Defence Funding

Debate between Lord Pitt-Watson and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Thursday 17th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pitt-Watson (Lab)]

I think I have made the Government’s position on that reasonably clear. Let us just look at the proposal we have, for example on housing benefit, from the party opposite to take £4 billion off the budget, which is something like £13.5 billion or £14 billion. Have we thought about how many people that would make homeless? Have we thought about how many of them would then turn up, of course with the right to be housed if they have children? Noble Lords can hear where I am coming from.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, could my noble friend and fellow Scotsman give us a few examples of sensible savings that the Government are making to our welfare budget?

[Lord Pitt-Watson (Lab)]

Yes. I would answer that by saying that £4.3 billion will be saved as a result of the biggest crackdown in a generation. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Agnew, for his passion on that when he stood at this Dispatch Box. We are responding to his call to take action.

Government Debt

Debate between Lord Pitt-Watson and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Wednesday 16th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pitt-Watson (Lab)]

The Debt Management Office is part of the Bank of England. I would be more than happy to write to it, or the noble Baroness herself might wish to write for the answer to her question.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, are the Government going to join the defence, security and resilience bank to enable us to borrow money at lower interest rates for defence spending?

[Lord Pitt-Watson (Lab)]

Let me write to my noble friend to make sure that my reply is accurate. However, I believe that matter is under discussion.