Contributions
617 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, the Minister has told us several times that the key government priority is to deal with the health crisis of Covid-19. But what work are the Government doing to ensure…16 Mar 2020HANSARDEuropean Union: Negotiations (European Union Committee Report)My Lords, as has happened so often this evening when there has been an intervention, I will say: “Ah, if the noble Lord will only wait just a moment, I might get to that point.”…16 Mar 2020HANSARDEuropean Union: Negotiations (European Union Committee Report)I am a little confused. I thought that the point of the United Kingdom voting to leave the European Union was to take back control and that Parliament was sovereign and no…16 Mar 2020HANSARDSecurity, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy: Integrated ReviewMy Lords, I share the concerns of the noble Lords, Lord West of Spithead and Lord Ricketts; we need to be realistic about what the United Kingdom is trying to achieve. Apparently,…04 Mar 2020HANSARDAdoption Support FundMy Lords, I rise as perhaps the only person in this debate who does not have an interest to declare and does not speak with expertise on the matter. Normally in your Lordships’…13 Feb 2020HANSARDDefence: Type 45 DestroyersMy Lords, the Minister talked about the Type 31 coming on stream in 2028 as an exciting development, but the defence of the realm matters not in 2028 but in 2020. Can she tell us…21 Jan 2020HANSARDDrones: International LawMy Lords, like other Members in the Chamber, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, for bringing forward this timely debate today. It is flagged on the annunciator as “Drones:…16 Jan 2020HANSARDSyria: British Armed ForcesMy Lords, on 17 October our two NATO allies, the US and Turkey, agreed that operations must target only terrorists, their hide-outs, et cetera. Who do Her Majesty’s Government…24 Oct 2019HANSARDHong KongMy Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend Lord Alton for bringing this debate and for his ongoing commitment to raising the issues of China and Hong Kong. I say “my noble…24 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: PreparationsMy Lords, I will follow on seamlessly from the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter. I have not had the advantage of seeing the Statement before the Minister repeated it, and so I am…21 Oct 2019HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Horam, pointed out that the Minister will have a difficult job responding to 50 speeches on a rather eclectic variety of topics. I note that I…21 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexitMy Lords, it is normally courteous to thank the Leader of the House for repeating Statements from the Prime Minister. However, on this occasion, I rather wish she had not. The…19 Oct 2019HANSARDSyria: Withdrawal of US TroopsThe noble Lord, Lord Kerr, asked what representations Her Majesty’s Government are making to the Turkish Government as well. Clearly, the United States has a sovereign right to…08 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: PreparationsMy Lords, the Statement addresses the danger of dishonouring the referendum result, suggesting that 17.4 million people voted to end vast financial contributions to the EU and…08 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexitMy Lords, I am delighted to take that intervention, and particularly delighted that I am taking it not from the Liberal Democrat Front Bench. Four years ago, when I was speaking…02 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexitMy Lords, I too planned to talk about democracy, but I thought I would start by referring to a brief encounter I had with a policeman at the bottom of my staircase this morning. I…02 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexitThe Minister just suggested that current legislation would not have an impact on the United Kingdom, but if Northern Ireland were to remain in the single market could legislation…02 Oct 2019HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019My Lords, is it not disrespectful to democracy to traduce Parliament in the way that was done in the House of Commons yesterday? To talk about a “dead Parliament” is wholly…26 Sept 2019HANSARDMaritime SecurityMy Lords, the second part of the Question relates to fisheries. Could the Minister tell us what assessment has been made of our capabilities to ensure that UK territorial waters…05 Sept 2019HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) BillMy Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Patten of Barnes, I had not intended to speak today, in particular because I spent so many hours yesterday voting on a variety of closure…05 Sept 2019