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2,386 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasMy Lords, I think I have answered that question. I cannot claim personal responsibility for comments made by a head of state in any other country, however distinguished. I have…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasI say to my noble friend that we discussed this briefly yesterday. We are engaged with the legitimate Government of Yemen, both bilaterally and through the United Nations. Those…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasMy Lords, as the noble Lord will know, we are sanctioning members of the Houthi organisation. I totally agree with his characterisation of the nature of that organisation, and I…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasMy Lords, I welcome again the strong support of His Majesty’s loyal Opposition on this matter. Of course I own the responsibility to keep your Lordships’ House informed, including…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasI strongly agree with the point made by the noble and gallant Lord. I certainly agree with the first part—wherever possible, Parliament should be notified, involved and informed,…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasMy Lords, the Cabinet Manual is actually under review at the moment. The noble Baroness rightly refers to the 2011 manual, but even that says the convention would be observed…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasMy Lords, as I said yesterday, I will never speculate about operational decisions and the House would not expect me to. However, I will say that there have been a number of…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasMy Lords, the Government have acknowledged the need to notify Parliament of significant military action either before or after the event. In regard to the recent air strikes in…25 Jan 2024HANSARDMilitary Interventions OverseasThat matter was alluded to yesterday. I said we would reflect on these matters in the usual channels. There was a debate on the Red Sea situation in the other place. I pointed out…25 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, I do not wish a comment on the postures or action taken by other friendly nations. I again remind my noble friend that there is, not just through Operation Prosperity…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, in these strikes we have been very careful to take those matters into consideration. That the strikes took place at night also minimised the risk of civilian activity in…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, there is an enormous weight of diplomatic activity going on. It is important to note that China backed the UN resolution which called for this activity to stop and to…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, these arrangements are still in place. My noble friend Lord Ahmad on the Front Bench here was whispering in my ear that he was speaking to the Foreign Minister of Yemen…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, I agree with much that the noble Lord said. We are working in a coalition here. The Prosperity Guardian operation involves 21 nations plus ourselves. The strikes, the…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, I am grateful for the remarks of the noble Baroness and the noble Lord. Following on from what the noble Lord said, I understand that there is a high degree of concern…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, it is a challenge. In the international world, people in different places make their calculations on different bases. The fundamental point that I have been trying to…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, my noble friend quite rightly stresses the importance of the role of the Iranian Government and the Iranian regime. One must not forget that, looking at the whole span…24 Jan 2024HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMy Lords, it may assist the House if I set out how the proceedings this afternoon are expected to run. Attentive Members of the House will have noticed that the Bill arrived from…24 Jan 2024HANSARDAction Against Houthi Maritime AttacksMy Lords, the noble and gallant Lord is quite right that the strikes were launched in that way by, in this case, four Royal Air Force Typhoons, supported by a pair of Voyager…24 Jan 2024HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThat, in the event of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill having been brought from the House of Commons, Standing Order 44 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one…24 Jan 2024