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1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRussian Shadow FleetThe noble Baroness makes a very important point. On what we may or may not do, we work very closely with all our allies, of course, including Denmark, but the noble Baroness makes…16 Jun 2026HANSARDRussian Shadow FleetThe legal basis is that the ship was falsely flagged. As such, it loses some of the protections that it would have were it to be properly and legally flagged according to the…16 Jun 2026HANSARDRussian Shadow FleetWe talk to all our European partners, including Greece, about how we ensure that the sanctions with respect to Russia are as effective as possible. We highlight all the time the…16 Jun 2026HANSARDRussian Shadow FleetIt is not a question of resources. Where a sanctioned vessel is identified as having a false flag—to answer the point made by the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig—it is about…16 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI first thank the noble Baroness for the very kind remarks she started with. I thank the former Secretary of State for his work and wish the former Armed Forces Minister well. I…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanNo, is the answer to the last part of the noble Lord’s question. We are still spending a significant sum of money with respect to aid and development. The DIP does require a…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanAs I say, we are finalising the details of the DIP at the moment with the new Secretary of State in post. I agree wholeheartedly with the point my noble friend made just now, and…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanThat argument—which the noble Lord has made a number of times as one way of funding defence spending—will have been looked at by the Treasury. What the Government have done is to…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanIt is a NATO target, so obviously the government target obviously remains 3.5% by 2035. In my answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, I outlined what the Prime Minster said on…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanI will deal with the last point first. Yes, the national conversation will commence within the next few months, and we hope to involve a wide range of people. I say to my noble…15 Jun 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanSmaller industries can also contribute, because they make a massive contribution to the defence of our country. If you look at all the various policy papers that are produced by…15 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityIt would be wrong of me not to say that I appreciate my noble friend’s remarks on Normandy. A number of us were there on Saturday; the relative of the noble Lord, Lord Evans, was…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityThe Government are looking at how they can increase defence spending, which we all want to see, and how we increase the defence budget. There is a variety of ways of doing that.…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityThe answer to that is that we need to do more on the national conversation. We are looking at how we do that. I have been made responsible for the national conversation. Should we…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityI have always been of the view that in many situations—my noble friend has served, so she will know this—a military uniform gives a legitimacy to things that are said. That is…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityIt has been well reported. I have said from this Dispatch Box, and the First Sea Lord has said it as well, that the availability of submarines is not where the Government would…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityThe overall lead for homeland defence is with the Cabinet Office but, clearly, the Ministry of Defence has a role with respect to readiness and—in answer to my noble friend’s…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityI welcome challenge on these issues from His Majesty’s Opposition, my noble friend Lord West and my noble friends because it is important the Government are challenged on all…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityMy Lords, Russia remains a significant and persistent threat to the UK and to Euro-Atlantic security through its war in Ukraine, hostile cyber activity, disinformation and…08 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityI thank the noble and gallant Lord for the question. In any investment plan going forward, obviously the emphasis tends to be on capital as the noble and gallant Lord says—how…08 Jun 2026