Lords debates Nato and UK defence
22 March 2017
Members of the Lords, including a former Chief of the Defence Staff and a former head of the Royal Navy, debated the current challenges to the international rules-based order, the preparedness of the UK armed forces and the Nato Alliance and the promotion of defence and security interests, in the House of Lords on Tuesday 21 March.
- Catch up on Parliament TV
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript - Armed Forces (Continuation) Order 2017
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript - Debate: defence and security
- Lords Library note: Future Capability of the UK’s Armed Forces
- Armed Forces (Continuation) Order 2017 (external website)
- What is a statutory instrument?
Two motions were considered together: a motion for general debate was considered alongside a motion to approve the Armed Forces Act (Continuation) Order 2017. This statutory instrument (SI) is an annual renewal of provisions under the Armed Forces Act 2006, which established a single system of service law for all three armed services.
During debates, members are able to put their experience to good use, discussing current issues and drawing the government's attention to concerns.
The debate was proposed by Earl Howe (Conservative), minister of state in the Ministry of Defence, who also responded on behalf of the government.
Members taking part included:
- Lord Jopling (Conservative), vice-president of the Nato Assembly
- Lord Robathan (Conservative), former defence minister and former officer, Coldstream Guards and SAS
- Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield (Crossbench), member of the Chief of Defence Staff's Strategic Advisory Panel
- Lord Stirrup (Crossbench), former Chief of the Defence Staff
- Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour), scientific consultant to the Ministry of Defence
- Lord West of Spithead (Labour), former First Sea Lord (head of the Royal Navy)
- Baroness Jolly (Liberal Democrat), Lords Liberal Democrat spokesperson for defence
- Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat), former deputy director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House)
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