Armed Forces experts debate in House of Lords

Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform, has tabled a motion to debate matters relating to Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and future defence policy.

Lord King of Bridgwater, Lord Freeman and Lord Hamilton of Epsom, all former Conservative ministers for the Ministry of Defence, will be speaking in the debate along with fellow Conservative, Baroness Park of Monmouth, who was a senior controller of the Secret Intelligence Service for more than 30 years.

The following former Chiefs of the Defence Staff are also scheduled to speak:

• Lord Boyce
• Lord Craig of Radley
• Lord Inge
• Lord Walker of Aldringham

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, former Labour Minister for International Development; Baroness Falkner of Margravine, former Director of International Affairs for the Liberal Democrats; and Baroness D’Souza (Convenor of the Crossbench Peers), who spent much of her professional life working for a range of international development organisations, will also contribute to the debate.

Other speakers scheduled to speak include Liberal Democrat defence spokespersons Lord Lee of Trafford and Lord Addington; and Opposition defence spokepersons, Lord Astor of Hever and Lord Luke.

The debate will be broadcast live from the House of Lords on the Parliament website and BBC Parliament.

Further information

• List of speakers - Lords Government Whips Office (external site)
• Video & Audio - watch the debate live
• Lords Hansard - transcript available approximately three hours from the start of the debate
• Alphabetical list of Members of the Lords
• Parliamentary calendar