Contributions
1,619 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWar Widows’ PensionI thank my noble friend for her question—I am beginning to feel a formidable array of onslaught opening up before me. I also thank her for her invaluable role as president of the…25 Feb 2020HANSARDWar Widows’ PensionI thank the noble Baroness and pay tribute to and thank the War Widows’ Association for its excellent work. I also pay tribute to the noble Baroness for her role within the…25 Feb 2020HANSARDWar Widows’ PensionMy Lords, in 2014 the then Prime Minister announced that changes would be made to the rules of the war pensions scheme and armed forces pensions scheme from April 2015 onwards.…25 Feb 2020HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceI have endeavoured to reassure the House by giving the information that I have been able to disclose. A great deal has been done for the very reasons that the noble Lord rightly…25 Feb 2020HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceMy understanding is that, under the redundancy scheme, there are only two former locally employed staff and their families waiting to relocate, neither of whom is an interpreter.…25 Feb 2020HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceI respect the noble Lord’s experience on such matters, but I disagree. The United Kingdom Government have effectively demonstrated that they stand by the people they ask to work…25 Feb 2020HANSARDReserve Forces and Cadets’ AssociationsMy Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend Lord De Mauley for initiating this debate and affording this House the opportunity to discuss the important work of the Reserve…27 Jan 2020HANSARDReserve Forces and Cadets’ AssociationsI did say at the beginning that for anything I did not answer, I would write.27 Jan 2020HANSARDReserve Forces and Cadets’ AssociationsI imagine that it is a matter of fundamental importance that they would want to look at the debate and its conclusions, but I will certainly make sure that the debate is reported…27 Jan 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersI thank the noble Lord, who has made a number of points. I rebut the gloomy and pessimistic picture he paints. In fact, the Type 45 destroyers are hugely capable ships, as he…21 Jan 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersMy Lords, the first Type 45 destroyer will begin receiving power improvement project upgrades in spring 2020 and will return to sea trials in 2021. Our £160 million investment in…21 Jan 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersThe answer is yes. The innovation of unmanned equipment is important. My noble friend will be aware that we deploy both unarmed and armed aerial equipment, and these operate…21 Jan 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersI am afraid I do not agree with the noble and gallant Lord. I refer him to the national ship- building strategy, which made some pivotal recommendations upon which the Government…21 Jan 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersPut simply, the Royal Navy continues to meet its operational commitments.21 Jan 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersAll these problems are of long standing, and the noble Lord is correct about that. In fact, there is a mixture of circumstances. First, the period within which the contractor…21 Jan 2020HANSARDDrones: International LawI was just about to observe that the process applies to both UK strikes and those conducted by another nation. However, I am not sure whether it has been used. I shall have to…16 Jan 2020HANSARDDrones: International LawMy Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lord Hodgson on securing this debate. I thank other noble Lords for their contributions. I pay tribute to my noble friend and the noble…16 Jan 2020HANSARDNuclear WeaponsI do not want to get lost in or confuse your Lordships with accountancy semantics. My understanding is that the initial money comes from the Treasury but goes into the budget of…14 Jan 2020HANSARDNuclear WeaponsI sometimes think that that my department receives attention from a number of predatory sources, and I shall not be specific in designating them. I was candid with the noble Lord,…14 Jan 2020HANSARDNuclear WeaponsThat is not something currently presenting itself to us. There may be strong rhetoric from certain presences in Scotland, but it is also very clear that the strong majority…14 Jan 2020