Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPrime Minister’s Meeting with Alexander LebedevThere is a set procedure. My right honourable friend has taken the decision to leave office; there will now be a process that will be followed to allow for a transition to a new…07 Jul 2022HANSARDPrime Minister’s Meeting with Alexander LebedevMy Lords, the noble Lord has asked a number of questions. As he will have seen, in the Liaison Committee session my right honourable friend the Prime Minister promised to write to…07 Jul 2022HANSARDPrime Minister’s Meeting with Alexander LebedevMy Lords, on the noble Lord’s earlier point, I revert to what I said to the noble Lord, Lord Collins: it is important to wait for the response the Prime Minister assured the…07 Jul 2022HANSARDPrime Minister’s Meeting with Alexander LebedevI am sure the right reverend Prelate will appreciate that I cannot talk in detail about national security matters, but I assure the right reverend Prelate and all noble Lords that…07 Jul 2022HANSARDPrime Minister’s Meeting with Alexander LebedevAs the noble Lord will know from his own detailed experience and insights on national security matters, all agencies take a very robust attitude in terms of ensuring full…07 Jul 2022HANSARDPrime Minister’s Meeting with Alexander LebedevOn the noble Lord’s second point, of course there were questions asked directly of the Prime Minister, and I am sure Hansard will be read, and officials will feed back also on the…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandMy Lords, I first record my thanks to the noble Lords, Lord Collins and Lord Purvis, and through them to the respective parties and membership of both Houses, for our united stand…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandThe UK has looked towards the polar regions and had specific engagement in that respect. However, the noble Baroness makes a very valid point; with the accession of both these…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandMy Lords, just for clarity, I should say that I said that we were on track to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by the end of the decade. I agree with the noble Lord: one of the points…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandThe noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, referred earlier to these countries’ expertise and insights on the Arctic, which is demilitarised, and that has been a key objective. We need…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandI think our approach is a global one, and from a NATO perspective, it is a defensive alliance, and that was the reason the two countries joined. There is broader issue about where…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandMy Lords, the issue of Taiwan is slightly different in the sense of its geographical location, but the Government’s position on Taiwan has not changed: whatever approach is taken,…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNATO Accession: Sweden and FinlandMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord on his first point on the border issue. Any country bordering Russia has concerns at the moment—I visited Estonia, which is part and parcel…07 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord. That is why the United Kingdom Government are hosting the conference across the road. We are seeing not just government but, importantly,…05 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaThe noble Lord makes an important point about the broader issues of population growth. I referred to resources because it is often the issues that occur over land that cause…05 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaI think the noble Lord was eavesdropping on my conversation with my private secretary as I dashed over from the conference—I was asking who was here from Nigeria. I await that…05 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaMy Lords, the history of Nigeria, and indeed other parts of Africa, is important in determining how different communities and tribal loyalties also play into the unity of a given…05 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaMy Lords, I certainly associate myself with my noble friend’s remarks on the courage of the noble Baroness, Lady Cox, and her endeavours to keep this issue on the front burner.…05 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaMy Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness: the primary responsibility of any Government anywhere in the world is the security of their citizens, irrespective of who they are or…05 Jul 2022HANSARDNigeriaMy Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate for his kind remarks. In terms of the UN Security Council, it depends very much on who is chairing a particular session during a given…05 Jul 2022