Contributions
589 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)My hon. Friend highlights that this is not just a multifaceted problem within defence or the security architecture of the nation, but a consequence of what the broader Government…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The DIP will be an affordable, deliverable programme to transform our armed forces. I hope I have provided the necessary reassurance to the hon. Member and, on those grounds, I…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The reality is that we are already spending. We have awarded more than 1,200 major contracts since the election. There is a £1 billion contract for military helicopters in Yeovil,…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. Clause 42 amends sections 3A, 4 and 4A of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987. It widens the power to make…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The MOD police do an outstanding job. The changes in this Bill enhance their ability to keep us safe and to do their job effectively. Question put and agreed to. Clause 42…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)No, no, no.16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)Clause 32 amends the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable the Secretary of State to disapply aggregate service for members of the reserve forces when making a call-out order under…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I mentioned some statistics about what we have now. It is circa 90,000 to 95,000 when we add in the four-year, six-year and 18-year mix that we have across our terms of service.…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The right hon. Gentleman left a massively hollowed-out and underfunded defence.16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)We do not have an estimate of how many people will opt in, and I think that would be very difficult to gauge. First, a lot of those individuals already have a liability, because…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)Because of the decentralised nature of the military, some units, depending on reserve liability, will absolutely try to recruit those individuals into the reserve immediately.…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Very kind. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)On a point of order, Mr Efford. I take this opportunity to thank all colleagues and all Opposition Members for our healthy and important debates. Importantly, I also thank all the…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)My hon. Friend highlights a good point. That issue is replicated across the entire service—not in all cases, but in many. People are having to go back through medical within six…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I would like to return to the hon. Gentleman with the detail around that vetting process, but I will give an example of some of the complexities. If an individual leaves and goes…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the right hon. Member for his views on the Bill and acknowledge his request for us to publish a defence readiness plan that must include information about the numbers and…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the hon. Member for North Devon for tabling new clause 3, which would require the provision of full medical records within one month to all personnel leaving the armed…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Our aim is to ensure that the decisions in the plan are robust and support the development of current and future capabilities to help drive the transformation of the armed forces,…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Members for North Devon and for Tunbridge Wells for the amendment. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford, and I thank the Clerks and staff,…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I place on record our SDR commitment to grow the cadet forces by 30%, which should equate to around 40,000 cadets and 8,000 adult volunteers, although those numbers will ebb and…16 Apr 2026