"My Lords, we still may sing “Rule Brittania”, but the reality is that our navy at present is, frankly, a national embarrassment. Obviously, we are glad that the “Prince of Wales” is now back in action, but will the Minister comment on newspaper reports that all our non-ballistic submarines are …..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register.
Who is to blame for the parlous state of our Armed Forces: politicians, the media or the public? I would suggest all three, but the prime responsibility surely lies with our political leaders—successive Prime Ministers and Chancellors of the …..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"Could the Minister tell us whether the defence investment plan is likely to be published during the premiership of the present Prime Minister?..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"My Lords, too often directors forget that it is shareholders who own the company. To hold AGMs entirely virtually, barring shareholders’ attendance, is in my view arrogant, unacceptable and sometimes, frankly, cowardly. Institutional shareholders have near-continuous access to boards, but the AGM is normally private shareholders’ only opportunity. It is …..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of companies holding their annual general meetings solely online on individual shareholders’ ability to hold directors to account...." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"My Lords, I refer to my entry in the register of Members’ interests re the defence sector. As has been said, there is much to welcome in this document, but we need a full day debate on the subject. To try to rush everything in 40 minutes or so is, …..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"My Lords, with drones increasingly revolutionising modern warfare, is it not essential that the UK and European countries collaborate and partner drone research and production, thus avoiding the wasteful duplication of each country doing its own thing, which has so bedevilled European defence procurement in recent years?..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"My Lords, the Government inherited an MoD employing 63,000 civilians. Of course, many do vital and necessary work, but surely this is an absurd number, given that the Army itself is only 72,000 strong. Have the Government made any international comparisons in this area, and what plans do they have …..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech
"My Lords, if the Government are keen, quite rightly, to encourage more investment into the United Kingdom, why do they still give tax relief to those with ISAs who invest in overseas equities?..." Lord Lee of Trafford - View Speech