Contributions
1,619 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesMy Lords, the Government highly value the service of all members of the Armed Forces, including Commonwealth nationals and Gurkhas from Nepal. We recognise that settlement fees…20 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesMy noble friend makes an interesting suggestion, and the department is certainly receptive to all views. I am sure that is a view that the department will look at with interest.20 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesThe noble Lord will recognise that the issue is complex. I can reassure him that discussions have been ongoing and that my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary and Johnny…20 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesI thank my noble friend for bringing the House’s attention to Remembrance Day, which is taking place in an unusual set of circumstances, but in no way does that diminish the…20 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesI join the noble Lord in paying tribute to the contribution from the Sikh community within the Armed Forces. They have been an inspiration, and our debt to them is immense. As for…20 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesLet me reassure the noble Lord that the contribution made by service personnel from the Commonwealth and from Nepal is certainly never forgotten or overlooked. As I said earlier…20 Oct 2020HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth CountriesI was not aware that I had used the word “flexibility”, but I defer to the noble Baroness. What I did indicate was that there is a range of measures available at the time of…20 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsI am pleased to say that, broadly speaking across the UK, defence supports more than 300,000 jobs in the private and public sectors. I know at first hand that a number of them…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsI reassure the noble Baroness by reminding her that this Government have a proud record in relation to our commitments for budget to the MoD. We had a clear manifesto commitment…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsMy noble friend will be aware that the integrated review, which I think is the review to which he refers, is concerned with the broad and difficult question of what threats we…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsWe are aware of the scheduled end of service for “Fort Victoria”, which is in 2028. We are satisfied that we can make the necessary arrangements to continue the support which will…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsMy Lords, it is too early in the procurement process to assess the value for money of building fleet solid support ships in the UK compared to overseas, and it would be…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsI reassure the noble Lord that it would be a very curious defence capability that did not have a maritime capacity. As we look to the challenges of the global world in the years…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsLike the noble Baroness, coming from Scotland, I am well aware of the significance of shipbuilding to Scotland, not least to our communities on the Clyde. The process has been put…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsI think the noble Lord is being slightly mischievous in his question and understands that I cannot make a specific response in the way in which he would desire. What I can say is…07 Oct 2020HANSARDFleet Solid Support ShipsI feel slightly wounded by the noble Lord’s charge; I shall try not to take it personally. Of course, there was disappointment at the paucity of interest when the contract was…07 Oct 2020HANSARDAfghanistan: Locally Employed CiviliansThe noble and gallant Lord raises an important point. As he will be aware, the MoD currently does not employ interpreters. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has…22 Sept 2020HANSARDAfghanistan: Locally Employed CiviliansI have the greatest respect for the noble Lord, as he is well aware, but I do not entirely agree with that analysis. He will be aware that the scheme first got off the ground back…22 Sept 2020HANSARDAfghanistan: Locally Employed CiviliansWe have a duty to those who served and supported in Afghanistan—I think there were 2,900 interpreters in total—but, as I indicated to the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem,…22 Sept 2020HANSARDAfghanistan: Locally Employed CiviliansThe noble Lord will be aware that the Government are offering a great deal of support to our veterans. We want to do that because it is the right thing to do, and that would be…22 Sept 2020