Contributions
1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK 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 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfI thank the noble Lord for his question. On the regional contact we have, as well as the other contacts from the Foreign Office, the Prime Minister and others, I have met…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfAs the noble and gallant Lord will have heard the Defence Secretary say in the other place, the Government are determined to ensure that the defence investment plan is published…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfThat is a really significant point. The noble Lord will know that the First Sea Lord has talked about the hybrid Navy, the importance of artificial intelligence, and the…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfThe noble Lord will know from his own experience that diplomacy is the first option in any problem—any issue that arises. Certainly, one way forward would be for Iran to ratify…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfThe noble Baroness will know that those discussions with the Treasury continue. On the point she makes, of course they ask for various military capabilities. HMS “Dragon” is in…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfI thank the noble Lord for his service in the command position he has in the reserves. This also answers the important Question from the noble Lord, Lord Empey. Of course, exactly…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfIndeed, we cannot spend without identifying where the money is coming from—my noble friend makes a really good point. Clearly, there will be an increase in the amount of spending…04 Jun 2026HANSARDMilitary in the GulfMy Lords, I start by paying tribute to the three members of the Royal Navy who died during a helicopter training exercise in the early hours of Wednesday near Sourton in Devon.…04 Jun 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechNo. I just cannot add anything further to what I have said. The defence investment plan will come forward and lay out some things, and that will be related to the spending we…21 May 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for those last remarks that she made. I thank everyone who has contributed to the debate today. I thank particularly the noble…21 May 2026HANSARDCivil Preparedness for WarMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Harris—it is very good to see her in person again—for bringing forward this really important debate. On the point from the noble Lord, Lord…20 Apr 2026HANSARDCivil Preparedness for WarAs I was saying, I reiterate the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Bruce, that this is a really important debate for which we certainly need more time. A number of noble Lords,…20 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingThe point I was trying to make on Tuesday—I am happy to reiterate it—is that the threat we face needs the country to respond as a whole. The Government’s responsibility, working…16 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingThere is a debate in Grand Committee on Monday about defence resilience, so we can start the conversation there. Of course, there is a broader conversation that the noble Lord…16 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingThe DIP is being finalised. As the noble and gallant Lord said, the DIP is on the Prime Minister’s desk, as he said recently at the Liaison Committee, and is being considered. The…16 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingAs the noble Lord will know, there has been a defence reform programme, which has led to the establishment of a national armaments directorate and a new national armaments…16 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingOn the noble Lord’s main point about the national conversations, as I have said to him and in this House on a number of occasions, that national conversation needs to begin as…16 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingWe speak to the Treasury all the time, so I hope the Treasury will understand the points we are making about defence and its importance. I know the Treasury and the Prime Minister…16 Apr 2026