Contributions
617 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces: Troop LevelsMy Lords, the Question on the Order Paper is very much about troop numbers, not the wider defence offer. Could the Minister tell us whether 72,000 regulars really is sufficient?…21 Sept 2023HANSARDAfghan ResettlementMy Lords, from these Benches, I agree wholeheartedly with many of the points made by the noble Baroness, Lady Chapman, about the debt we owe to the Afghans who served with us,…19 Sept 2023HANSARDArmed Forces: Remuneration, Housing and Family SupportMy Lords, the Minister has made some positive comments about accommodation, yet in the continuous attitude survey of 2023, just 19% of respondents were satisfied with the…18 Sept 2023HANSARDArmed ForcesMy Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in this debate. Like other noble Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Soames, for introducing this debate so brilliantly and, as so often,…07 Sept 2023HANSARDMilitary Vehicles: RepairMy Lords, the Defence Command Paper says that we need to minimise the time when our “assets are unavailable”. Looking at the two issues together—the retirement of Challenger tanks…04 Sept 2023HANSARDUkraine: Ammunition and MissilesMy Lords, the Minister’s answers today are encouraging, but the Written Ministerial Statement that sneaked out at the end of last week, seemingly to coincide with the Question…24 Jul 2023HANSARDVeterans UpdateMy Lords, from these Benches I too very much welcome the report from the noble and learned Lord, Lord Etherton. We talked about some of these issues yesterday, but it is…20 Jul 2023HANSARDHigher Education ReformMy Lords, from these Benches I find very little to disagree with in the questions and comments from the noble Baroness, Lady Twycross. She looked across at me as I was voicing…20 Jul 2023HANSARDIndependent Review: Armed Forces Homosexuality BanMy Lords, speaking in the other place, the Secretary of State assumed that Members would have had a chance to read the testimonials. Unless people have done a speed-reading…19 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshMy Lords, as so often from these Benches, I echo the words of the noble Lord, Lord Coaker. There is nothing in his comments or questions with which these Benches would disagree,…19 Jul 2023HANSARDNuclear Submarines: AUKUSMy Lords, while AUKUS is clearly very important, Europe and our neighbourhood remain the closest security partners and allies for the United Kingdom. Could the Minister confirm…03 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Policy (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, as so often in debates on defence, there is unanimity right across the Chamber not just about the excellence of the report that we have been debating, or about the…30 Jun 2023HANSARDHigher Education: Arts and HumanitiesMy Lords, while it is absolutely clear that His Majesty’s Government have put a lot of emphasis on being a science superpower, have they also considered the ramifications of…28 Jun 2023HANSARDHorizon EuropeMy Lords, do His Majesty’s Government have any other metric of assessing the benefits of membership of Horizon Europe beyond the purely financial that the noble Lord, Lord Moylan,…28 Jun 2023HANSARDSituation in Russia and Ukraine Recovery ConferenceMy Lords, I do not think I heard the Minister respond to one of the questions from my noble friend Lord Purvis, which was about proscribing the Wagner Group. Like my noble friend,…26 Jun 2023HANSARDDefence: Support Ships and Type 32 FrigatesMy Lords, I do not wish to talk down His Majesty’s Royal Navy. However, like the noble Lord, Lord West, I am keen to ensure not only that we have an effective rolling programme…20 Jun 2023HANSARDUkraine: Ministry of Defence StrategyMy Lords, following the question from the noble and gallant Lord and the Minister’s response, is there not a question of going beyond talking to elites and people at summit…15 Jun 2023HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2023My Lords, this annual request to approve the Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order is a bit like Christmas or birthdays—it seems to come round ever more frequently. In…15 Jun 2023HANSARDRAF: C-130J HerculesMy Lords, the Hercules has been taken out of service. Fourteen of them were due to continue until the 2030s but are being withdrawn this year. In December last year, the National…08 Jun 2023HANSARDSudan: Civilian PopulationMy Lords, my noble friend Lord Alton raised the spectre of refugees—these people would be genuine asylum seekers coming from Sudan—potentially ending up on small boats. What…18 May 2023