Contributions
196 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIntegrated Review: Defence Command PaperMy Lords, we have always maintained that the purpose of our nuclear weapons is nuclear deterrence, not war fighting. That is reflected initially on page 76 of the Command Paper,…23 Mar 2021HANSARDBudget StatementMy Lords, I, too, welcome my noble friend Lord Khan, and the noble Lords, Lord Cruddas and Lord Benyon. I am sure we will all benefit greatly from their experience and expertise.…12 Mar 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Vaccination ProgrammeMy Lords, the vaccination programme has been one bright spot in what has otherwise been a less than illustrious handling of the pandemic, but the number of daily doses…24 Feb 2021HANSARDQuestions for Written AnswersMy Lords, I thank the Minister, but this is not just an isolated complaint; it has become more of an established pattern that is not confined to Written Questions, important…22 Feb 2021HANSARDArmed Forces Act (Continuation) Order 2021My Lords, I thank the Minister for her introduction. I pay tribute to our Armed Forces personnel for their service to the nation. I had the privilege of working with them, as…11 Feb 2021HANSARDNational Security and Investment BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his introduction and remind the House of my interests, as registered. Thus far, the Bill has enjoyed qualified support from all sides of both…04 Feb 2021HANSARDFinancial Services BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his remarks. I do not oppose the principle behind the Bill, because, like all noble Lords, no doubt, I recognise the need for post-Brexit…28 Jan 2021HANSARDEU Ambassador to the UK: Diplomatic StatusMy Lords, I admire the Minister personally, but surely he can see that the Government’s initial decision not to grant full status to the EU ambassador will be seen by the rest of…25 Jan 2021HANSARDNon-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his introductory remarks, and, like many others, I support these Bills. I will confine my remarks to the Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No. 2)…18 Jan 2021HANSARDElections: May 2021My Lords, I suspect that we have another definite maybe from the Prime Minister, who says “We will go ahead”. And yet, if the Government proceed with the elections in May in the…14 Jan 2021HANSARDAgreement on Climate Change, Trade and SustainabilityMy Lords, on 1 September, the Minister for Trade Policy claimed: “Having left the EU, the UK has a unique opportunity to design a set of policies to tackle climate change.” He…11 Jan 2021HANSARDEU-UK Trade and Cooperation AgreementMy Lords, it is a sad irony that this trading co-operation agreement—so-called—will assuredly result in less trade and reduced co-operation with the European Union. The best thing…08 Jan 2021HANSARDHealth Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation and Linked Households) (England) Regulations 2020My Lords, I will make only two points. First, if our fellow citizens are being asked to undergo testing and tolerate restrictions, self-isolation, lockdown and so on—I support…07 Jan 2021HANSARDRepair and Reuse ProgrammesMy Lords, I thank the Minister, but it is now more than a decade since Scotland first introduced the Zero Waste Plan. There are reuse programmes in England, often run by local…14 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Community Resilience Development FrameworkMy Lords, as the Minister has said, the relationship between the centre, local government and communities before, during and after a crisis event is absolutely essential. This has…09 Dec 2020HANSARDConvention on Biological DiversityMy Lords, while I accept that modest progress has been made in some areas, will the Minister accept that the UK’s overall performance on biodiversity has been relatively poor?…07 Dec 2020HANSARDSpending Review 2020My Lords, I follow the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, and the right reverend Prelate in deprecating the cuts to our aid budget. In his spending review, the Chancellor said that it,…03 Dec 2020HANSARDIntellectual Property Rights: Affordable DrugsMy Lords, I agree entirely with the noble Lords, Lord Alton and Lord Berkeley. This devastating pandemic is global in nature. Is the Minister aware that in giving evidence to the…30 Nov 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Devolved AdministrationsMy Lords, like many in this Chamber, I very much welcome the UK-wide discussions to help us combat Covid. It is always better when we are helping each other. In that context, how…27 Nov 2020HANSARDLaw Enforcement and Security (Separation Issues etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020My Lords, first, I thank the Minister, who I think is aiming for the Stakhanovite prize for her endeavours at the Dispatch Box. I say right at the beginning that it is a bit of an…26 Nov 2020