Contributions
120 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMental Health Bill [HL]I will make a slightly cheeky intervention, if I may, on the noble Baroness. I am not weighing into the debate that is taking place but simply make this point. Does she accept…14 Jan 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [HL]I too am supportive of the spirit and intention behind Amendments 19 and 20, but I want to raise two textual questions relating to whether they would give effect as was intended.…14 Jan 2025HANSARDUK Strategy Towards the Arctic (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, given that this magisterial report includes recommendations on shipping and search and rescue services, I declare my interest as chair of the Maritime and Coastguard…09 Jan 2025HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsMy Lords, a bigger reason for the number of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships stuck alongside is not the age of the vessels but the absence of seafarers to staff them. Can the Minister…25 Nov 2024HANSARDMental Health Bill [HL]I am very pleased to follow that very powerful speech from the noble Baroness, Lady Ramsey, which reminded us all of the personal stakes that we are debating, as did many other…25 Nov 2024HANSARDScience and Technology: EconomyI declare my interests as the incoming chair of King’s College London and the chair of Cancer Research UK. I start by picking up where the noble Lord, Lord Waldegrave, left off:…31 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, obviously, like the noble Lord, Lord Shinkwin, I too think that the NHS matters, but when the geopolitical facts change our defence posture needs to respond accordingly.…25 Oct 2024HANSARDUK-US Co-operation on Using Atomic Energy for Mutual DefenceI am very pleased to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, not least because she has spurred all kinds of reactions in my mind to the “Address to the Australian Parliament”…23 Oct 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechI declare my interest as chair of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Like many other noble Lords, I welcome the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, and the noble Baroness, Lady Anderson,…25 Jul 2024HANSARDArtificial Intelligence in Weapon Systems Committee ReportMy Lords, I too welcome the excellent report from the committee and thank it for this work. My brief contribution will focus on AI in the maritime domain. My starting point is…19 Apr 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMay I offer a constructive suggestion on the clarity that might be adduced between now and further stages? Picking up on the question of the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, as I…17 Apr 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillI take the point that the noble Baroness, Lady Blackstone, just made in respect of schools, but I also agree with the point the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, made about the…17 Apr 2024HANSARDForeign AffairsMy Lords, at this stage of the evening, I will make one point— I hope in less than five minutes—and in doing so will draw heavily on the stark and authoritative soundings and…05 Mar 2024HANSARDEconomic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) BillMy Lords, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwark’s mention of Hackney reminded me that, some years back, when you left Parliament and crossed the bridge, you came…20 Feb 2024HANSARDHolocaust Memorial DayIn her essay The Future of Auschwitz , the philosopher Gillian Rose’s radical challenge to those of us who are not Jewish is “not only to identify … in infinite pain with ‘the…02 Feb 2024HANSARDCancer Research: Funding GapI declare my interest as chair of Cancer Research UK. One of the most important international research partnerships in cancer science is the Cancer Grand Challenges, which bring…29 Jan 2024HANSARDDefending the UK and AlliesThat is fortunate. As we have heard, the action taken by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force was clearly both justified and necessary. Although the Prime Minister’s Statement…15 Jan 2024HANSARDGuyana: Sovereign TerritoryHaving been in the Essequibo region earlier in the year, I think it right that Guyana pursues this matter through diplomatic routes—the ICJ, the UN and other forums. But the fact…12 Dec 2023HANSARDHealth Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023My Lords, I welcome these regulations. They get the NHS off the hook from inappropriate compulsory competitive tendering of clinical services but also avoid throwing the baby out…27 Nov 2023HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, I have the privilege of being a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. As we have heard throughout this afternoon, the…15 Nov 2023