Contributions
617 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillI am grateful to the noble Lord for the clarification. That is what I had assumed on reading the Bill, but I wanted to make sure that that was absolutely right. The Minister has…19 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, both the amendments in this group are in my name, and Amendment 10 is also in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle. Amendment 2 relates to a…19 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillClearly, it was only I who was not listening sufficiently closely, but I understood it as being the Armed Forces commissioner rather than the next Armed Forces Bill. However, I…19 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillThat is a very helpful intervention, and we are probably all delighted to hear that there were so many applications for the Army last year, given that recruitment has been an…19 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill19 Mar 2025HANSARDUkraine: UK PolicyMy Lords, the choreography this evening seems to have got slightly muddled. I was all prepped to stand up and say how delighted I was to be speaking after the noble Lord, Lord…17 Mar 2025HANSARDUkraine (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, this has been a fascinating debate. Like others, I thank the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, and the committee for producing an excellent report that has contributed to this…06 Mar 2025HANSARDErasmus ProgrammeMy Lords, the Erasmus+ programme is often talked about as the higher education part—I declare an interest, being on an advisory board for a Czech university programme—but it also…05 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, it has been a long and interesting debate. This is the only contribution from the Liberal Democrat Benches, so I crave your Lordships’ indulgence if I appear to go back…05 Mar 2025HANSARDUK Defence: Hypersonic MissilesMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, mentioned the need for relying on other allies, perhaps not just the United States. In his initial Answer, the Minister referred to AUKUS.…03 Mar 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityMy Lords, I suspect that it will not surprise anyone in this House that I welcome the Government’s Statement to increase defence expenditure, although I might have taken a…26 Feb 2025HANSARDDefence and SecurityMy Lords—26 Feb 2025HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, the Minister has just made an excellent point that I suspect many around this Chamber would agree with: spending more money on the British Council and soft power would…25 Feb 2025HANSARDUK-EU RelationsNo, it is 10 minutes normally for questions and 10 minutes for the answers.13 Feb 2025HANSARDUK-EU RelationsI am now being told that I am time-wasting and that I have to speak up. I have never been told in your Lordships’ House that I need to speak up. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord…13 Feb 2025HANSARDUK-EU RelationsIt is 20 in total, including the answers. Anyway, we are all vehemently agreeing that it is 20 minutes in total. The convention I was always taught was that it is about 10 minutes…13 Feb 2025HANSARDUK-EU RelationsMy Lords, it is an unexpected pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord True. He mentioned that he is infrequently at the Dispatch Box these days. That may explain why he perhaps…13 Feb 2025HANSARDSpace Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025My Lords, it would be easy simply to stand up and thank the Minister for introducing this statutory instrument clearly, and it goes without saying that it should have the support…10 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024My Lords, when we get to questions of military justice, I normally rely on my good friend, my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford, to speak on these matters because he is far…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsMy Lords, the SDR suggests that the defence sector is important for growth, yet a couple of weeks ago the House magazine pointed out that many SMEs in the defence sector are…03 Feb 2025