Contributions
1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationThe noble Lord makes a really good point. The issues involving drones have been one of the lessons that we have all learned with respect to the conflict in Ukraine, whether they…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationI will always agree to meet noble Lords, and I will of course meet my noble friend to discuss the particular point that he raises and how he might take forward his proposal with…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK–EU Defence and Security Co-operationMy Lords, on 19 May, the UK and the EU agreed a landmark security and defence partnership, delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth and…03 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsI am going to either pass or fail this exam. As it stands, we have 41 F35Bs, and by March 2026 we should have 48. That is what is called the first procurement phase. The F35As…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsHis Majesty’s Government have complete control over the operational use of all the United Kingdom’s weapons systems, without needing to consult or gain approval from other…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsWell, “independent” means what it says. I can reassure the noble Lord, Lord Empey, and the House, that we have complete operational use in terms of independence. We can use all…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsWe need to unpick that. It is a very good question the noble Lord asks, but no Government will comment on the storage of nuclear weapons, for obvious reasons. The strategic…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsWhether it is nuclear or any other capability, but particularly with nuclear, you have to be calm, rational and reasonable about it. One of the successes of our strategic…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsLet us deal with this, and I apologise to the House if this takes some time. The strategic deterrent, CASD, remains, as we have always had it, operationally independent and a UK…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsI agree with what the noble and gallant Lord has just said. It is an important point to make, and I should have made it to the noble Lord from the Liberal Benches: of course our…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsThe F35A has a number of different capabilities, but I just need to check so I do not misinform the noble Lord. It is dual capability in terms of the weapons it can carry, and it…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsI thank my noble friend for his questions. On his very serious and important point about those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Far East, he will be pleased to know that, on…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsI do. To reiterate and clarify, the procurement phase for the 48 F35Bs should, and will, end by March 2026. For the second procurement phase for the additional 12 F35As and the 15…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsAs always, my noble friend makes a really important point. He points to UK domestic production of the F35A. Of course, our exports are also really important. With that, and as I…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsThe answer is yes to all those points. The F35As come from the F35 schedule, so 12 of the additional 27 will be F35As instead of F35Bs. F35As are some 20% cheaper than F35Bs, so…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK Weapons SystemsI would like to think I had been able to answer most of the questions that have been asked so far, but I am not sure about this one from my noble friend. I will have a go. First,…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsI draw noble Lords’ attention, on my noble friend’s very serious point, to the fact that just last week I was in Singapore with the carrier strike group. What a proud moment it…01 Jul 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsI understand the point the noble Lord makes, but I do not agree with it. We, with our allies, simply have to guarantee the security of regions across the world, whether it be the…01 Jul 2025HANSARDDefence Industrial BaseThe defence review will require us to look at what bases we have in order to deliver the defence review, whether they are RAF or other facilities. Of course, we need to do this in…16 Jun 2025HANSARDDefence Industrial BaseThe Treasury understands the need for that drumbeat. My noble friend is absolutely right that you cannot turn defence industry production on and off like a tap, and that we have…16 Jun 2025