Abducted Ukrainian Children

Debate between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Wednesday 18th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Absolutely. This is a crime. Children should never be pawns of war, but this is happening. Many of the children, as the noble Lord says, are the most vulnerable children; some were taken from institutions, and some at check- points. They are now in Russian institutions, some in Belarusian so-called recreation camps, some with families. It is the not knowing, I think, that adds to the pain and torture of the families. Some of these children are now becoming adults and are being required to serve in the armed forces. This is abhorrent, and we will continue to raise this. I am glad that we have the noble Lord’s support.

[Lord Cromwell (CB)]

My Lords, we normally think of war as being about lost and gained territory, but this is a surreal nightmare for any parent that is almost impossible to imagine. Thousands of children are being taken from Ukraine and Russified. I agree with all the previous questions, so will the Minister make her best efforts to raise public awareness of this issue— I just do not think there is enough yet—and, as others have said, make it central to the negotiations?

Finally, what brought the Nazis to account was their obsession with keeping detailed records. I do hope that we will extract enough information from the Russian side as soon as possible as to how many children are affected and where they are.

Chagos Islands

Debate between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Thursday 23rd January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I think noble Lords will be pleased to know that I have not had time to read the foreword to that Policy Exchange document. It is our view, which we maintain, that we needed to resolve this issue. We prioritised security and defence when we made our decisions. That is the UK Government’s position. We have secured an arrangement with the Mauritians that we believe guarantees the security of that base. We continue with the process towards the signing of that treaty.

[Lord Cromwell (CB)]

My Lords, the mean height of the Chagos Islands is four feet above sea level. Is global warming going to take this political bickering out of all of our hands?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I hope not. I do not see it as political bickering, actually; it is a legitimate debate. These are important decisions and I am very happy to be held to account for the decisions that we are taking. The noble Lord is right, however, to alert us to the plight of many small islands across the world that are suffering from the impact of climate change. That is why this Government have a commitment to doing everything we can to reduce our carbon emissions.

Ukraine

Debate between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Thursday 5th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Cromwell (CB)]

I ask a short question: while I in no way undermine the commendable support of the Government for Ukraine, will the Minister’s department look into the information I have supplied about UK components being used in Russian fighter jets?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Yes. I thank the noble Lord for raising this with me and writing to me about this. He is quite right to do so. Following his most recent correspondence, I have asked officials, and we are actively investigating the issues that he raises, including in relation to our overseas territories.

Georgia: Political Situation

Debate between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Wednesday 4th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We take close notice of what our allies are doing in relation to Georgia at the moment. I sometimes feel, when the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, asks these questions, that he has something specific in mind and is inviting me to guess what it might be. We will be using all the levers at our disposal to try to do right by the people of Georgia who, as far as anyone can tell, have not changed their desire to seek a democratic outcome. We have concerns that we think need to be investigated. It is up to the people of Georgia to choose who governs them and to choose whether they tilt to the West or to Russia. That is their choice, and it must be a choice that is made freely.

[Lord Cromwell (CB)]

My Lords, perhaps at one level there is a certain irony in the UK involving itself in the EU accession desires of other states. More seriously, I associate myself with all the comments that have been made, including by the Minister. It is essential that we keep pressing the Georgian Dream party, which fought long and hard to get candidate status to join the EU, on why that has now been put on the back burner, particularly given the protests that have arisen directly from it.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That is a question on many of our minds. However, I do not think we are trying to involve ourselves in any other country’s decisions relating to accession or otherwise. The principle that we seek to stick to is that this must be a choice made by the people of Georgia freely and democratically, and free of interference from other states.

Ukraine

Debate between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Thursday 5th September 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is correct to highlight the need for the United Kingdom to work closely with all our allies, and we do so particularly with our European neighbours and partners.

[Lord Cromwell (CB)]

My Lords, a Ukrainian drone pilot told me recently that, when they shoot down a Russian drone, they take it to bits and analyse the components. They are finding components that are manufactured in countries allied to Ukraine, including this one. Is that something that the Minister feels we should investigate further?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are of course interested in all such reports, and they will be considered fully.