Contributions
1,619 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChagos Islands: UK-US Defence RelationshipMy Lords, there is a world of difference between exploratory discussions, which have always been caveated by UK security interests, and signing on the dotted line, when there has…05 Dec 2024HANSARDCouncil of the Nations and RegionsMy Lords, this council appears to have rendered obsolete the Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Governments Council. Does the Minister really feel that is an appropriate sign of…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesMy Lords, I am aware that there is a series of very effective assets which can be deployed to air defence. I do not expect the Minister to comment further on those, but I will ask…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsMy Lords, I pay tribute to the marvellous men and women in our Armed Forces, and the civilian cohort who support defence in such an extraordinary manner and help to keep our…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentMy Lords, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor’s continuing dithering on when the Government will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence has caused stasis in the MoD, which does not know…14 Nov 2024HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformMy Lords, what a pleasure to follow such a feisty and articulate octogenarian as the noble Lord, Lord Rooker. May he continue to entertain us for many years to come. I shall try…12 Nov 2024HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformThank you, my Lords. What the Government’s ageism experiment has demonstrated is that a disjointed approach to reform does not work. On the principle of hereditary Peers, we hit…12 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Policy: DeterrenceMy Lords, my noble friend Lord Trefgarne is right to pose his vital Question. It gets to the heart of what a defence capability is, as he, the noble Lord, Lord Harris of Haringey,…31 Oct 2024HANSARDDefence SpendingMy Lords, it is clear from the contributions today how informed about and engaged in the defence of our nation your Lordships are. That knowledge was manifest in my noble friend…31 Oct 2024HANSARDRed Sea: Houthi AttacksMy Lords, I think we all wish to commend the professionalism of our Royal Navy personnel, so evident in this part of the world. In particular, HMS “Diamond” has been protecting…24 Oct 2024HANSARDDecommissioned Nuclear-Powered SubmarinesMy Lords, on 20 May 2021, the Conservative Government published an update on the submarine dismantling project, stating that 90% of the decommissioned submarine materials could be…23 Oct 2024HANSARDUK-US Co-operation on Using Atomic Energy for Mutual DefenceMy Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, and all members of the International Agreements Committee for their helpful report on the two agreements before us…23 Oct 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2024My Lords—oh, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith; I am so eager.22 Oct 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2024My Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, for my alacrity in wanting to contribute to this debate and for rudely seeking to barge in front of her. I remember with…22 Oct 2024HANSARDRelations with EuropeMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Newnham, for securing this debate. Our relations with Europe matter very much indeed, as has already been indicated. I have…10 Oct 2024HANSARDCombat Air CapabilityI thank the noble Lord for that part-reassurance. The previous Government’s commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme—GCAP—was clear and we were doing it in partnership with…10 Oct 2024HANSARDCombat Air CapabilityTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Kingdom’s future combat air capability.10 Oct 2024HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewMy Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, for facilitating this debate. I know he is committed to a viable, lethal and effective defence capability to…09 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, our support for Ukraine must be unwavering, unflinching and demonstrable. The Minister has just referred to the element of support under military assistance provided by…05 Sept 2024HANSARDIsrael: Arms SalesMy Lords, further to my noble friend Lord Howard’s question, I recall, when I was a Minister in Defence, having to look at export licence applications and requests. You had to…05 Sept 2024