Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPoverty: International Development AidI totally agree with my noble friend I am sure that Hansard will correct me otherwise, but I think I did mention trade. I agree that trade is part and parcel of this, which is why…15 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and PalestineMy Lords, far from it. We are not looking the other way. We have a strong relationship with Israel and are making very forceful points to the Government of Israel about their…15 Jan 2024HANSARDPoverty: International Development AidMy Lords, the UK has a proud history of tackling poverty with our aid spending. The White Paper on international development re-energises that work, setting out how we will focus…15 Jan 2024HANSARDIsrael and PalestineI assure the noble Lord that we have done exactly that. While there may not be direct operational instruction from Iran to those militias that are being supported—not just those…15 Jan 2024HANSARDPoverty: International Development AidThe right reverend Prelate is right to raise that question. I will take back the specific issue of an update on the strategy and write to him, but we believe very much in…15 Jan 2024HANSARDPoverty: International Development AidThe noble Baroness differentiated between me as a Minister of the Crown and the Government. I assure her that we are at one and we totally understand the connection that she…15 Jan 2024HANSARDNorth KoreaMy Lords, I join all noble Lords in thanking my noble friend Lord Swire for tabling this debate. His introduction again reflected his deep insight and expertise in this area, not…14 Dec 2023HANSARDGuyana: Sovereign TerritoryI totally agree.12 Dec 2023HANSARDGuyana: Sovereign TerritoryMy Lords, we have supported Guyana over a number of years. The noble Lord raises a valid point. I assure him that we are very much seized of the issues of protecting the…12 Dec 2023HANSARDEuropean Political Community SummitI thank the noble Lord for sharing the second part of his Question; it is always good for a Minister to get early warning. The UK values the European Political Community as an…12 Dec 2023HANSARDGuyana: Sovereign TerritoryI seem to be taking on the role of diary secretary for a number of people at Questions today. The short answer is that I am sure she is considering the important role of the…12 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy Lords, on the noble Lord’s second question, my noble friend Lord Cameron was in Washington and, as I said last week, there were discussions on a wide range of issues including…12 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy Lords, the noble Lord is right to raise that. Our discussions with key Gulf partners and directly with Israel are about opening land routes, which are the most effective…12 Dec 2023HANSARDEuropean Political Community SummitOne of the points my noble friend has raised—my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has been clear on this, as have other members of the Cabinet—is the importance of the…12 Dec 2023HANSARDEuropean Political Community SummitMy Lords, they provide an opportunity for agreements to be put in place, such as the UK’s agreements with Albania. Practical suggestions can be shared, and it can be ascertained…12 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy Lords, to me that is fundamental. There is a unifying factor, which from the Muslim perspective was the prophet Abraham, and we all recognise that. Faith leaders have an…12 Dec 2023HANSARDEuropean Political Community SummitIt has often been said that I have an ever-widening brief, and I am now being asked to speak for the French Government. I shall not take up my noble friend’s offer, but I assure…12 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy Lords, I have not seen those specific videos but I have seen earlier videos about the atrocities and the abhorrent attacks of Hamas. I have already said that we regard Hamas as…12 Dec 2023HANSARDEuropean Political Community SummitWell, it is always good to be prepared, but do not count your chickens before they are hatched. To quote a former Baroness, “We fight on, we fight to win”. We will continue to be…12 Dec 2023HANSARDGuyana: Sovereign TerritoryMy Lords, I have answered that in question in part. It is important to recognise the role of our Caribbean partners. The meeting being convened is reflective of the unity between…12 Dec 2023