military Police are free to seek advice. As I said earlier, they may seek advice from the civilian police force. If confronted with legal…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesI think we all understand the noble and gallant Lord’s interests in this with great sympathy. He will understand why I have to be generic in my references. We are actively seeking…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesI think we all understand that journalism has a role in a democratic society, and journalists have a job to do and documentary producers seek to discharge that role. What I think…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesI say to the noble Lord that, as he will understand from his own background, we need evidence. That is why the RMP has asked the BBC for the evidence. Where is the substance of…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesThe noble Lord will be aware that the Royal Military Police is indeed an independent investigatory authority that has been regarded as professional and effective. It engages…14 Jul 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: British Special ForcesMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall repeat the Answer to the Urgent Question provided by my honourable friend Mr James Heappey, Minister for Armed Forces, in the other…14 Jul 2022HANSARDDefence Spending Priorities: NATO SummitMy Lords, although the next spending review will determine the exact changes to defence spending priorities, as the Prime Minister stated at the NATO summit last week, we need to…06 Jul 2022