Contributions
413 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, it is a pleasure to be able to contribute to this important debate on the gracious Speech and to follow my noble friend, who no one can deny made a very powerful speech.…19 May 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, I declare my interest as Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The Indian variant is spreading not just across the United Kingdom but across the north…18 May 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, as my noble friend Lady Sugg said, the UK has the potential of surplus vaccines. As one of the largest donors, the UK’s commitment to the COVAX programme has been…13 May 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review: Development AidMy Lords, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this timely and important debate and to follow the thoughtful contribution of the noble Lord, Lord Khan. I am committed to…28 Apr 2021HANSARDOverseas Development Assistance: BudgetMy Lords, I know from my time at DfID the impact that UK aid has had. However, I, like many of the general public, have some sympathy with the position the Government have taken,…27 Apr 2021HANSARDIntegrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign PolicyMy Lords, I start by declaring my interest both as a member of the Army Reserve and, with specific relevance to this debate, chairman of the Reserve Forces 2030 review. It is a…22 Apr 2021HANSARDMobile Telephones: Public Emergency Alert SystemMy Lords, of course a public emergency alert system is very important, but so too is a prompt response from the ground to any crisis. In the light of the pandemic, has the time…21 Apr 2021HANSARDAfghanistanLike many who served in Afghanistan, it is impossible not to have mixed feelings about this week’s news. However, it is nearly seven years since UK forces engaged in combat…21 Apr 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Economic RecoveryMy Lords, I welcome the opportunity to take part in this timely and important debate and, in particular, to follow the thoughtful contribution of my noble friend Lady Noakes.…20 Apr 2021HANSARDNATO: Russia and UkraineMy Lords, I was fortunate to visit Ukraine on several occasions to witness the training support that the UK Government have been giving the Ukrainian military. To date, that…15 Apr 2021HANSARDInitial Teacher Training Market ReviewThe Government have, rightly, long identified service leavers as being ideal candidates for teacher training. With predicted end of service dates being based on age and length of…14 Apr 2021HANSARDBahrain: Human Rights AbusesMy Lords, I visited Bahrain on numerous occasions as a Defence Minister. Through that persistent engagement, I never hesitated to raise issues such as human rights, as a critical…25 Mar 2021HANSARDDefence and Security Industrial StrategyI remind the House of my interest as chairman of the Reserve Forces 2030 review. If we are to meet the ambitions of the integrated review, we need to find better ways to share…24 Mar 2021HANSARDLevelling UpMy Lords, I am sure that the whole House supports the Government’s agenda in what it is seeking to do with levelling up. I confess that I am always slightly nervous of the habit…18 Mar 2021HANSARDIntegrated ReviewMy Lords, the level of ambition in this review is commendable. Take, for example, the desire for the UK to be a global superpower in science and technology by 2030. The biggest…17 Mar 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMy Lords, I remind the Committee of course of my interests and say what a pleasure it is to follow the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley. He makes a very important…11 Mar 2021HANSARDGlobal Navigation Satellite SystemMy Lords, this is an ambitious project, but I cannot help but feel that, on a cost basis alone, it is one that is best pursued with our allies, perhaps the Five Eyes community.…10 Mar 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillI am pleased to follow the noble Baroness. I am grateful to her for, dare I say, reaching out during the last group of amendments and attempting to reach some common ground. I…09 Mar 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMy Lords, it is a pleasure to contribute to this group. I am particularly grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, for the clarity with which he introduced these…09 Mar 2021HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillIt is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness. I am particularly interested in her point about the Attorney-General not only offering advice on the potential conflict but…09 Mar 2021