To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to question 33724 on Russia: Telecommunications cables, what progress he has made on increasing the testing of uncrewed underwater vehicles to a) protect UK critical national infrastructure and b) deter undersea threats.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to question 33724 on Russia: Telecommunications cables, what progress he has made on increasing the testing of uncrewed underwater vehicles to a) protect UK critical national infrastructure and b) deter undersea threats.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to question 33724 on Russia: Telecommunications cables, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the deployment of uncrewed underwater vehicles to monitor critically important undersea cables in UK waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to question 33724 on Russia: Telecommunications cables, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the deployment of uncrewed underwater vehicles to monitor critically important undersea cables in UK waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the No10 press release, President Zelenskyy to visit Downing Street as the UK doubles down on support for Ukraine and calls on partners to follow suit, of 13 October 2026, what specific actions will be implemented...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the No10 press release, President Zelenskyy to visit Downing Street as the UK doubles down on support for Ukraine and calls on partners to follow suit, of 13 October 2026, what specific actions will be implemented...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Russian trawlers have been (a) in and (b) near UK waters in each month of the last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Russian trawlers have been (a) in and (b) near UK waters in each month of the last year.

Lords motion to take note of the impact of mediation and conflict prevention globally, and the role of the United Kingdom in peacebuilding. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the impact of mediation and conflict prevention globally, and the role of the United Kingdom in peacebuilding. Agreed to on question.

I note several entries in the register of interests in relation to work I have done recently for the World Bank, the CHD and Conciliation Resources, my position as a ministerial adviser on soft power and my attendance at more than a couple of conferences on mediation and conflict prevention...

I note several entries in the register of interests in relation to work I have done recently for the World Bank, the CHD and Conciliation Resources, my position as a ministerial adviser on soft power and my attendance at more than a couple of conferences on mediation and conflict prevention...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, for introducing this debate. There is no more important topic; the world would be a much better place if there could be peace in places today torn by war, with the damage, destruction, and the violence that brings. I agree with...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, for introducing this debate. There is no more important topic; the world would be a much better place if there could be peace in places today torn by war, with the damage, destruction, and the violence that brings. I agree with...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, on securing this debate and thank him for introducing it so well. I declare a non-pecuniary interest as chair of Inter Mediate, the charity founded by Jonathan Powell and inspired by the Northern Ireland peace process. Inter Mediate has been engaged...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, on securing this debate and thank him for introducing it so well. I declare a non-pecuniary interest as chair of Inter Mediate, the charity founded by Jonathan Powell and inspired by the Northern Ireland peace process. Inter Mediate has been engaged...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for securing this timely debate, though I confess I speak with some trepidation given the considerable expertise in this Chamber. But as a refugee who arrived in this country from Iran as a young girl because of political violence and religious...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for securing this timely debate, though I confess I speak with some trepidation given the considerable expertise in this Chamber. But as a refugee who arrived in this country from Iran as a young girl because of political violence and religious...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate, who brings unique experience to this conversation. I point her in the direction of the emerging markets and developing economies taskforce that the Church of England pension trustees are participating in. If successful, that project will achieve and...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate, who brings unique experience to this conversation. I point her in the direction of the emerging markets and developing economies taskforce that the Church of England pension trustees are participating in. If successful, that project will achieve and...

My Lords, I join in the congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, not just on his luck in the ballot but also on his continuing zeal and determination in trying to focus

our minds on these vastly important, indeed giant, world issues. Mediation, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and our role...

My Lords, I join in the congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, not just on his luck in the ballot but also on his continuing zeal and determination in trying to focus

our minds on these vastly important, indeed giant, world issues. Mediation, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and our role...

My Lords, I have spent 47 years in Westminster. I have supported conflicts worldwide, most notably in the Middle East and eastern Europe, but some recent conflicts have caused me to reflect and have cost me dearly. Friendships have been fractured. My view that we have sometimes questionably intervened in...

My Lords, I have spent 47 years in Westminster. I have supported conflicts worldwide, most notably in the Middle East and eastern Europe, but some recent conflicts have caused me to reflect and have cost me dearly. Friendships have been fractured. My view that we have sometimes questionably intervened in...

My Lords, I begin my remarks with a simple reflection: the true test of diplomacy now is not how eloquently we respond to conflict but how effectively we prevent it. I draw Members’ attention to my registered interests with the World Humanitarian Forum and the International Communities Organisation, and as...

My Lords, I begin my remarks with a simple reflection: the true test of diplomacy now is not how eloquently we respond to conflict but how effectively we prevent it. I draw Members’ attention to my registered interests with the World Humanitarian Forum and the International Communities Organisation, and as...

My Lords, I begin by joining the chorus of thanking the noble Lord, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, for bringing

us this debate and introducing it so clearly. It is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, who, as we have just heard, has maintained an acute focus...

My Lords, I begin by joining the chorus of thanking the noble Lord, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, for bringing

us this debate and introducing it so clearly. It is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, who, as we have just heard, has maintained an acute focus...

My Lords, a week ago I took part in a debate here on the desirability or otherwise of a written constitution. I was put on the speakers’ list to follow a slew of noble and learned Lords whose knowledge, experience and fingertip ability to bring out the right quotation and...

My Lords, a week ago I took part in a debate here on the desirability or otherwise of a written constitution. I was put on the speakers’ list to follow a slew of noble and learned Lords whose knowledge, experience and fingertip ability to bring out the right quotation and...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, for his permanent passion and pursuit of these issues. We know that he digs away when many of us would rather sleep, and we are grateful to him for this debate. I also thank my noble...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the noble Lord, Lord McConnell, for his permanent passion and pursuit of these issues. We know that he digs away when many of us would rather sleep, and we are grateful to him for this debate. I also thank my noble...

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Okay, maybe not—let us allow youth to speak. We all remember what it took for President Carter to sit for 23 days with Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat at Camp David, to discover a peace between Egypt and Israel that has held to this day. The same can be said...

Okay, maybe not—let us allow youth to speak. We all remember what it took for President Carter to sit for 23 days with Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat at Camp David, to discover a peace between Egypt and Israel that has held to this day. The same can be said...

My Lords, it is always a privilege to follow my noble friend Lord Hastings. He is the last of those who could be accused of remaining silent in the face of injustice. He has been at the forefront of so many cases and I agree very much with what he...

My Lords, it is always a privilege to follow my noble friend Lord Hastings. He is the last of those who could be accused of remaining silent in the face of injustice. He has been at the forefront of so many cases and I agree very much with what he...

Oh!

Oh!