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1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewOn the first point about the need for us to reassert and highlight the link between the Armed Forces and the general population, I think my noble friend is right. I have some…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseI thank my noble friend. He is right. That is why I read out what the Indian Government said about the treaty and the agreement that has been reached. They say clearly: “The…03 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewI thank the noble and gallant Lord for the warm welcome that he gave to the report of the noble Lord, Lord Robertson. I know that the direction of travel that it sets out is…03 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentMy Lords, I first thank the noble Earl for the ironclad commitment that His Majesty’s Opposition have just given to the strategic nuclear deterrent. That is the most important…03 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentI thank my noble friend for his question. We are trying to ensure that, whatever may have happened in the past, we move forward in a way which guarantees our strategic nuclear…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseI will copy the letter that I said I would send to the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, directly to the noble Baroness. Diego Garcia has been regarded as part of…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseOn the rights of the Chagossians and what happened in the past, of course there is a lot to be regretted about the situation that occurred and what has happened with the…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseI will clarify that. I tried to be open and frank in answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, and the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss. I will reflect on that and…03 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentI just say to the noble Lord that it is an independent nuclear deterrent. The person who decides whether, God forbid, that nuclear deterrent is ever used is the Prime Minister of…03 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentOn the issue of nuclear weapons and the point that the noble Baroness makes, I will read the following for the purpose of clarity because she makes an important point. Neither the…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseI will reflect on that—I note that the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, was shaking his head when I answered. I will see whether I can add anything further to the points made by the…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Minto, for his comments and the articulate way in which he presented an opinion that I do not agree with. But that is the point of scrutiny…03 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewI will make one suggestion to the noble Lord: perhaps he and the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, and others in this Chamber who have professional experience and expertise with respect…03 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewI say to my noble friend that, as this progresses, it may be that we have to look at innovative and different ways of funding. I am no expert on all these things, but I am not…03 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewSome of the timelines will clearly need to be clarified. On the general point, all the things that my noble friend has mentioned are critical to move from the forces that we have…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseI thank the noble Lord for his question. The answer is no. The British Government have made, and will make, their case. The treaty that has been agreed will be subject to…03 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentOf course it will be in the most extreme of circumstances that the nuclear deterrent would even be considered for use. I just say that the whole point of the nuclear…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseRather than misinform the noble and learned Baroness, let me check that—I am not 100% certain of the particulars on the return of Chagossians to other islands. If she will allow…03 Jun 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military BaseI thank the noble Lord very much for that. That means there are two of us in this Chamber. For any journalists reporting this, that is a joke—just to ensure we have clarity.…03 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewIn a similar vein to my answer to my noble friend Lord Reid, some of these timelines will need to be discussed and worked out to ensure that they are deliverable. Let me say to…03 Jun 2025