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1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025My Lords, the purpose of this order is to continue into force, for another year, the legislation that governs the Armed Forces—the Armed Forces Act 2006. By way of background,…15 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025That is something to look at and to try and deal with. Certainly, some of the things I see suggest that there is a need for the process to be improved. One of the things we are…15 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025My Lords, I thank all the noble Lords who participated in the debate, particularly the noble Baronesses, Lady Smith and Lady Goldie. They expressed their support—I know it is true…15 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionThe Government have increased pay by 35% for new recruits. That increase in pay is one of the ways in which we could encourage direct entry. We should not underestimate the power…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionWe have scrapped a number of the medical record requirements to get rid of some of the silly things—for example, around dental records. Alongside that, we are making sure that, in…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionThe noble Baroness has often raised the importance of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to the Royal Navy, and we will continue to look at what more we can do with respect to it. I was…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionWe are having discussions with businesses of all sizes to try to ensure that we can promote the reserves as much as we can. That is in progress, and we will need to do more of it…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionI thank my noble friend Lord West; that was very helpful—it is always good to hear your own side mumbling behind you. It was RFA “Tidespring”. The serious point is this. As well…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionSince July 2024, we have taken decisive measures to redress the recruitment and retention crisis, slashing the time it takes to access medical records from weeks to hours and…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionThat is an interesting question. There are a number of different aspects to that. Clearly, mental health and the psychological impacts of modern warfare are things that any…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionI agree absolutely with my noble friend’s points and will not repeat them. He will know that we have replaced Capita with Serco, which will make a difference. In a couple of…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionI thank the noble Baroness for her comments and all the work that she does in trying to ensure that we get diversity, which is so important to our Armed Forces. She does a…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionLet me consider that request from my noble friend. I am quite happy to meet him to see what more we can do to recognise the contribution of soldiers such as Sikhs, and those of…07 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionThe noble Baroness makes a really important point. If she waits a couple of weeks, my understanding is that a statement will be made by both the MoD and the Northern Ireland…07 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationMy noble friend highlights the importance for us of developing a relationship with Europe. Where it is appropriate and where it is complementary to NATO, having a defence and…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationI thank the noble Baroness for her question. In the document, there are things about cyber, emerging and new technologies, and the need for Europe to co-operate together to meet…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationI agree with that. The Commonwealth and the other things that the noble Lord mentioned are of course important. In this Parliament and in this country, we should be immensely…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationI think that is in our interests. To run through this, NATO is our prime alliance and something of which we can all be proud—we have been a member for decades. Alongside that,…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationThe fundamental point is that you cannot access the Security Action for Europe framework unless you have a security partnership agreement with the EU. That is the gateway to it.…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationWe need to look at the new frameworks, which will deliver many of the things that are in the defence and security partnership. The noble and gallant Lord asked specifically about…03 Jul 2025