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1,619 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillIt would seem trite to say that I thank your Lordships for this long and interesting debate but, none the less, with great sincerity, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, and…13 Apr 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill13 Apr 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill13 Apr 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyThe last point the noble Lord alluded to is very important. Yes, I agree, and we hope that that indeed will be the consequence of the application of this strategy in practice. On…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyI thank my noble friend for his interest in and continued focus on reserves. I also thank him for his report, the Reserve Forces 2030 review, which will be presented to Parliament…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyI am sure the noble Lord will understand that the budget constraints on all departments, not least the MoD, are visible and exacting. Certainly, the MoD is very mindful, which is…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyThe noble Lord will be aware from the White Paper published on Monday that very close attention was paid to the rollout of an exciting shipbuilding programme. There is an…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyTo take the last point first, no, absolutely not. While I welcome the noble Lord’s eight out of 10 for the report, which suggests that we are making progress, I think he makes a…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyThis is all about an increasingly close partnership between government and industry. The noble Lord will be aware that industry, particularly in defence, employs not just many…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyI think the noble and gallant Lord would agree that what was outlined in the Command Paper is exciting, not just for the UK shipbuilding industry but for the Royal Navy. The…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyYes, it is a very important part of what we are doing. As the noble Lord spoke, I was looking at page 13 of the strategy document, which has a marvellous depiction of the reach…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyI say to the noble and gallant Lord that I love the analogy; it is very apposite. He identifies an important point. He is aware that there is constant consultation and discussion…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyMy noble friend asks a very perceptive question. We are satisfied that, despite a reduction to 72,500, we still have a very significant cohort of professional military. We are…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyThe sort of scenario to which my noble friend refers may well have happened in the past—but that is where it belongs. The point of this strategy is that there will be hard…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Tunnicliffe, and the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, for their comments. I think I feel a bit like the musical song, “Getting to Know You”. I…24 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyThe strategy lays out a clear basis for how we will engage not just with our companies at home but with potential suppliers abroad. At the end of the day, we want a quality…24 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: Defence Command PaperI thank the noble and gallant Lord. He raises an important point. I would observe that, across the piece, the programme for shipbuilding over the next 10 to 15 years is exciting…23 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: Defence Command PaperI have already indicated to your Lordships why we consider maintenance of a credible minimum nuclear deterrent to be absolutely essential, and it is our judgment that the increase…23 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: Defence Command PaperThe review means that we have recognised the pace of change to both the intensity and the character of the threat. The noble Lord is aware that it is now in a multidimensional…23 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: Defence Command PaperI reassure the right reverend Prelate that, as he is aware, we currently engage in activity in Africa, partly with the United Nations and partly with other allies. That is where…23 Mar 2021