Contributions
98 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDExchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information AgreementI thank the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter, for the opportunity for this short debate. I reassure her that, although I am a landlubber, the importance of the nuclear enterprise…17 Jan 2022HANSARDArmy Restructuring: Future SoldierThere is much to be excited about in this announcement—there is quite a lot of novelty—and, if I turned the clock back, I think it is an Army that I would want to join. I…25 Nov 2021HANSARDArmed Forces BillMy Lords, I support this amendment. I am sorry that my name has not found its way on to the Order Paper; I had Covid last week and I failed the IT test of getting it properly…23 Nov 2021HANSARDRussia: Gas SuppliesMy Lords, malicious activity by Russia in the context of destabilising Ukraine was prominent in the recent integrated review’s assessment of the global security context. Given its…10 Nov 2021HANSARDArmed Forces BillThis amendment, which I do not particularly support or otherwise, would be an awful lot better placed if better evidence were available. There does not appear to be the relevant…08 Nov 2021HANSARDArmed Forces BillMy Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in support of this amendment. It is one of the few elements of the Bill that seeks to get ahead of the game rather than just play catch-up. My…08 Nov 2021HANSARDArmed Forces BillMy Lords, I am very happy to add my support to my noble friend Lord Dannatt’s Amendment 48 regarding mental health support. I came to today’s debate thinking that it struck me as…02 Nov 2021HANSARDAfghanistanI agree with all those today who feel sorry for the plight of the Afghan people, and for the service men and women who died or had their lives badly damaged by service in that…18 Aug 2021HANSARDMilitary Personnel Overseas: VaccinationsI ask the Minister a related question regarding proof of vaccination for military personnel. As a former CDS whose medical data is still held by the Defence Medical Services, I…01 Jul 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessMy Lords, I will follow on from that. The Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces are often accused of being prepared for the last war rather than the next one. In truth it is…08 Jun 2021HANSARDHeathrow Airport: Border Control Passenger SafetyI draw the House’s attention to my relevant interests in the register. It seems to me that the current pandemic will pass but the future threat will not: mass air travel will…25 May 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMy Lords, it may be presumptuous of me spontaneously to offer, on behalf of all gallant Lords, a sincere thank you to the Minister for the good news she has brought today. I can…26 Apr 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign PolicyMy Lords, time is short so I will not waste too much of it on congratulations. I also think a huge amount of the review is to be welcomed. It presents a largely compelling view of…22 Apr 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMy Lords, I speak in this debate to support the amendment moved by my noble friends. I do so because it is the closest to resolving, or at least ameliorating, the problem—and it…13 Apr 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyI draw attention to my interests in the register. As our Armed Forces move from a platform-centric approach to capability to one focused on technological advantage, it is ever…24 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated ReviewMy Lords, I congratulate the Government on the sophistication of the review document, much of which I thought was excellent. However, the real challenge is in translating that…17 Mar 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMy Lords, I am delighted to follow on from the noble Baroness, Lady Chakrabarti, who always seems to be a great source of common sense on complex moral issues. I am similarly…11 Mar 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Road MapI draw the House’s attention to my relevant interests in the register, both as Constable of the Tower of London and as a trustee of Historic Royal Palaces. I welcome the…23 Feb 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: New ShipsMy Lords, I draw attention to my relevant interests in the register. Despite the very welcome uplift in defence spending announced last year, the affordability of much of the new…25 Jan 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMy Lords, I sense that no-one who speaks on the Bill today will not have the interests of British service men and women at heart, and that is certainly my primary consideration.…20 Jan 2021