Russian Shadow Fleet
Debate between Lord Tyrie and Lord Coaker(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Lord Coaker (Lab)
We talk to all our European partners, including Greece, about how we ensure that the sanctions with respect to Russia are as effective as possible. We highlight all the time the importance of ensuring that the efforts of Ukraine to repel the illegal invasion are successful. That obviously requires the support that we give militarily but, as I have said in answer to many of the questions that noble Lords have posed, the ability to undermine the strength of the economy of Russia should not be underestimated. The shadow fleet is playing a role in trying to support the economy of Russia; the more we can do to undermine that, the better.
Lord Tyrie (Non-Afl)
The Minister has said on several occasions that we will continue these operations of interdiction where circumstances align and where it is appropriate. I struggle to think where it would be inappropriate but, as for where circumstances might align, is that a reference to available resources? If there were an increase in the defence budget, would these interdictions become easier to conduct?
Lord Coaker (Lab)
It is not a question of resources. Where a sanctioned vessel is identified as having a false flag—to answer the point made by the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig—it is about understanding what its registration is or is not. When that is done, we get the military advice that it is possible to do X, Y or Z. Other criteria are also taken into account, some of which I do not want to go into. All I will say to the noble Lord is that, where we can and should, and where all the various criteria come together, we will take the action necessary to deter that shadow fleet from operating. In answer again to the question put by the noble Baroness at the start—Is this a one-off?—no, it is not a one-off. We will take action where we can, as often as we can.
Afghanistan
Debate between Lord Tyrie and Lord Coaker(1 year ago)
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Lord Coaker (Lab)
Indeed. Under both the previous Government and this Government, the fact that you are deemed eligible with respect to the Afghan resettlement programme does not mean that you do not have security checks made upon you. Let me be clear: that is for everybody who is said to be eligible under that scheme to come to the United Kingdom. I remind noble Lords that, if someone comes to the United Kingdom under that scheme, they automatically get indefinite leave to remain. I further remind noble Lords that the second part of that is for people to undergo security checks to make sure that they are not people who would come here and commit crime, or worse. On the particular individual to whom the noble Lord referred, who has made those allegations and said what he has said, if he has specific allegations, he should—as many have said—go to the police to report them, rather than just cast aspersions.
Lord Tyrie (Non-Afl)
I think noble Lords in this House would agree that the last Government and this Government acted properly in handling this, in every substantive respect. Unfortunately, that is not how this case, at least in part, is being presented in the media. Part of the media is still presenting this as if there has been some kind of cover-up at some stage, to protect the politicians who were in power at the time. Can the Minister categorically assure the House, on the basis of the evidence he has seen, that that was not the case and that, in looking at this issue, the previous Government acted entirely properly—as have this Government, in my view—at every stage?
Lord Coaker (Lab)
As I said to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, and others, the last Government acted in good faith in a way that they believed would protect people who had been put at risk by the data breach. They also went to the court for an injunction. The court itself granted a super-injunction, the thrust of which was to try to protect people from the consequences of having their names inadvertently put into the public domain. The previous Government did that. When we came to power, we decided that we needed to look at this to see whether it was still proportionate and how we should act. On the basis of the Rimmer review, we changed that. I sometimes wonder what the consequences would have been for any Government had that happened and lots of people had been killed.