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1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentWhat I meant about the UK’s position is that, when I visit European countries and go around the world, the UK is seen as one of the foremost leaders with respect to the military.…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentThe SDR team know the context within which they are working, which is the 2.5% envelope. There will be choices in that, and they will lay out those choices. It will then be a…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI completely agree. The noble Lord will know that at various conferences and in various decisions I have made I have talked about the importance of deterrence. That has to be at…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentThe noble Lord makes a very important point. I was in the Republic of Korea recently to talk about the importance of hybrid warfare and information wars. We must consider that…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI thank the noble and gallant Lord for his question. As I suggested in an earlier answer, the sequencing of all of this is extremely important. Of course, we need the defence…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentThe Government have made a commitment to 2.5%; the previous Government made a commitment to 2.5% by 2030. We will see what happens, but we commit to look at the 2.5% at a future…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI am not a Treasury Minister, but I know as a Defence Minister that 2.5% of GDP is an absolute commitment. I hope the Treasury is successful, because if we get the growth in the…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentOf course the Treasury sets the context of the budget within which defence operates. The 2.5% commitment is cast-iron; the discussion is about the timeframe. The Chief Secretary…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Policy: DeterrenceI thank all noble Lords who have contributed to this debate. I shall deal with a couple of the important questions that have been posed and then lay on the table some of the…31 Oct 2024HANSARDDefence SpendingI start by thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for that ringing endorsement. My colleagues always read your Lordships’ debates with intense interest and scrutiny, so they…31 Oct 2024HANSARDDefence SpendingYes. They talked about 3% and beyond. I have even heard people then start to talk about 3.5% or 4% or whatever. So, there will be a debate on what one considers to be right, but…31 Oct 2024HANSARDDefence SpendingNo; it is being conducted within the MoD. I am pleased that the review is taking place, and it is being done without fear or favour. We want it to come forward with proposals on…31 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineThe policy with respect to Storm Shadow remains the same. Russia knows that Ukraine has a right to self-defence, and that is within that principle and conforms to international…25 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, I start by paying tribute to Corporal Christopher Gill, who lost his life in a training exercise a few days ago. He made an enormous contribution to defence, including…25 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineThat this House takes note of the situation in Ukraine.25 Oct 2024HANSARDDecommissioned Nuclear-Powered SubmarinesWe will understand that more fully once we have finished the demonstrator project with HMS “Swiftsure”.23 Oct 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2024That the draft Order laid before the House on 20 May be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 22 October23 Oct 2024HANSARDDecommissioned Nuclear-Powered SubmarinesI may need to write to the noble Lord. I usually like to be able to respond directly to questions, but I do not want to get the planning process wrong or give the wrong answer on…23 Oct 2024HANSARDDecommissioned Nuclear-Powered SubmarinesOn freedom of information requests, if the noble Baroness has any examples that she would like me to look into, she only has to ask and I will certainly do so. Freedom of…23 Oct 2024HANSARDUK-US Co-operation on Using Atomic Energy for Mutual DefenceMy Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Smith and Lady Goldie, for their remarks and contributions to this debate, and their general support from the Front Benches. I will…23 Oct 2024