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1,161 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDParliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) BillThe matters raised by the noble Lord will be part of the outline business case, so it is impossible to be specific. However, on costing, in October 2012, the House of Commons…08 Jul 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingI entirely accept the noble Lord’s point about ensuring proper and adequate force protection for our people and assets in the region. As he knows, the UK has a permanent presence…18 Jun 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingMy Lords, the UK works closely with the shipping industry through the maritime trade organisation and other regional partners to share information on the risks in the maritime…18 Jun 2019HANSARDSchools: Cadet Expansion ProgrammeMy Lords, this is a time-limited debate and I have lots to say, but I take the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Adonis. I am not saying that 500 is the absolute upper limit; of…18 Jun 2019HANSARDSchools: Cadet Expansion ProgrammeThat is certainly a risk. It is one that we are alive to and determined to prevent. Head teachers of all the new schools that have come forward have done so because of the…18 Jun 2019HANSARDSchools: Cadet Expansion ProgrammeMy Lords, I begin by thanking my noble friend Lord Lingfield for securing this debate. I pay tribute to him in his role as a chairman of the Cadet Vocational Qualification…18 Jun 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingThe noble Lord will understand that I cannot comment on security matters, but I can tell him that investigations into the incident in the Strait of Hormuz are ongoing. Further…18 Jun 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingI should correct the noble Lord on one point. Contrary to some media reports, we have not deployed any additional forces to the region as a result of the latest attacks. I…18 Jun 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingMy noble friend is entirely right in everything he has said. That is exactly why my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said in the other place that our efforts would be…18 Jun 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingYes, my Lords. Our aim, as the noble Baroness says, is to de-escalate the situation and reduce tensions, and we are acting with our E3 partners, France and Germany, to that end.…18 Jun 2019HANSARDGulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz: Merchant ShippingMy noble friend is entirely right. As he may know, the UK is a member of the Combined Maritime Forces, which was created back in 2001 to help counter the threat from international…18 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceI agree, which is why we have been careful to create not only one but at least two very generous schemes for former interpreters. Those schemes do not necessarily involve…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceMy Lords, obviously I cannot comment on individual cases, but when an Afghan interpreter, for example, is relocated to this country, their nationality should not be any bar to…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceMy Lords, we are reviewing our national security vetting policies alongside wider work on the Government’s vetting reform programme. The MoD’s review will include an assessment of…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceMy Lords, the threshold for MoD security clearance is as it is because of the intensity of operations and previous security incidents that have occurred in theatre. The protection…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceThe issue raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Coussins, was brought to our attention only in the Times report. Of course, the wider issue of the packages available to former Afghan…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceMy Lords, I hardly accept anything that the noble Lord has just said. I do not believe that the Government’s scheme for previously employed interpreters is a travesty. I was glad…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceMy Lords, the Cabinet Office policy contains guidelines for appropriate nationality and UK residency periods for prospective applicants, but they are not absolute requirements and…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceI sympathise with my noble friend’s question, but it is important to understand the point I made earlier: it is not easy to make a general statement here, because each case has to…17 Jun 2019HANSARDAfghan Interpreters: Security ClearanceYes, it may, and the noble Lord is right that that is certainly a risk if it is perceived that the UK is treating anyone unfairly. We are very conscious of that. At the same time,…17 Jun 2019