Contributions
1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewMy hon. Friend’s city of York has a proud military history, and she speaks strongly of that this afternoon. She is right to recognise the role of diplomacy alongside hard defence,…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewAs Chair of the PAC, the hon. Gentleman knows the problem with the previous Government’s defence equipment plan. As I said in my statement, the work on a new defence investment…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewMy hon. Friend is a powerful voice and advocate for that approach and for Telford. He will welcome the additional UK investment under this Government, which means that we will…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewThe SDR drew the conclusion that we need to take potential threats to our homeland more seriously than we have needed to do in the past. That is the reason why I have made the…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewIn many ways, my hon. Friend is doing exactly that in the House by reinforcing the importance of the deterrent at the heart of our security and its importance to jobs, technology,…02 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewI cannot give the hon. Lady a commitment at the Dispatch Box today, but I can say that I take those arguments seriously and hear what she has to say. She is speaking up for her…02 Jun 2025HANSARDDefence Nuclear EnterpriseI am today placing in the Library of the House the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 annual update to Parliament. This Government have been clear that we are wholly committed to…22 May 2025HANSARDArmed Forces WorkforceI am today announcing the Government’s decision on pay for the armed forces for 2025-26. Our service personnel make extraordinary sacrifices and work tirelessly to keep Britain…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseThe Chief Whip has a second volunteer for the Committee stage of this legislation! There is an accumulation of legal challenge, and there is a serious risk of legal rulings. This…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseThe jeopardy and the uncertainty over this space is putting at risk security operations that are essential to us and our allies. We are not prepared to take that risk with…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseI pay tribute to my hon. Friend who has a quote that I have not managed to get, and I will ask him to pass it on to me. He makes a very powerful point to this House and to the…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseI will have a word with my right hon. Friend, the Chief Whip, and just let him know that the hon. Gentleman has made an early bid for membership of the Bill Committee.22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseIt is definitely a good investment for this country. It helps protect our security at home. It helps strengthen our forces abroad. It helps reinforce that very special security…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseThe British people and British forces will benefit from that shade. They will continue to benefit from that shade beyond the 99 years if we choose as a nation at that point to…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseWell said, and I would add that India supports the deal. Those countries, which are our staunchest allies, are our strongest supporters on this deal. The countries that are our…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseI do not want to speak for the Conservatives, but, clearly, they were trying to negotiate a deal. They had had 11 rounds of negotiations. Any Government elected in July would have…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseWithin a few weeks, we expect rulings that will start to weaken our ability to control and maintain our full operational sovereignty over Diego Garcia; within a few years, we…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseOf course China wants to try to move in on the Chagos archipelago; of course it wants to try to set up operations or activities that would allow it to interfere or monitor what we…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseAbsolute rubbish. It is £3.4 billion over 99 years, which is less than 0.2% of the annual defence budget. This is a good investment for a unique capability that has played an…22 May 2025HANSARD Diego Garcia Military BaseThe provisions of the treaty, as my hon. Friend will see from the full text, guarantee the rights of the UK in the 24-nautical mile zone immediately around the islands and in the…22 May 2025