Mindanao Earthquake

Lord West of Spithead Excerpts

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I reassure the noble Lord that we are not receiving any reports—I checked this specifically—of problems with aid from the Philippines Government reaching the affected communities in the Bangsamoro area. We are committed to supporting the peace process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and will continue to do that even once this disaster is behind us.

[Lord West of Spithead (Lab)]

My Lords, can I ask my noble friend the Minister what the closest Royal Navy ship was to the Philippines when this accident happened—because historically the Navy has been very involved in these things—and was its tasking changed at all as a result of this?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I suppose I should have been prepared for that question. My noble friend will also be prepared for me to say I do not know the answer, but I will check. As I have said, if the Government of the Philippines asked for our help, we would provide it, but there is no suggestion that they have asked for help from the Royal Navy at the moment.