Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, we are deeply concerned by Russia’s pattern of military build-up in and around Ukraine and are closely monitoring the situation. My right honourable friend the Foreign…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, we are supportive of all peaceful efforts, and in particular we are focused on the Minsk agreements, which Russia has also signed—and we ask it to uphold that agreement.08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, the noble Lord speaks from deep insight as a former shadow Secretary of State for Defence. I assure the noble Lord that we are working very closely with our European…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsI agree with my noble friend, which is exactly why my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary have engaged directly with…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, there is little I can disagree with from the noble and gallant Lord, who speaks with great insight. I assure him that I agree with him totally—we need to take the…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsI have a copy of the letter, and I can give it to him afterwards. On his earlier point, the short answer is yes. When we have worked on sanctions, we have worked with our EU…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, on the noble Lord’s second point, I have written to him and, if there are further questions, I shall follow it up.08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsAgain, I can assure my noble friend. He is right to raise the issue of NATO. We remain very strong supporters, based on the 2008 Bucharest summit declaration, of Ukraine’s…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, the answer to the noble Lord’s second question is: yes, we are very closely engaged with Ukraine, as we are today, on the issue of its NATO membership and, indeed, our…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, in any crisis lessons are learned, and the noble Baroness is right. The challenges of the situation we saw in Afghanistan are all too apparent. What we did achieve we…08 Dec 2021HANSARDUkraine and Russia: Military DevelopmentsMy Lords, Russian is one of the languages that form part of our diplomatic academy, and of course those deployed to Russia receive language training. Our diplomats speak more than…08 Dec 2021HANSARDAfghanistanMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their insightful and valuable contributions. I particularly thank the noble Lord, Lord Roberts, for tabling this important and timely debate.…02 Dec 2021HANSARDNazanin Zaghari-RatcliffeMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords and join in the appreciation of the noble Lord, Lord Collins, in bringing this issue to the Chamber. As ever, I have listened carefully to all…02 Dec 2021HANSARDChina: GenocideMy Lords, I join noble Lords in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Alton, not just for his tabling of this very important debate but, as several noble Lords have mentioned, for his…25 Nov 2021HANSARDZimbabwe: Makomborero HaruzivisheMy Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Lord’s role on the APPG. He is of course right that it is important that regional Governments have a role to play. In this regard, we have…23 Nov 2021HANSARDZimbabwe: Makomborero HaruzivisheMy Lords, I do not believe the specific meeting took place directly with the TUC. We certainly have been meeting in Harare with various unions, including teaching unions, most…23 Nov 2021HANSARDZimbabwe: Makomborero HaruzivisheMy Lords, I totally agree with the noble Lord; those points are being made. On the COP engagement, it was the Minister for Africa, my honourable friend Vicky Ford, who met with…23 Nov 2021HANSARDZimbabwe: Makomborero HaruzivisheMy Lords, my noble friend is right to point out that our ambassador is engaged directly in raising various human rights issues, including the case he mentioned, and will continue…23 Nov 2021HANSARDZimbabwe: Makomborero HaruzivisheMy Lords, my honourable friend Vicky Ford had various points of discussion on the broader human rights agenda with the President. We continue to engage in the capital on the…23 Nov 2021HANSARDZimbabwe: Makomborero HaruzivisheThe noble Lord has articulated the position of Her Majesty’s Government very well, and those principles will apply.23 Nov 2021