Contributions
400 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment) Rules 2024My Lords, the statutory instrument before us today amends the 2009 court martial rules by introducing a new procedure for the court to view sentences under new Sections 304D and…20 May 2024HANSARDArmed Forces: Land War ReadinessMy Lords, the question of absolute numbers must be overlaid with that of capability. There is no question that we do not need the numbers that we have required in the past. In…20 May 2024HANSARDArmed Forces: Land War ReadinessMy Lords, our Armed Forces are at all times ready to protect and defend the UK, and we continue to meet all operational commitments, both at home and overseas. The global security…20 May 2024HANSARDUkraine and GeorgiaMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his support in all that we are doing in Ukraine. The Government and, indeed, the whole House continue strongly to condemn the appalling,…16 May 2024HANSARDUkraine and GeorgiaI entirely agree with the first part of the noble Lord’s question. As for the second part, the Euro-Atlantic organisations have certain standards and rules. We want Georgia to…16 May 2024HANSARDUkraine and GeorgiaThe right reverend Prelate makes a very good point. The whole issue of the “foreign agents” law is that it is very similar to a law that is operating in Russia, although it has…16 May 2024HANSARDUkraine and GeorgiaThe noble Lord makes a very good point. The recent attacks by the Russians are driven by numbers of people as much as by ammunition. NATO, its allies and other interested parties…16 May 2024HANSARDUkraine and GeorgiaThe most immediate and pressing issue for NATO and the rest of the West is to repel Russia from Ukraine. The noble Lord is absolutely right that there is a future post success,…16 May 2024HANSARDUkraine and GeorgiaThe noble Lord makes a very good point. The UK is a firm friend of the Georgian people and we have a long-standing defence partnership. We support their pursuit of the legitimate…16 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the benefit of hindsight is wonderful. At the time, in 1996, when the deal was done with Annington—originally with Terra Firma and then with Annington—it was considered…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the whole question of asbestos is an ongoing issue and one which will take some time to complete. I will write to the noble Lord with full details, but I would like to…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, my noble friend is absolutely right. The DIO has all the information that it needs. This is about the implementation and requirement, through Pinnacle to the…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, that is outside my brief, obviously, but I would say that the accommodation standards continue to improve. Our forces are paying only something like 15% of their salary…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the noble Baroness makes a good point. Particularly in single-living accommodation, this is absolutely critical. In the budget, £5.3 billion has been allocated in the…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the way accommodation has been allocated is subject to a review. The Secretary of State has called in that review, as I am sure everybody is fully aware, and will report…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, since 2021, Defence has invested £1.5 billion across its accommodation portfolio, with thousands of homes being refurbished in the last financial year and more to be…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the noble and gallant Lord raises a very good point. The DIO has a relationship with Pinnacle, which is effectively the customer service interface with the Armed Forces.…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the point about the report is that we consider it very carefully. What has happened in the last year is that we have spent £222 million on sorting out some of these…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, my noble friend makes a very good point. One justification for the increase in defence spending we announced recently was to continue to invest in accommodation and…15 May 2024HANSARDMilitary Bases: AccommodationMy Lords, the Government fully recognise the vital importance of accommodation as a central part of the wider package we provide to those serving within His Majesty’s Armed…15 May 2024