Did you mean due gaulle?
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) (a) how many naval aviators are currently training with foreign navies, (b) with which navies they are training, (c) how many such personnel are qualified for carrier operations using catapults and traps and (d) which aircraft they are certified on; (2) what rules of engagement apply in combat situations to Royal Navy aviators stationed on...
Baroness Verma: My Lords, this has been an exceptional debate. Noble Lords' contributions have shown why this House is so hugely respected across the globe. I, too, join all noble Lords in paying tribute to our friend the late Baroness Park of Monmouth. She was a fabulous woman. It was only when I came to this House that I learnt of the huge work that she had done during those very difficult years during...
Lord Kirkhill: My Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble and learned Lord, Lord Irvine of Lairg, on securing this debate. Nowadays, when we discuss fundamental rights, we inevitably have to talk about the European Convention on Human Rights. This convention is by no means the only international instrument in the field of human rights, but it is certainly one of the most important. Until...
Lord Deben: My Lords, it might encourage your Lordships' House to hear that I do not intend to talk about piracy; I seek to talk about the amendments that deal with the environment and climate change. These differ from earlier amendments. I disagree with the noble Lord, Lord Triesman, as it seems to me that most of the areas that he covered were unique competences of the European Union, whereas we are...
Lord Sewel: My Lords, at last we are moving towards the end of the debate, and the main lines on both sides of the argument have been laid down. That is accurate, but we must recognise that the weight of the argument has been solidly in one direction. It is a bit like the Barnsley by-election. Who will lose their deposit: the supporters of the Bill or those who say that it does not go far enough? The...
Lord Hannay of Chiswick: My Lords, the troubled history of Britain's relations with the rest of Europe has been marked by numerous incidents of bad luck and bad judgment. It was bad judgment by both of the two main parties that we did not join the Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community at the outset of their existence in the 1950s; it was bad luck that we were vetoed twice by General de Gaulle...
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: ...he just stated, what are the Government doing to grow it, or does he propose to reduce it? Can he also explain how much is saved by forcing more and more business from Heathrow to Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle or Frankfurt? What is the saving in green terms?
Lord Lee of Trafford: My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lord Addington on securing this debate and I congratulate my noble friend Lord Flight on his interesting military bridge-building between NATO and India in his fascinating and excellent maiden speech. We look forward to many contributions over the years. Europe spends collectively €200 billion on defence. Few would argue that it gets value for money...
Lord Stoneham of Droxford: ...support that I have experienced during my introduction and induction. It has been very much appreciated. Coming in as a long-time supporter of reform of this House, the warmth of my welcome has made me recall the advice of my former mentor, friend and colleague Roy Jenkins-a most distinguished past Member of this House-who, echoing the words of Adlai Stevenson, always advised us to be...
Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am sure that people will consider that, but it is important to remember that Charles de Gaulle Airport has four runways running at 75 per cent capacity but still experienced severe difficulties.
Lord Hannay of Chiswick: ...20th century had often seemed set to requalify for the title of, "the sick man of Europe", has now gained its place in the new G20 group-the primary co-ordinator of global economic issues-and is developing a new, active foreign policy in place of its vulnerable immobility in the front line of the Cold War. The case, therefore, for us to take stock of this major strategic shift and to try...
Earl Attlee: My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State in another place. The Statement is as follows. "Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to make a Statement on the continuing severe weather. We are facing exceptional conditions. It looks set to be the coldest December since 1910, with average...
Philip Hammond: With permission, I would like to make a statement on the continuing severe winter weather. We are facing exceptional conditions. It looks set to be the coldest December since 1910 with average temperatures 4° to 5° below the norm for December. Many areas have had record low temperatures, and snowfall has been the most widespread since 1981. The forecast is for continued severe cold and...
Keith Brown: It is right that we have such a debate when everyone in Scotland is talking about the weather and its effects. An issue that is important to the people of Scotland should be important to us. I start by thanking the various groups of people that some members have mentioned and which form the focus of John Swinney's amendment. Last night, I had the chance to see some of their efforts up close....
Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number of days the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle was at sea in each of the last 10 years; whether he has made a comparative assessment of the number of days spent at sea by French and British aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.
Jim Fitzpatrick: The increases that were being introduced-further increases are being considered-are not being introduced in the way that we planned. My point is that, if we add the cost of APD to the cost of a visa from China to the UK, it comes to £612, compared with £212 to go to Paris, flying economy. Flying business class, it costs £952 to London, compared with £332 to Paris. Might that explain why...
Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of the likely availability for service of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle between 2020 and 2035; (2) what recent reports he has received on (a) the availability for service and (b) maintenance performed on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle; and if he will make a statement.
Lord Davies of Stamford: I will, of course, take the noble Lord's advice, which I know is kindly intended. The Government have shown what their priorities are. Nothing could be more dramatic than the fact that the Government are giving about £300 million to India by way of aid. India is buying aircraft carriers and aircraft to put on them, and then the Government say that they do not have the money to continue with...
Ian Davidson: Given that the question of deployment depends very much on availability and reliability-not only of our vehicles and equipment but of those of our allies-and given that aircraft carriers are V-shaped vehicles- [ Interruption. ] They are undoubtedly V-shaped vehicles; there is no doubt about that at all. What views does the Minister have on the fact that the French aircraft carrier, Charles de...
Andrew Murrison: Let me first declare my interest, which is set out in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr Havard), and I am really pleased that he has rejoined the Defence Select Committee, which, under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Hampshire (Mr Arbuthnot), has an extremely...
