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1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFiscal 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 2025HANSARDMajor Defence ContractsAgain, the noble Lord makes a really important point and I agree: it is something that I have said from this Dispatch Box. The debate about the peace and security of our world,…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 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingOn VAT on school fees and the impact on military families, as the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, just pointed out, the Government have increased the continuity of education…03 Feb 2025HANSARDFiscal Policy: Defence SpendingI congratulate my noble friend on winning the debate at Cambridge; I meant to say that earlier. He makes a point about additional money, and there will be a debate about the…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 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseI understand the point the noble Lord is making with respect to Bahrain, but let me say this. The UK acts wherever it needs to to protect its interests. I often make the point…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseI certainly can do. First, I again pay tribute to the service that the noble Lord demonstrates through his activity in the reserves—it would be wrong not to do that. I will deal…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseLeaving aside the debate about the amount of spending and the increase to it, in a few months’ time we will celebrate VE Day. A few days after that, we will celebrate VJ Day. When…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseOn the first point, like the Government and like defence industries, companies and businesses will have to look again at how much priority they give to that: that is an important…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseI thank my noble friend Lord West for his question. No, I have not been there but I will go. I will write to let him know when I am going so that I do what I say I am going to do.…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseMy noble friend will know that, for any ship posing a threat to this country, there will be an appropriate maritime response from our military, primarily through our maritime…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseI could get myself in a lot of trouble here. In answer to the noble Lord’s question, I am seeking to outline that it is important for us to start with the point, which is…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseI do not know what the noble and gallant Lord would say to me if he disliked me. Having said that, he raised a number of really important points. He heard what I said about…28 Jan 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseMy Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Goldie and Lady Smith, for their tone and their remarks. They both asked perfectly legitimate questions, but I should start with the…28 Jan 2025HANSARDUndersea Internet CablesIf I understand the noble Baroness rightly and she is talking about the provision of a second additional ship to support and augment the ship “Proteus”, that will be part of the…16 Jan 2025HANSARDUndersea Internet CablesI will leave what the Irish Government pay for to the Irish Government. Regarding the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, the UK has a large number of assets. The…16 Jan 2025HANSARDUndersea Internet CablesI thank the noble Baroness for her question. The Government’s position with respect to China, as I have said on many occasions, is to co-operate, to compete and to challenge.…16 Jan 2025HANSARDUndersea Internet CablesA lot of action is taking place. I have pointed to the work of the Joint Expeditionary Force that has taken place, and we have mentioned the maritime assets that have been…16 Jan 2025HANSARDUndersea Internet CablesTo deal with the last part of the question first, I am pleased to see the Prime Minister in Kyiv pursuing what has been a cross-government—and across all parties in…16 Jan 2025