Contributions
60 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence Investment PlanWhat is the defence intelligence assessment of the Treasury’s inexplicable decision not to fully fund the strategic defence review of the noble Lord, Lord Robertson? If it is…16 Jun 2026 · 4d agoHANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, yesterday, I had the privilege to visit an exercise being conducted this week deep underground, less than half a mile from your Lordships’ House. It was being conducted…21 May 2026HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictMy Lords, now that the 2023 Act has been suspended, it is open season once more on veterans. Quite recently, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced six protections…05 Nov 2025HANSARDEthiopia and EritreaMy Lords, this conflict is another example of the UK’s reduced influence in the world as a result of our reduction in overseas development money. The previous Government took it…16 Sept 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence Review 2025My Lords, I am conscious that I am about the halfway point in our debate and therefore I risk some repetition, although repetition lends emphasis. I add my welcome to the majority…18 Jul 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner BillMy Lords, I welcome this Bill and congratulate the Government on bringing it forward to this point. I will speak in support of Amendments 3 and 5. I believe that there is a…30 Apr 2025HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentMy Lords, is the Minister aware that in 1935 we were spending less than 3% on defence? We failed to either deter or appease Hitler. Is he further aware that, in 1939, when the war…14 Nov 2024HANSARDMV “Ruby”: Ammonium NitrateMy Lords, I am delighted to be able to come to the assistance of the Minister and can assure him that there has been very responsible coverage of this incident in Great Yarmouth,…31 Oct 2024HANSARDAfghan Special Forces Relocation ReviewMy Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. If any of the groups or individuals who supported the British forces in Afghanistan deserve proper treatment, it is the…15 Oct 2024HANSARDCombat Air CapabilityMy Lords, while we accept that future generations of fast jet aircraft should be able to fly off aircraft carriers and fixed land bases, will the noble Lord accept that we also…10 Oct 2024HANSARDRoyal Navy: Climate Change TrainingMy Lords, I think we can all agree that the main purpose of the Question is to express our concerns about the health of our planet. However, I will extend that to say that I am…14 Mar 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Hannan, has suggested, there may be formula for following a maiden speech, but it is genuinely the greatest pleasure and a real privilege to…15 Nov 2023HANSARDArmed ForcesMy Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Soames, on securing this important and timely debate. I thank him for concentrating his remarks on the…07 Sept 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) BillMy Lords, I realise that I run the risk of striking a discordant note in this afternoon’s debate, and I very much understand the widespread criticism of this Bill from virtually…24 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) BillI accept the noble Viscount’s point. I say simply that, if investigations are going to continue, and the rule of law is going to continue to be applied, I would seek for protocols…24 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) BillI accept that point entirely. I meant people such as me who live in England—I am three-quarters English and one-quarter Welsh. It is people such as me whom I had in mind, fully…24 Jan 2023HANSARDBritish Army: Troop SizeMy Lords, does the Minister agree, as he has just suggested, that it is not about numbers but capability? Does he agree that the capability of the British Army is well below what…27 Jun 2022HANSARDUkraine: Defence RelationshipsMy Lords, I join in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Liddle, on securing this important debate, which gives us the opportunity to look again at the integrated review in the…09 Jun 2022HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, in this wide-ranging debate on the Queen’s Speech I shall focus on two particular aspects. The first is following up the reference in the gracious Speech to the legacy…18 May 2022HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, I join the near-universal condemnation of current operations by Russia against Ukraine. Frankly, the return of violent war in Europe is an obscenity, and a return to…25 Feb 2022