Contributions
543 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address MotionMy Lords, as a member of the ISC, I note that my noble friend the Minister did not say anything about my integrity, which is a bit worrying. I make it absolutely clear that…12 Feb 2026HANSARDRoyal Navy: CaribbeanMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his reply, but the ship based out there does an awful lot of anti-drug work, and that is important for the stability of our…09 Feb 2026HANSARDRoyal Navy: CaribbeanTo ask His Majesty’s Government whether the Royal Navy ship stationed in the Caribbean is fully a part of Joint Interagency Task Force South.09 Feb 2026HANSARDChina: Jimmy LaiMy Lords, in my dealings with the Chinese, I have found that very often the best thing is to make sure that they do not lose face. It is much better to talk quietly in the…02 Feb 2026HANSARDUniformed youth groups: Promoting Skills and Resilience in Young PeopleMy Lords, I declare an interest as president of the Bollington and Macclesfield Sea Cadets—there is a northern aspect to me, as you can see. Whenever I have been involved with the…26 Jan 2026HANSARDGreenland: Proposed US TariffsMy Lords, I have never been one to underplay a threat, but does my noble friend the Minister agree that there seems to be no intelligence assessment whatever to say that there is…19 Jan 2026HANSARDBoarding of Sanctioned VesselsMy Lords, we effectively run global merchant shipping from London. We have the best Merchant Navy-type lawyers in the world in London, and it is quite clear that these ships can…14 Jan 2026HANSARDIran: ProtestsMy Lords, when I was First Sea Lord, I tended to send warships towards the sound of the guns. If things go wrong in Iran, as it looks as if they might well do, the whole of that…12 Jan 2026HANSARDDefence SpendingMy Lords, our nation is standing into danger. I do not need to articulate the dangerous geopolitical situation that we are in, and which is getting worse. I think people…06 Jan 2026HANSARDDefence SpendingTo ask His Majesty’s Government whether the military Chiefs of Staff have expressed concern over in-year defence spending.06 Jan 2026HANSARDSudden Cardiac Death: Screening for Young PeopleMy Lords, as we are talking about the death of young people, I am sure my noble friend the Minister would like to take this opportunity for the House to express our thoughts and…05 Jan 2026HANSARDAsylum AccommodationMy Lords, my noble friend the Minister will know my view that the best barracks for sailors are ships. I am sure he would agree that the way of getting around it from that side of…16 Dec 2025HANSARDSydney Terrorist AttackFirst, my Lords, I want to praise the bravery of Mr Ahmed al-Ahmed in tackling one of the terrorists. He is clearly a better human being than I am, in that he took the rifle and…15 Dec 2025HANSARDSydney Terrorist AttackTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of any implications of the terrorist attack in Sydney for the United Kingdom.15 Dec 2025HANSARDArmed Services: Sexual ViolenceMy Lords, I conducted the study 30 years ago into whether women should serve at sea and came to the conclusion that they should, and it has been a huge success. Does my noble…09 Dec 2025HANSARDRoyal Navy Submarine ForceMy Lords, our submarine force is in a parlous state—the worst in my 60 years of service. Successive delays in ordering, a lack of dry dock investment, the failure to recruit and…08 Dec 2025HANSARDRoyal Navy Submarine ForceTo ask His Majesty’s Government what measures they have implemented to resolve problems confronting the Royal Navy’s submarine force.08 Dec 2025HANSARDBritish Embassy in DamascusMr Lords, are the Government concerned about the seeming resurgence of ISIL, and what is actually being done about that?02 Dec 2025HANSARDWales: Further DevolutionMy Lords, I understand that one of our late and long-awaited frigates is to be called HMS “Cardiff”. Are we going to put any of the new factories producing defence equipment, and…25 Nov 2025HANSARDRussian Ship “Yantar”The Minister said he was going to visit the NMIC and the joint cell that was with it down in the south. I do not know whether he has done that yet, but I am glad it is up and…25 Nov 2025