Can the Minister confirm that when John Healey told the Commons last year that the UK was facing an immediate threat of a binding decision on Chagos from UNCLOS he was exaggerating, as UNCLOS’s constitution prevents it adjudicating on disputes involving military bases? Can she also confirm that, under Article 36.2 of the ICJ statute, there is a specific exclusion around sovereignty disputes between the UK and Commonwealth countries? Can we be quite clear that there is no viable or credible threat to the UK in any UN court or tribunal? Rather than just pushing this treaty into the long grass, can she not now bin it completely and reallocate the money to the defence budget?

Can the Minister confirm that when John Healey told the Commons last year that the UK was facing an immediate threat of a binding decision on Chagos from UNCLOS he was exaggerating, as UNCLOS’s constitution prevents it adjudicating on disputes involving military bases? Can she also confirm that, under Article 36.2 of the ICJ statute, there is a specific exclusion around sovereignty disputes between the UK and Commonwealth countries? Can we be quite clear that there is no viable or credible threat to the UK in any UN court or tribunal? Rather than just pushing this treaty into the long grass, can she not now bin it completely and reallocate the money to the defence budget?

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to reintroduce the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to reintroduce the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.

My Lords, does the Minister feel that our national credibility at this very important summit will be greatly enhanced if by then we will have reached the promised 3% defence target?

My Lords, does the Minister feel that our national credibility at this very important summit will be greatly enhanced if by then we will have reached the promised 3% defence target?

My Lords, I will raise a couple of points and seek clarification from the Senior Deputy Speaker. In paragraph 19 of the report, what exactly does “business attire” mean in the proposed new paragraph 4.14A? As I understand it, if you bring a guest to the Bar of the House,...

My Lords, I will raise a couple of points and seek clarification from the Senior Deputy Speaker. In paragraph 19 of the report, what exactly does “business attire” mean in the proposed new paragraph 4.14A? As I understand it, if you bring a guest to the Bar of the House,...

My Lords, further to what the Minister said about the review which was carried out by Dame Anne Owers, she concluded that the FCO missed multiple opportunities to influence the US Government and failed to treat that case as a priority. HMG—this HMG, not the last one—said that lessons will be learned from that review and from the Sacoolas case and applied to future cases, so with great respect to the Minister, the Sacoolas case is highly relevant.

My Lords, further to what the Minister said about the review which was carried out by Dame Anne Owers, she concluded that the FCO missed multiple opportunities to influence the US Government and failed to treat that case as a priority. HMG—this HMG, not the last one—said that lessons will be learned from that review and from the Sacoolas case and applied to future cases, so with great respect to the Minister, the Sacoolas case is highly relevant.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UK's Russia sanctions regime adequately addresses the risk of sanctioned Russian entities deriving indirect economic benefit through investments or financing arrangements involving non-sanctioned companies, in particular in relation to the reported proposed transactions involving Eurasian Resources Group.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UK's Russia sanctions regime adequately addresses the risk of sanctioned Russian entities deriving indirect economic benefit through investments or financing arrangements involving non-sanctioned companies, in particular in relation to the reported proposed transactions involving Eurasian Resources Group.

My Lords, further to the question asked by the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, are we any closer in this country to setting up a national water grid? Obviously, every reservoir that is in the planning process will be a national infrastructure project and they all give rise to a huge amount of opposition, understandably. Can we look again at the idea of a national grid?

My Lords, further to the question asked by the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, are we any closer in this country to setting up a national water grid? Obviously, every reservoir that is in the planning process will be a national infrastructure project and they all give rise to a huge amount of opposition, understandably. Can we look again at the idea of a national grid?

The Minister is aware that the UK is a prominent member of the CPTPP. Argentina applied to join a few weeks ago. Is this a point of leverage that can be used against a country that is threatening our sovereignty?

The Minister is aware that the UK is a prominent member of the CPTPP. Argentina applied to join a few weeks ago. Is this a point of leverage that can be used against a country that is threatening our sovereignty?

My Lords, I declare my interest as a former Norfolk MP. Judging by my mailbox this evening, there is real anger and consternation across Norfolk. A huge amount of work and professional resources have been put into this. For example, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and Breckland District...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a former Norfolk MP. Judging by my mailbox this evening, there is real anger and consternation across Norfolk. A huge amount of work and professional resources have been put into this. For example, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and Breckland District...

My Lords, the Minister mentioned the very welcome ban on direct crypto donations, but can she say something about controlling those donors whose wealth is derived from cryptocurrency dealings?

My Lords, the Minister mentioned the very welcome ban on direct crypto donations, but can she say something about controlling those donors whose wealth is derived from cryptocurrency dealings?

