Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCommonwealth: Decriminalising HomosexualityWe of course welcome the application from the Maldives, and I have met the Maldives Foreign Minister. Their application is being processed and we all hope that it will be…23 Jul 2019HANSARDCommonwealth: Decriminalising HomosexualityThe noble Lord is right: it was not in the last communiqué or the one before that, and it is unlikely to be in the Kigali one because, as he will know, the Commonwealth takes…23 Jul 2019HANSARDCommonwealth: Decriminalising HomosexualityI am also the Prime Minister’s envoy on freedom of religion or belief. Religion or faith is for all of humanity and, whatever faith it may be, it teaches not just tolerance but…23 Jul 2019HANSARDCommonwealth: Decriminalising HomosexualityMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend’s comments, and I am sure he will agree with me that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has prioritised this issue not just at…23 Jul 2019HANSARDCommonwealth: Decriminalising HomosexualityMy Lords, at last year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Prime Minister announced a £5.6 million programme to assist member states seeking to reform legislation that…23 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfThe noble and learned Lord raises two important questions. On the first, when the “Stena Impero” was detained, it was empty. It was in Omani waters and there was no attempt to…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfI thank my noble friend for his questions and comments on the Statement and responses given. On “Grace 1”, the UK Government did a great deal to keep the diplomatic track alive.…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement given in the other place on the situation in the Gulf: “At approximately 4 pm UK time on Friday, Iranian…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfFirst, suffice it to say that I disagree with the noble Lord. On the issue of our naval assets, I have already said, in response to a question from the noble Baroness, Lady…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfI am sorry, but I disagree with the noble Lord. The fact is that the Government did act. As I have already said quite succinctly, the fact that we did engage early on, in terms of…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfOn the second point, I shall write to the noble Baroness. We are reviewing all our military assets. HMS “Montrose” has been deployed for a while in the region; HMS “Duncan”, on…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfMy Lords, first, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Collins, and the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, for their support for the main thrust of the Statement. They raised a raft of…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfI agree with my noble friend. I reassure him that we have reached out to our Indian counterparts as part of wider engagement on this issue. We wish to ensure that anyone who can…22 Jul 2019HANSARDThe Situation in the GulfOn the final, very practical question, my understanding is that we will be ensuring that there is no gap in enforcing sanctions, but that will require an agreement with our…22 Jul 2019HANSARDIsrael Defense ForcesMy Lords, we continue to have strong concerns about reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli military detention and regularly make representations to the Israeli…08 Jul 2019HANSARDIsrael Defense ForcesMy Lords, anyone anywhere in the world who uses children as human shields or in such a despicable manner is to be condemned. I have consistently said that it is the Government’s…08 Jul 2019HANSARDIsrael Defense ForcesMy Lords, I have already made it clear that we have constantly and consistently raised the issue of the use of live ammunition against children with the Israeli authorities. The…08 Jul 2019HANSARDUK’s Ambassador to the USAMy Lords, I am sure that the noble Baroness will recognise that when you take up responsibility as a Minister of the Crown, you are bound by the duties and responsibilities of…08 Jul 2019HANSARDUK’s Ambassador to the USAI can certainly give the noble Lord an assurance on his first question. As to his second question regarding motives, I have said that we should await the full inquiry, where I am…08 Jul 2019HANSARDIsrael Defense ForcesI totally agree with the noble Baroness that any plan for alleviating the plight of the suffering, albeit an economic plan, must include a political settlement. Our position is…08 Jul 2019