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1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesI think my noble friend has answered his own question. I thank him for that. The important point to make is that, when we came into government, we were determined to ensure that…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesThe noble Lord will know that diplomats who are based here—I am in the process of writing to him about this, as I said I would in answer to his previous question—in many…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesThe noble Baroness makes a really important point. The maintenance of schools such as those that she has pointed to is exceptionally important, hence the rise that I mentioned in…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesMy noble friend makes a good point about the record on investment. He did a good job himself in ensuring that we had investment into schools such as The Duke of York’s. On the…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesThe noble and gallant Lord will know that there have been considerable concerns around recruitment and retention. The Government have undertaken a review of that. He will also…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesI thank the noble Baroness for her question. I will always check the figures and, indeed, check hers, as she will know. She will also know that the allowance contributes towards…05 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel: School FeesMy Lords, the Ministry of Defence is continuing to monitor the impact of the Government’s change to VAT rules for private schools on service personnel who claim the continuity of…05 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsI say to the noble and gallant Lord that of course the defence industry will be an important partner for His Majesty’s Government. He will know that we are currently consulting on…03 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024That the Grand Committee do consider the Armed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024.03 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsAs many noble Lords have heard me say, the war in Ukraine has been a wake-up call not only for this country but for the alliances across the world. We need to be able to scale up…03 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingI will have to write to the noble Lord about that to make sure that I do not inadvertently misinform the House. If he will allow me, I will write to him with a specific answer to…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsI am sorry if I did not answer the point raised by the noble and gallant Lord. The point the noble Baroness makes is extremely important, and she asks what the Government have…03 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024My Lords, this statutory instrument amends the Armed Forces (Court Martial) Rules 2009 by changing the rank requirements for the president of a court martial board where the…03 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingWhatever the Treasury may or may not think, and whatever the level of defence spending should or should not be, one of the important things coming out of the debates and…03 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingI thank the noble Baroness for her important questions. We are working closely with NATO in developing industrial capability. In particular, we are looking at how we develop…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsShall I be honest? I do not know how much we should actually spend and whether it should be the same on social media as on hard power—tanks or fighter jets—but I do know, and I…03 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingI thank the noble Lord for his important question. Notwithstanding the debate about the total quantity of defence expenditure, he is right to point out the changing nature of…03 Feb 2025HANSARDArmed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Bennett and Lady Smith, and the noble Earl, Lord Effingham, for their contributions and general support for the change that we are…03 Feb 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsWe are supporting the SME sector by spending billions of pounds on defence. The noble Baroness makes an important point about the importance of small and medium-sized industries.…03 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingI read those reports, as did the noble Lord—I know that he takes a keen interest in all these matters. Whatever the rights and wrongs of those reports, we should reflect on what…03 Feb 2025