Lords
Committee Stage
30 June 2026
3 contributions
Ukraine: International Claims Commission Convention
My Lords, that was a powerful and valuable speech from the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Prentis, relying on her experience and her contacts. I was particularly impressed by the personal examples. We probably all know individual Ukrainians in this country who have suffered. As the last Back-Bench…
I hear the noble Lord, but I think he would agree that the amounts and numbers involved are vastly more in the case of Ukraine than was the case of the relatively simple—as compared with Ukraine—precedent of Iraq and Kuwait.
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
Covid Fraud
Does my noble friend not find it somewhat surprising that no Back-Bench Member of the Opposition thought it worth while intervening on a matter which affects one of their own?
Lords
Proceedings
1 June 2026
Devolved Public Services: Funding
My Lords, we may receive more per head of population, but do the Government recognise that Wales is at or near the bottom of all the indices of deprivation in the UK? So what direct benefit, if any, will we receive from HS2?
Lords
Proceedings
16 April 2026
Strategic Defence Review: Funding
My Lords, in the current debate about the appropriate balance between welfare and defence spending, allegations have been made about the lack of defence expertise in the Treasury. Is this justified?
Lords
Oral Questions
26 March 2026
Antisemitism in International Human Rights Bodies
I do not find it difficult to draw the line between criticism of the State of Israel and antisemitism. I have expressed my concerns on the record around some of the problems with access of aid into Gaza, for example, and other issues over time. At no point does this criticism ever get anywhere near …
Lords
Proceedings
19 March 2026
Middle East
My Lords, the key justification of President Trump in launching this war of choice was that it was a pre-emptive action on his part because Iran was poised to produce nuclear weapons. Has not that claim been blown out of the water by the evidence just given to Congress by his Director of National In…
Lords
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
UK Energy Sources and Cost of Energy
The noble Lord mentions what is potentially a very effective, long-term and secure method of homegrown energy. As I mentioned in my initial Answer, the long-term way to protect ourselves from these price spikes is to develop homegrown energy. Clearly, tidal range, which has a very stable supply of e…
Lords
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
3 contributions
Refugee Movements: Lebanon
We will hear from the Lib Dem Benches next, and then the Labour Benches.
My Lords—
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
16 March 2026
Treaty Scrutiny in Westminster (International Agreements Committee Report)
My Lord, I welcome this report and the reports from other committees, including the Constitution Committee, on the subject, but I rather regret that they are necessary. I was involved in the passage of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. I served on the Joint Committee on the draft Bill a…
Lords
Committee Stage
4 March 2026
UK-India: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
My Lords, it is always a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Anderson, who is a pillar of our committee.
First, I pay tribute to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, and his leadership of the International Agreements Committee. In my view—this is widely agreed, and not simply in this Ro…
Lords
Oral Questions
10 February 2026
Ambassadors: Vetting Process
The process ought to be rigorous in all cases. There are occasions when people are appointed from outside the service. I think the former head of mission in Cuba was a former Conservative MP, and there are Members in this place who have been high commissioners in Australia and South Africa and have …
Lords
Oral Questions
21 January 2026
2 contributions
Great Western Railway: Infrastructure
My Lords—
It was pretty good. It has got worse because of the engine shortage. Reliability has been very poor. I am expecting it to now recover. I am on its back.
Lords
Proceedings
15 January 2026
Iran
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that history teaches that the regime of the mullahs will probably be toppled only when elements of the security forces and other elements of the regime join the protests? Is there any evidence that that is happening in today’s Iran?
Lords
Proceedings
6 January 2026
Venezuela
My Lords, we well understand the difficulties of criticising our close ally, President Trump. However, is there not a real danger that many will now see this as an acquiescence to the rather crude reassertion of the Monroe doctrine of the United States? Is there not a danger also that it will give s…
Lords
Oral Questions
25 November 2025
Wales: Further Devolution
My Lords, I thank my noble friend. We are seeing devolution in action. It was this party that introduced the legislation to bring forward devolution, which has led to the Welsh Senedd. As for current conversations and discussions about further devolution, as I said earlier, we are working closely wi…
Lords
Oral Questions
4 November 2025
Elon Musk
I would certainly welcome much silence from Mr Musk, but, again, I would defend his right to have his opinion; I just do not agree with it. It is not for somebody in his position to ally himself with individuals who are trying to destroy much of the fabric of British society by their comments, nor i…
Lords
Oral Questions
15 September 2025
Plastic Pollution
As I said, we are still working towards getting the treaty that we want. We think it will have the biggest impact, which is why we want to try to achieve that. The UK has played a leading role throughout the negotiations. We are a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Polluti…
Lords
Oral Questions
11 September 2025
Global Plastic Pollution Treaty
As I mentioned, we are keeping all options on the table. Our priority at the moment is to try to move forward with all the countries, because that is what will make the biggest difference globally, but we will consider all options.
Lords
Oral Questions
9 September 2025
Ukraine: Negotiations
All I can say is that we have sanctioned numerous individuals. We have taken action in all sorts of ways to deal with the shadow fleet. As far as seizing Russian assets is concerned, negotiations continue with other nations, because we need to get international agreement to do some of that, but we w…
Lords
Proceedings
18 July 2025
Strategic Defence Review 2025
My Lords, like other noble Lords, I commend the authors on a major and wide-embracing review. It looks well into the future, but draws the obvious conclusion that, without guaranteed funding and being strong enough with allies to deter aggression, our security is suspect. We are not safe—or, at leas…
Lords
Oral Questions
17 July 2025
European Convention on Human Rights
My noble friend makes a good point and is right. I think that we are repeating the same question in different ways, if I may say so. We have committed to addressing Article 8 rules within our own domestic legislation and there is the issue about the margin of appreciation, which I have referred to i…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 July 2025
Rail Freight
There are clearly incentives, which I have described, and, in fact, access for freight is continuing. Recently, a new rail link was built into Horton Quarry, which is in Yorkshire off the Settle and Carlisle line, and a new freight terminal at Thorney Mill, which is near West Drayton. So it is clear…
Lords
Oral Questions
14 July 2025
Tax on Imports under £135
The Department for Business and Trade has set out our measures to try and prevent that from happening, and it will continue to monitor it, as you would expect it to.