Contributions
232 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAutumn Budget 2025My Lords, the Prime Minister made strong welcome statements to NATO allies about the UK’s commitment to defence at the summit in The Hague on 24 June. He pledged the United…04 Dec 2025HANSARDRussian Ship “Yantar”My Lords, with the greatest respect to the Minister, is this not much more than a simple defence matter? If the laser used was a weapons system, not just laser torching by a…25 Nov 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillI was stressing the point that the agreement is about the Chagos Archipelago, but we are interested in Diego Garcia. If Diego Garcia is not available, the treaty requires us to…18 Nov 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillMy Lords, I will speak to Amendment 53 in my name and that of the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Houghton of Richmond, who unfortunately cannot be here this evening. It is clearly a…18 Nov 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillMy concern is that we would have to continue to pay under the present agreement, even though there was not a base available.18 Nov 2025HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillMy Lords, there is general agreement about the importance to the UK’s defence security, and to the USA’s, that a stable and legal arrangement should be agreed. The 100-year and…04 Nov 2025HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lady, Baroness Pidding. As widely acknowledged, far from crumbling, Ukraine under President Zelensky’s inspiring leadership and with…31 Oct 2025HANSARDRail FaresMy Lords, I have suffered a number of cancelled trains on my journeys, and cancellations have been explained as being due to a driver shortage. Is there a driver problem—a lack of…18 Sept 2025HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, I, too, have received and acknowledge many emails and letters. What surprised me is that the vast majority expressed deep reservations and anxieties. I wish to record my…12 Sept 2025HANSARDDefence Industrial StrategyMy Lords, this is a very welcome strategy; I give it my full support. I will give it even more support when its theory and proposals have been turned into practicalities. The…10 Sept 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence Review 2025My Lords, like other noble Lords, I commend the authors on a major and wide-embracing review. It looks well into the future, but draws the obvious conclusion that, without…18 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025My Lords, I support this continuation order. As has been explained, it keeps His Majesty’s Armed Forces legal until after the Armed Forces Bill in 2026 is enacted. The Minister…15 Jul 2025HANSARDNational Security StrategyMy Lords, this is an important and wide-ranging approach and deserves both cross-party and national support. I congratulate the authors. It takes a 10-year-plus view, but success…26 Jun 2025HANSARDDefence Industrial BaseMy Lords, what steps have the Government taken recently to reconcile the possible risk of failures in developing novel defence capabilities against the need to ensure that…16 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentMy Lords, I was in command of the crew of a nuclear-armed Vulcan on quick-reaction alert over a number of years, and I realise the cost of maintaining the V-Force on alert over…03 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentMy Lords—03 Jun 2025HANSARD80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory over JapanMy Lords, I too join in all the fulsome expressions of praise for and amazement at the bravery and efforts made by so many, both in and out of uniform, to contribute to…09 May 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, I shall be very brief. It was very helpful for the noble Baroness to repeat what was said by the Government on this particular issue. My concern most generally is that…30 Apr 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, I firmly support the Government in these amendments. There has been a tendency in the Bill to combine in one’s mind the specific complaints that the ombudsman used to…30 Apr 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, I, too, support these amendments. Much of what I would have liked to say has already been said, but the importance that is attached both to reserves and to the…24 Mar 2025