Contributions
141 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, could the Minister update the House on what basis housing is allocated? Is it continuing to be allocated according to rank or is it allocated according to need?15 May 2024HANSARDPermanent Secretaries: Appointment and Removal (Constitution Committee Report)My Lords, I am very grateful for this thoughtful report. I am grateful to the committee for having asked the Civil Service Commission to give evidence to it. As the First Civil…09 May 2024HANSARDUK Armed Forces in Middle EastMy Lords, I refer to my registered interests in the Royal Navy. I encourage the Minister to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of HMS “Diamond”, particularly its…01 May 2024HANSARDEducational Trips and ExchangesMy Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Coussins, for this opportunity, but there is a tinge of sadness about it, because what I am about to say, I would…25 Apr 2024HANSARDIran and IsraelMy Lords, like the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, I was in Israel a couple of weeks ago, and we actually saw the RAF flight that dropped aid over northern Gaza. One of the things, as…15 Apr 2024HANSARDRoyal Navy: Climate Change TrainingMy Lords, I refer to my entry in the register of interests as an honorary captain in the Royal Navy. While education is very important, even more important is capacity. HMS…14 Mar 2024HANSARDAUKUSMy Lords, I refer to my register of interests: I am an honorary captain in the Royal Navy and chair of Wilton Park. On 13 February, the Foreign Secretary broadly answered the…29 Feb 2024HANSARDConventional Weapon Stocks: ExpenditureMy Lords, can I take the Minister back to munitions and how we are restocking those supplies? Given the limited lifespan for anything stored, can he say something about the surge…19 Feb 2024HANSARDLocal Authorities: Financial DifficultiesMy Lords, I stress the need to review the local government financial settlements and support systems. In the case of a city such as Birmingham, even if increasing the council tax…14 Feb 2024HANSARDArtsMy Lords, I echo the observation of the noble Lord, Lord Holmes, on the contribution of the noble Lord, Lord Bragg, to all our individual experiences—recalling, for example, his…01 Feb 2024HANSARDExtreme Weather: ResilienceMy Lords, I am glad that the Minister mentioned the private sector, because I would like to take it to an even more granular level—the individual household sector. Has she had…24 Jan 2024HANSARDIntergovernmental Relations Within the United KingdomMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, for this debate, and I think we probably all agree that good intergovernmental relationships are desired. On a very…18 Jan 2024HANSARDCivil Nuclear Road MapMy Lords, could I have reassurance from the Minister that, in his discussions about civil nuclear energy and the skills space, which has been mentioned several times before, he…15 Jan 2024HANSARDParliamentary Democracy and Standards in Public LifeMy Lords, today’s is a debate in which we all must declare an interest, as well as a responsibility. We are part of structures that are essential to making democracy work and we…11 Jan 2024HANSARDCyber Democratic InfluenceMy Lords, I very much welcome the Minister mentioning local authorities and ensuring that they are robust in the most vulnerable period—when votes are being cast—but what…11 Dec 2023HANSARDArtificial Intelligence: RegulationMy Lords, I declare an interest as the First Civil Service Commissioner. If we want to regulate and to introduce legislation, the Government themselves will require a set of…04 Dec 2023HANSARDBirmingham Highways Infrastructure Private Finance InitiativeMy Lords, as a former Birmingham MP for 20 years, I am familiar with the shortcomings of its pavements, potholes and other areas. I stress that if this contract is not renewed,…28 Nov 2023HANSARDNational Cyber Security CentreI declare an interest as the chair of Wilton Park, an executive agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Small organisations, while they are not completely part of…16 Oct 2023HANSARDCountess of Chester Hospital InquiryMy Lords, I reinforce the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Allan, and the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, about the importance of boards and patient safety being a key factor that…05 Sept 2023HANSARDMilitary Vehicles: RepairMy Lords, the Question refers to “NATO allies”. On gifting and replenishing, to what extent are we co-ordinating our efforts with NATO allies to have maximum impact?04 Sept 2023