Contributions
1,161 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIntegrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy ReviewMy Lords, I listened with care yesterday to the words of the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, and agreed with a great deal of what he said. However, this review is about more than…08 Jan 2020HANSARDIntegrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy ReviewMy Lords, I am not in a position to resolve questions about the machinery of government. However, as I said in my original Answer, one of the main aspects of the review will be to…08 Jan 2020HANSARDIntegrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy ReviewMy Lords, we aim to keep pace with whatever happens in Europe after we leave the EU. However, we have made clear that, while we are leaving the EU, we have committed to strengthen…08 Jan 2020HANSARDIntegrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy ReviewI am grateful to my noble friend and can reassure him that those reports have been read. I can only endorse his central point: the world is changing rapidly. Technology is…08 Jan 2020HANSARDIntegrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy ReviewMy Lords, I agree completely with what the noble Lord has just articulated. On international development, as I indicated, the review will be broad-ranging, with a number of…08 Jan 2020HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, these are indeed extremely topical and important matters and I do not depart in the least from the premise that the noble Lord has articulated. In the UK, we have seen…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, I note the noble Lord’s comments. The governing Act—the Justice and Security Act 2013—makes it clear that the impact of releasing potentially sensitive or sensitive…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportUnderstandably, the committee has access to highly sensitive information that allows it to carry out its oversight duties. The reports it produces often contain information that,…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportI concur completely with the noble Lord’s points. The ISC does its job in an exemplary way and has been chaired exemplarily by my right honourable friend Dominic Grieve. Its…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportI say again that the length of time that the Government have had this report is not at all unusual. It was delivered on 17 October, which is not a very long time ago. The Prime…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportOn the timescale, I can go no further than I already have.04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, I regret the implication in that question: the noble Baroness is implying that the Prime Minister does have something to hide, and I repudiate that suggestion in…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, I am sure that the sense of urgency expressed by the House, including by the noble Lord, will not be lost on my colleagues in government and I shall ensure that the…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, no. This matter rests entirely with the Prime Minister. Of course, agencies have a role to play but, in the end, it is his decision and he is entitled to take that…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, reports from the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament must go through a number of processes before publication. Those processes apply to the report to which…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, I must correct the noble Lord in several respects. The length of time for which this report has been with the Government is not at all unusual. It is one of a number of…04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportMy Lords, I simply cannot comment on those matters—04 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee of Parliament: Special ReportIn due course, the Government will release the report for publication, but the processes must be gone through first.04 Nov 2019HANSARDEarly Parliamentary General Election BillBefore we have a new Government in place, it is certainly not in my gift to specify the date on which Parliament will return, or indeed what it will do when it does return.…30 Oct 2019HANSARDEarly Parliamentary General Election BillI cannot agree entirely with the noble Lord. The House will have followed his train of thought, but it is nevertheless possible for Parliament to convene before Christmas for…30 Oct 2019