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 (Sixth sitting)I thank the right hon. Member for his views on the Bill, and I acknowledge his concerns about reserve forces and cadets associations. The Government fully recognise the vital…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)Clause 49 is a very minor clarifying amendment to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. Changes made by the Armed Forces Act 2021 to other legislation to reflect the creation of the…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)I thank the hon. Members for North Devon and for Tunbridge Wells for tabling amendment 1. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who serve, and of course we have an ongoing duty of…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford for tabling new clauses 13 and 15. New clause 15 seeks to exempt members of the reserve forces deployed on operations from…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank Liberal Democrat Members for tabling the new clauses. To step back, I had 24 years in the military, and I sat and watched Governments come and go—I was less interested at…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 (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 (Fifth sitting)I would like to make a correction to an earlier statement about new clause 12, before I continue to address amendment 9. I would like to clarify a point that arose in the debate…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)In no way, shape or form am I suggesting that this was fabricated, made up or a lie. What I am trying to say is that context is important. The statistics show that there are 200…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)I am always very reticent to get into the detail and legalities of the exacts, given there are multiple variables that we are discussing, whether it be drugs or whether it be a…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)Coming back to amendment 9, I agree that pulling together a court martial board to deal with senior officers poses more challenges than it does for junior personnel. Such cases…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)The broader welfare of individuals who are dismissed for misuse of drugs is a separate issue to the original offence and the judicial system, which will be followed through…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)Listening to evidence and acting on it is critical. Understanding the context in which it sits is equally important. Did that individual know that there are 200 one-stars within…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)There is no Royal Navy without the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Its personnel are the best of us. I commend the clause to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Clause 30…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)These provisions address a gap in existing legislation, so I commend them to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Clause 27 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill.…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)These are technical changes to enhance the service justice system that deal with some of those knotty issues such as mental health. I recommend that the Committee fully support…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Solihull West and Shirley for speaking to amendments 18 and 19. I acknowledge their sentiment, which is to ensure that the information provided to…14 Apr 2026