Contributions
1,619 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, I listened to the noble Lord, Lord Beamish. This amendment concerns an area of technical expertise that is way beyond my ken—although, when I was a Minister, Gibraltar…24 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill24 Mar 2025HANSARDChurch of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) BillMy Lords, while it is not a registrable interest, I am a member of the Church of Scotland, an elder of the Church and, with recent effect, a worship leader. With that background,…19 Mar 2025HANSARDIndependent School Fees: VATMany of our Armed Forces educate their children privately because that is the only way they can ensure continuous provision of education because of the extraordinary lives we ask…13 Mar 2025HANSARDUkraine (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, it has been a pleasure, albeit a sombre one, to listen to this debate. I first pay tribute to my noble friend Lord De Mauley for his tireless work in chairing the…06 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, I first place on record my admiration for and appreciation of our Armed Forces personnel. They are great. They make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, as the…05 Mar 2025HANSARDUK Defence: Hypersonic MissilesMy Lords, there is already in place a framework to develop a sovereign UK hypersonic missile, with £1 billion identified over a period of seven years. Given recent events, can the…03 Mar 2025HANSARDViolence Against Women and Girls on TrainsMy Lords, I am old enough to remember a phenomenon called the “ladies only compartment”—and I am not alone in that, I gather. I was required to travel in that compartment as a…24 Feb 2025HANSARDSpace Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025My Lords, first I associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, with reference to her friend and colleague Baroness Randerson. If the noble…10 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesI thank the noble Lord. I am aware that the continuity of education allowance has been uprated, but that still leaves a parental contribution. What we do not know is by how much…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesTo ask His Majesty’s Government what engagement they have had with armed forces personnel whose children are currently educated at fee-paying schools to ascertain the impact on…05 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingMy Lords, last week I raised my profound concerns about the funding fog surrounding defence. Specifically on the Government’s fiscal policy, I want to ask the Minister the…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsMy Lords, further to the point raised by the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, it is the case that our defence industry sector has never been in greater need of the skills and…03 Feb 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseMy Lords, Russian maritime activity has increasingly been a matter of concern, and I thank the Secretary of State for Defence for his timely update on the UK response, through the…28 Jan 2025HANSARDUndersea Internet CablesMy Lords, the principal response to this threat in the Baltic is coming from NATO. May I press the Minister a little further on the contribution that United Kingdom naval assets…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAir Defence CapabilitiesI thank the Minister for his response. Recent very public concerns about our air defence capabilities have been amplified by our European and NATO partners. The urgency of the…09 Jan 2025HANSARDAir Defence CapabilitiesTo ask His Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in the technological advancement and modernisation of the United Kingdom’s air defence capabilities.09 Jan 2025HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI thank the noble Lord, and certainly, we have previously been told that the SDR will spell out what defence needs and that a spring fiscal event will confirm how and when we are…17 Dec 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentTo ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Coaker on 14 November (HL Deb col 1927), whether they are planning the fiscal event next spring which is to set the…17 Dec 2024HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Burns. I want to start with what is undeniable. This House is good at its job; a core cohort of committed Peers and…11 Dec 2024