To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Nuclear Weapons
Wednesday 12th March 2025

Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to securing the full independence of the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I can assure the noble Lord that the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent. Only the Prime Minister can authorise the firing of our nuclear weapons, even if they are to be employed as part of a NATO response.

The UK has a longstanding, close relationship with the US on all defence nuclear issues, which has endured through many changes of Government in our two nations. Our extant long-term arrangements under the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement and the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement (as amended in 1982 for Trident) provide for co-operation and collaboration which has been, and continues to be, of considerable mutual benefit to both nations.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 01 Feb 2021
British Armed Forces: Iraqi Interpreters

"My Lords, in raising this issue, I am very conscious of the dedication that our late noble friend Lord Ashdown showed over many years to ensure that the UK did right by Iraqi interpreters. This is a reminder of how long this issue has gone on for. Will the Minister …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: British Armed Forces: Iraqi Interpreters
Written Question
Military Aircraft: Exhaust Emissions
Wednesday 23rd December 2020

Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the indirect impact on the climate of RAF flights from the formation of aircraft contrails.

Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)

There has not been a direct assessment of contrails formed by RAF flights. However, the Department for Transport has published scientific assessments covering all aviation.

The most recent scientific assessment of the historical, global, impact of aviation on the environment, including through contrails, is presented in the recent publication "The Contribution of global aviation to anthropogenic climate forcing for 2000 to 2018" by Lee et al., 2020, a copy of which is available in The Library of the House.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 19 Oct 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"My Lords, I support my noble friend Lord Paddick and the amendment that he has moved. I should say at the outset that I do not doubt for one moment the very severe threats that we face, nor the essential and dedicated work done by our security services and the …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 19 Oct 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"I am dealing with the fact that we are granting a power under the Bill, as this House voted only a couple of days ago, for all the websites visited by every user in this country, whether suspected of anything or innocent, to be recorded. That is a matter of …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 19 Oct 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"The noble Lord asks me specifically what I believe. It is very simple. I do not believe that we should record the websites visited by every person in this country. I do not think that is merited; it is not a power used by any other “Five Eyes” country or …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 17 Oct 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"My Lords, I support Amendments 100C, 100D and 100E. I am not at all naive about the threats that are faced by this country and the need to provide the tools to the security forces to deal with them. However, as the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has made clear, …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 17 Oct 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"My Lords, I will not detain the House too long and certainly do not want to repeat all the eloquent arguments that my noble friend Lord Paddick has outlined on this matter. I want to say two things about the previous two interventions. The utility issue—the fact that people may …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 11 Oct 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"Is the Minister aware that very few people in this House think that this is the ideal way in which to deal with the issue? They think that the ideal way in which to deal with it is to implement Section 40. Is he also aware that, when he says …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 19 Jul 2016
Investigatory Powers Bill

"My Lords, I will speak in support of Amendment 156A but I also support Amendment 147A, which was moved by my noble friend Lord Strasburger. I will not go into all the details set out so ably by my noble friends Lord Paddick and Lord Strasburger but there are some …..."
Lord Oates - View Speech

View all Lord Oates (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Investigatory Powers Bill