Diego Garcia and British Indian Ocean Territory
Debate between Lord Lemos and Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee
Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)
My Lords, we will hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Foster, next.
Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)
My Lords, I did say the last time we debated this issue, as the Minister probably remembers, that there were consequences to ignoring the voices and the rights of self-determination of the Chagossian people. We now find ourselves in a situation where they have taken matters into their own hands and have gone to the archipelago. Surely it is now long past the time when we need to kill this treaty.
British Military Equipment: Chinese Components
Debate between Lord Lemos and Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I do not know the specific answer to that, but I will be very happy to come back to the noble Lord. I would stress that we are working very closely with the Americans on this whole question of critical minerals. The noble Lord often asks about the Commonwealth. I should say that we are working closely with our Commonwealth partners on resolving these issues and having a common approach.
Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)
My Lords, surely the best way to protect the defence supply chain is to have a short supply chain. Does the Minister agree that the best way to do that is to support out indigenous industries here in the United Kingdom—right across the United Kingdom—particularly to use the expertise that is on display? I am thinking of the Cyber Security Centre in Belfast, for example.
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I entirely agree with the noble Baroness on that point. As she knows from previous answers that I have given from this Dispatch Box, the defence industry in the UK generally, and in Northern Ireland specifically, is enjoying a great renaissance; that has a great deal to do with government investment. That is something to which we are committed, and we are already seeing the benefits.
El Fasher
Debate between Lord Lemos and Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for that question. As I said, we too have been urging action for the duration of this conflict, and we are very pleased with the efforts of the Quad. The most important priority, as set out in the Quad statement, is that we must have humanitarian access. The problem is not funds; the problem is access.
Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)
My Lords, the horrific images are finally pushing through into our media, and they should be an absolute wake-up call for this place and the other place. It has been a long time coming, as other noble Lords have said. For years, Christians have been slain and displaced, and women subjected to sexual violence of the worst kind. Given that we are the penholder at the UN, will the Minister confirm that, as a first step, His Majesty’s Government will press for a ceasefire and protection for the civilians in El Fasher?
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for that question. I am happy to confirm that we will continue to press for a ceasefire, support the Quad and, through our role at the UN, promote the priorities that I have set out. I should say that the reports of mass atrocities caused by the RSF in El Fasher are deeply alarming, and we do not in any way underestimate the seriousness of what is going on.