Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMiddle East: Security UpdateLet me assure my noble friend, who we all know from his time as a Foreign Office Minister, that we are all engaging with key partners to provide reassurance. For example, in my…07 Jan 2020HANSARDMiddle East: Security UpdateMy Lords, first, I thank the noble Lord for keeping me updated on various issues during the Christmas break. I expected nothing less in terms of the questions he asked, and I look…07 Jan 2020HANSARDMiddle East: Security UpdateI agree with the noble Lord and I am sure that other noble Lords will join with me in wishing the Sultan a speedy recovery. Oman has played a key role in the wider region, as we…07 Jan 2020HANSARDMiddle East: Security UpdateI pay tribute to the work the noble Lord has undertaken; I know he has visited Iraq and had a very constructive visit on the ground. I assure him that, yes, we are working through…07 Jan 2020HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportMy Lords, first, as I said, the Prime Minister is acting within the orders laid down. This is not a formality. The Prime Minister’s approval for the publication is vital. As I am…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportAgain, the noble Lord has great insight and I am sure he would share my view that this is not about hiding but about following due process. In the Answer to the Urgent Question…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportThe noble Lord knows that I respect his insight and experience greatly, but I reassure him that more is being said about this than is warranted by the facts. Due process for a…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportI respect that the noble Lord speaks with insight and experience on this matter, but I am sure that insight and experience lends itself to the fact that the Prime Minister needs…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportFirst, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and this Government have total confidence in our agencies, which do a sterling job in keeping us safe. According to law,…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportAs the noble Lord rightly points out, Turkey is a member of NATO. We continue to use NATO channels and, importantly, we have been talking directly to Turkey. My right honourable…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportMy Lords, the noble Baroness uses the word “refuses”, but there is no refusal to publish; we are merely following due process. On her latter point, I reassure her that, as noble…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportAs my noble friend made clear, and as I have repeated today, this is a sensitive report. It is important that it goes through the full process. That is exactly what is taking…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat in the form of a Statement the Answer to an Urgent Question asked in another place on the publication of the Intelligence…05 Nov 2019HANSARDIntelligence and Security Committee ReportI hear what my noble friend says. I am sure I speak for everyone in your Lordships’ House when I say that we all should pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the Second…05 Nov 2019HANSARDBrexit: Engagement with EU on Foreign AffairsMy Lords, on leaving the European Union the UK will continue to work closely with European partners in our shared interest or to tackle common threats. The United Kingdom is…31 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Engagement with EU on Foreign AffairsI always listen carefully to the noble Lord’s contributions but, on this occasion, I disagree with him. He will know from his own insights and experience that, on issues of…31 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Engagement with EU on Foreign AffairsOn the noble Baroness’s point about a hard Brexit, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has worked to achieve a deal with our European partners, often against great…31 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Engagement with EU on Foreign AffairsI agree with my noble friend, who speaks on these matters with great insight. Of course, he is a great advocate, as am I and other noble Lords, of the growing strength of our…31 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Engagement with EU on Foreign AffairsOn the final point, I totally disagree with the noble Baroness. It is not just a few civil servants; it is 1,000, and that is a substantial uplift. If you are going to be on the…31 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: Engagement with EU on Foreign AffairsThe noble Lord will have looked at the withdrawal agreement, which provides for continuing our security and defence relationship through the transition period; that relationship…31 Oct 2019