My Lords, I add my thanks to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, and the noble Lord, Lord Barrow, for taking up the theme, for enabling us to have this important and useful debate on the future of Gibraltar. In saying that, I take a very different view from...

My Lords, I add my thanks to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, and the noble Lord, Lord Barrow, for taking up the theme, for enabling us to have this important and useful debate on the future of Gibraltar. In saying that, I take a very different view from...

I was just summing up—to say that I believe that we should support this treaty and the concordat and listen to and appreciate the voices of Gibraltar. In view of the comments made by my noble friends Lord Redwood and Lord Frost, as with any treaty, we must all monitor...

I was just summing up—to say that I believe that we should support this treaty and the concordat and listen to and appreciate the voices of Gibraltar. In view of the comments made by my noble friends Lord Redwood and Lord Frost, as with any treaty, we must all monitor...

My Lords, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak briefly in the gap and apologise to my noble friend for pinching his slot. It has been a good and necessary debate, with contributions from the youngest Member, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, as well as a number of fully...

My Lords, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak briefly in the gap and apologise to my noble friend for pinching his slot. It has been a good and necessary debate, with contributions from the youngest Member, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, as well as a number of fully...

My Lords, is the Minister able to tell us whether the Government are supporting the women’s institute’s splendid initiative on microplastics, which is a campaign to ensure that special filters are fitted to all washing machines to avoid the reproduction of these microplastic elements?

My Lords, is the Minister able to tell us whether the Government are supporting the women’s institute’s splendid initiative on microplastics, which is a campaign to ensure that special filters are fitted to all washing machines to avoid the reproduction of these microplastic elements?

My Lords, in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Lloyd, for initiating and introducing this now annual debate, congratulating all the excellent maiden speeches and listening to the many and varied speeches, I cannot help reflecting that, although there is still a long way to go in many countries, including our...

My Lords, in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Lloyd, for initiating and introducing this now annual debate, congratulating all the excellent maiden speeches and listening to the many and varied speeches, I cannot help reflecting that, although there is still a long way to go in many countries, including our...

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time taken to process applications for indefinite leave to remain under the European Communities Association Agreement Ankara Agreement from the date the application is submitted.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time taken to process applications for indefinite leave to remain under the European Communities Association Agreement Ankara Agreement from the date the application is submitted.

My Lords, it is already clear at this late stage in the debate that a very strong case has been made for action to be taken to ensure the sustainability of language learning and the supply of qualified foreign language teachers in our schools

and universities. In thanking the noble...

My Lords, it is already clear at this late stage in the debate that a very strong case has been made for action to be taken to ensure the sustainability of language learning and the supply of qualified foreign language teachers in our schools

and universities. In thanking the noble...

My Lords, I wish to follow up on the previous question, because it seems to me that it is very good news to know that we are in touch with the opposition parties. There has always been a problem in Venezuela about uniting the opposition parties and that is why...

My Lords, I wish to follow up on the previous question, because it seems to me that it is very good news to know that we are in touch with the opposition parties. There has always been a problem in Venezuela about uniting the opposition parties and that is why...

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Rawlings, and at her request, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in her name on the Order Paper.

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Rawlings, and at her request, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in her name on the Order Paper.

In thanking the Minister for her reply, may I press a little on the wider region and ask whether this advice and possible support will be given to British nationals in the overseas territories in the Caribbean, for example? Further, does the FCDO have any plans to close our embassy in Venezuela, as I understand other European countries have already done?

In thanking the Minister for her reply, may I press a little on the wider region and ask whether this advice and possible support will be given to British nationals in the overseas territories in the Caribbean, for example? Further, does the FCDO have any plans to close our embassy in Venezuela, as I understand other European countries have already done?

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Sharpe pointed to the absence of any reference to the defence industry. That may be another sector that is to be dealt with in future negotiations but I would certainly like to know what proposals there might be in relation to arms sales on...

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Sharpe pointed to the absence of any reference to the defence industry. That may be another sector that is to be dealt with in future negotiations but I would certainly like to know what proposals there might be in relation to arms sales on...

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they intend to take to enable the UK to join the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network at the earliest opportunity.

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they intend to take to enable the UK to join the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network at the earliest opportunity.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to confirm to providers operating within the Dance and Drama Awards scheme what their specific budgets for the academic year 2025–26 will be.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to confirm to providers operating within the Dance and Drama Awards scheme what their specific budgets for the academic year 2025–26 will be.

To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place for Colombian nationals applying for visas to the United Kingdom following the reintroduction of a visa requirement on 26 November 2024.

To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place for Colombian nationals applying for visas to the United Kingdom following the reintroduction of a visa requirement on 26 November 2024.

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that this choice should not be limited to music and drama, and that dance should be included?

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that this choice should not be limited to music and drama, and that dance should be included?

My Lords, given that we no longer have an embassy in Damascus—although I feel sure that British embassies in neighbouring countries are being very helpful in this present situation—the main voice and the main channel of communication is the BBC and other brave journalists. Can the Minister comment on the...

My Lords, given that we no longer have an embassy in Damascus—although I feel sure that British embassies in neighbouring countries are being very helpful in this present situation—the main voice and the main channel of communication is the BBC and other brave journalists. Can the Minister comment on the...

My Lords, this is a sad day for me as we face the prospect of breaking with over 800 years of history and tradition, and development of our democracy. Since our recent debate on the future of your Lordships’ House, and prompted by numerous rumours, I attempted to table a...

My Lords, this is a sad day for me as we face the prospect of breaking with over 800 years of history and tradition, and development of our democracy. Since our recent debate on the future of your Lordships’ House, and prompted by numerous rumours, I attempted to table a...

My Lords, in the 10 years when I was very happily a member of the delegation to the Council of Europe, one of the most important functions that we had was to appoint the judges to the European Court of Human Rights. Can the Minister tell us whether the Government are giving any advice to the delegation in this respect?

My Lords, in the 10 years when I was very happily a member of the delegation to the Council of Europe, one of the most important functions that we had was to appoint the judges to the European Court of Human Rights. Can the Minister tell us whether the Government are giving any advice to the delegation in this respect?

My Lords, I really should say that it was the father of the noble Lord, Lord Inglewood, who congratulated me when I made my maiden speech 40 years ago. In approaching this debate, I declare my bias in favour of history, tradition and something that works.

In the House of Lords,...

My Lords, I really should say that it was the father of the noble Lord, Lord Inglewood, who congratulated me when I made my maiden speech 40 years ago. In approaching this debate, I declare my bias in favour of history, tradition and something that works.

In the House of Lords,...