Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, I am not going to get into the figures; as I have already said, the Government are already very transparent on ministerial travel. There is a serious point to this: the…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, I totally agree with my noble friend, who has great insight.01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelI repeat, just in case noble Lords opposite did not hear, that I agree with my noble friend, who, thanks to her own experience in the European Parliament, has great insight into…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, my noble friend speaks with great insight about the serious decisions taken at the heart of government. Just for noble Lords’ interest, the Royal Air Force—as I said,…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, I have already talked about the issue of the carbon footprint. In terms of the specifics, security assessments are taken. The schedules of these planes and flights can…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, as I have said, decisions are taken on ministerial travel and when they concern those in the most senior positions, that is done with due consideration to their direct…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, it is not the wish of any Minister but a necessity. When we travel abroad—I have just returned this morning from abroad—we are working and reading on the plane. However,…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, I can certainly provide more details on the noble Lord’s second question. Yes, we are working with key allies, as I indicated, over the course of the last two months and…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsThe noble Lord is right on his specific suggestion but, on his broader point about the importance of diplomacy, that is exactly what Her Majesty’s Government are doing, along with…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, I know the noble Lord is probing me for more details, but I shall not say any more. I am fully aware of the sensitivity and impact where such steps are taken. As noble…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, my noble friend raises a very important point. I think the implications of any sanctions and support are well recognised. I point my noble friend specifically to the…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, London already operates a public register. When I referred to 2023, that was in the context of our overseas territories. We already have a scheme for OTs, called the…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, I alluded to the expertise and insights in your Lordships’ House, and perhaps I should be posing this question to the noble and gallant Lord, who has great insight. The…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, I praise my noble friend’s impeccable timing, as my dear and noble friend Lady Williams is sitting to my right. My noble friend talked about the issue of these…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, of course the Government take these issues very seriously. Often when we talk about sanctions, we talk about where the Government may be looking to sanction an…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, I have already talked through the broader nature of what we as a Government will be allowed to do through legislation. This is enabling legislation. When we look at each…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, I know and work with the Foreign Secretary and frankly, that is not a suitable remark to make about the most senior diplomat in our country. She makes very considered…01 Feb 2022HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, I have listened very carefully and let us be quite clear: this is not an FCDO plane. It is leased, as my noble friend pointed out, through the Cabinet Office and it is…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, first, I thank both noble Lords for their support. I fully accept that it is right that we are challenged with questions as Ministers and on important issues such as the…01 Feb 2022HANSARDRussia: SanctionsMy Lords, as the noble Lord knows, on the central point of Ukraine joining NATO, it is first and foremost a defensive alliance. A country can make an application and it is…01 Feb 2022