Contributions
67 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK Armed ForcesMy Lords, to say that defence expenditure will be increased to 2.5% “when economic conditions allow”, when Russia and China are massively increasing their defence expenditure and…12 Mar 2024HANSARD809 Naval Air SquadronMy Lords, in 2022 the then Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, told the International Relations and Defence Select Committee that the RAF training programme was “lacking” and “not in…11 Mar 2024HANSARDAUKUSMy Lords, I draw attention to my shareholdings as in the register, particularly in the Potteries-based Goodwin plc, which is a major supplier of castings to the US and UK…29 Feb 2024HANSARDConventional Weapon Stocks: ExpenditureMy Lords, has the Minister discovered the underground ostrich room deep in the Ministry of Defence? It churns out complacent ministerial briefs and Answers to Questions telling us…19 Feb 2024HANSARDGaza: Humanitarian SituationMy Lords, Netanyahu’s vengeful bombardment after the barbaric events of 7 October has been disastrous for Israel, for the hostages, for the region and for world Jewry, and it has…08 Feb 2024HANSARDAutumn Statement 2023My Lords, I want to focus my remarks this evening on the 39% stake that the Government still have in the NatWest bank. In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor indicated that the…29 Nov 2023HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, my focus today has to be on Gaza. To understand Israeli reaction to the vile and barbaric 7 October attack by Hamas, we have to multiply the numbers killed and taken…15 Nov 2023HANSARDArmed ForcesMy Lords, Ben Wallace, in his recent resignation letter, said: “The Ministry of Defence is back on the path to being once again world class with world class people”. Well,…07 Sept 2023HANSARDHolocaust MemorialI implore the Government to think again and preserve and protect our very precious green space.22 Jun 2023HANSARDHolocaust MemorialTo ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reconsider the decision to site the Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.22 Jun 2023HANSARDHolocaust MemorialMy Lords, it is very sad that a memorial to such an appalling crime against humanity should controversially be rammed through against the views of the Royal Parks, Westminster…22 Jun 2023HANSARDTourist Spending: VATMy Lords, last week, as president of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, I received an email from Dr Julia Knights, the deputy director of the Science Museum, who…24 May 2023HANSARDBudget StatementMy Lords, I have had the privilege of experiencing 30 years of Budgets in both Houses here at Westminster. As the noble Lord, Lord Skidelsky, alluded to earlier, in the old days…16 Mar 2023HANSARDAUKUS Defence PartnershipMy Lords, we on these Benches very much welcome the AUKUS partnership announcement and Statement for the whole range of fairly obvious reasons that the noble Lord set out.…16 Mar 2023HANSARDSecurity Threat to UK-based JournalistsMy Lords, this situation is something of a national embarrassment, as the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, said. What message does this send out to the rest of the world? I would like to…21 Feb 2023HANSARDProcurement Bill [HL]My Lords, I rise briefly to strongly support Amendment 72. There is absolutely no need for a VIP channel or similar. Surely, it just encouraged opportunistic entrepreneurs—to be…30 Nov 2022HANSARDEstonia: UK Troop LevelsMy Lords, it was reported last week that Russia had carried out simulated nuclear drills. Do our troops in Estonia have NBC protective clothing and equipment available to them? In…31 Oct 2022HANSARDSchools: Financial EducationHow is the financial education of young people helped by prohibiting grand- parents taking out junior ISAs for their grandchildren?12 Jul 2022HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, in a world of nuclear stockpiles and proliferation risks, our generation has been extraordinarily fortunate—but I worry for our children and grandchildren. Any regime…18 May 2022HANSARDHeritage Steam Sector: CoalMy Lords, I declare an interest as the president of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. Would not the heritage steam sector, like all other tourist activities, benefit…18 May 2022