The Prime Minister said in his Statement that he will

“build a pro-business culture and an innovation-led economy”.

to drive growth and job creation. That is fantastic news, and I congratulate the Lord Privy Seal and the Prime Minister on those words. Does this mean that HMG will now listen to every...

The Prime Minister said in his Statement that he will

“build a pro-business culture and an innovation-led economy”.

to drive growth and job creation. That is fantastic news, and I congratulate the Lord Privy Seal and the Prime Minister on those words. Does this mean that HMG will now listen to every...

My Lords, is the Minister aware that only 17% of the 4.4 million self-employed people in this country are actively saving? Is this of grave concern to her? What are the Government going to do about it?

My Lords, is the Minister aware that only 17% of the 4.4 million self-employed people in this country are actively saving? Is this of grave concern to her? What are the Government going to do about it?

My Lords, to add to an already very serious situation, is the Minister aware that the Houthis have now launched a naval blockade against the Saudis? What assessment has his department made of the impact that will have on not just Saudi maritime traffic but wider maritime traffic, including our...

My Lords, to add to an already very serious situation, is the Minister aware that the Houthis have now launched a naval blockade against the Saudis? What assessment has his department made of the impact that will have on not just Saudi maritime traffic but wider maritime traffic, including our...

My Lords, following on from the question from my noble friend Lord Markham, will the new EU CADA rules block out UK-based infrastructure and cloud service providers?

My Lords, following on from the question from my noble friend Lord Markham, will the new EU CADA rules block out UK-based infrastructure and cloud service providers?

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, about charities, I declare an interest because I am involved with a number of autistic charities in my old constituency in King’s Lynn and across Norfolk. Is the Minister aware that one of the biggest challenges is when these children who are on the autistic spectrum come out of college and try to find their way into further training or jobs? Can she comment specifically on what the Government are doing to help that transition?

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, about charities, I declare an interest because I am involved with a number of autistic charities in my old constituency in King’s Lynn and across Norfolk. Is the Minister aware that one of the biggest challenges is when these children who are on the autistic spectrum come out of college and try to find their way into further training or jobs? Can she comment specifically on what the Government are doing to help that transition?

My Lords, can the Minister say something about New START, the treaty which was the last remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the US and Russia, which has expired? What is the future of that treaty? I know that is a slightly separate issue, but it is related.

My Lords, can the Minister say something about New START, the treaty which was the last remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the US and Russia, which has expired? What is the future of that treaty? I know that is a slightly separate issue, but it is related.

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that 14 major hospitals have either been destroyed or very seriously damaged, and it will take a long time for them to be repaired. In the meantime, there is obviously a crucial need for tented hospitals. In this respect, it is obviously good news that the UK Emergency Medical Team, UK EMT, has deployed a team to set up one such hospital, but there is a need for much more to be done. Furthermore, is the Minister aware that Venezuela already suffered from a chronic shortage of qualified anaesthetists and orthopaedic surgeons? Are these two areas where the UK could provide more focus?

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that 14 major hospitals have either been destroyed or very seriously damaged, and it will take a long time for them to be repaired. In the meantime, there is obviously a crucial need for tented hospitals. In this respect, it is obviously good news that the UK Emergency Medical Team, UK EMT, has deployed a team to set up one such hospital, but there is a need for much more to be done. Furthermore, is the Minister aware that Venezuela already suffered from a chronic shortage of qualified anaesthetists and orthopaedic surgeons? Are these two areas where the UK could provide more focus?

I strongly support what the Government are trying to do here. The Minister will be aware of my long-standing interest in Sudan, and I agree with what he said. There are many Sudanese students who have contributed a great deal to our society and, every time I go to Sudan, I meet many people who have been to our universities and are now in positions of considerable authority in Sudan. If students come here on the safe refugee route, the key point is that they should be returned to their home country if that country then enters a period of stability at the end of their course.

I strongly support what the Government are trying to do here. The Minister will be aware of my long-standing interest in Sudan, and I agree with what he said. There are many Sudanese students who have contributed a great deal to our society and, every time I go to Sudan, I meet many people who have been to our universities and are now in positions of considerable authority in Sudan. If students come here on the safe refugee route, the key point is that they should be returned to their home country if that country then enters a period of stability at the end of their course.

To ask His Majesty’s Government when the Attorney General is next expected to meet his NATO counterparts to discuss the application of international law to current military conflicts; and whether the House will be informed of the outcome of those discussions.

To ask His Majesty’s Government when the Attorney General is next expected to meet his NATO counterparts to discuss the application of international law to current military conflicts; and whether the House will be informed of the outcome of those discussions.

I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and thank the Lord Speaker for pronouncing my name in the Northumberland way.

I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and thank the Lord Speaker for pronouncing my name in the Northumberland way.