Contributions
1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational Shipbuilding StrategyMy noble friend makes a really important point. Part of what I and the Government are trying to do is to ensure that the increase in defence spending is felt across the regions…30 Apr 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillVery briefly, given the time, I thank the noble Baroness for that. I am pleased that the conversations and discussions that we have had have clarified this. I am not sure of the…30 Apr 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, government Amendment 15 makes a provision that is consequential on Clause 3. As your Lordships are aware following our discussions in Committee, Clause 3 amends Section…30 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandScotland plays a vital role in the defence of the United Kingdom from strategic Ministry of Defence sites such as His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde and RAF Lossiemouth. The new…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandNorthern Ireland, as with the whole of the UK, including Scotland, will benefit from the increases in defence spending. Just one example of that is the huge new contract given to…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandMy noble friend is probably more able to comment on the SNP and the SNP Government than I am, but his question is serious and important. It gives us an opportunity to say that the…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandMy noble friend raises an important point. We would all agree that this Government need to ensure that, as far as possible, the increases in defence spending benefit UK industry,…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandI thank my noble friend for that suggestion, which I will certainly ask the Ministry of Defence to consider. The increase in defence spending gives us a huge opportunity not only…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandScotland is crucial to the defence of the United Kingdom, but beyond that is the importance of the role that the bases in Scotland play in the defence of, for example, the Arctic…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandI will take on board any ideas about how we improve recruitment, and that is one. The broader point that the noble Lord makes about defence investment is very important. Of…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandI will check to see whether we have specifically consulted about the levels of taxation, but we will consult with Scottish industry and the broader UK industry about how we ensure…29 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence Spending: ScotlandThe noble Lord is absolutely right and makes a very good point. There are some 25,000 to 26,000 defence-related jobs across Scotland and that will increase, I would suggest, with…29 Apr 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityAs for the serious point—although that was serious—that my noble friend makes, of course there are short-term efforts that we need to make. In terms of service personnel, we have…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityBefore I answer the question directly, I thought that my noble friend was going to welcome the statement in the Chancellor’s speech that the Portsmouth naval base was to be…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityIndeed, that is the whole point of the growth agenda. The noble Baroness may have had the opportunity to read the Chancellor’s speech earlier today, which specifically talked…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityI will deal with that in two parts. First, we are increasing UK defence spending, as many other countries across Europe are doing, recognising the increased threats but also the…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityThe noble Lord asked a number of questions. As my noble friend Lord Collins said, the US-UK relationship is absolutely fundamental to the future security of Europe and across the…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityI thank the noble and gallant Lord for his question. The fundamental thrust of the Government’s policy is the “NATO first” policy, which obviously deals with the threat from…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityMy understanding is that discussions have taken place between ourselves and NATO and SACEUR about the capabilities that they would expect from us. We are currently looking at both…26 Mar 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityThe Chagos deal is extremely important for our own security and that of the US. When the deal is finalised, it will be put before Parliament with the costings and then Parliament…26 Mar 2025