Contributions
1,048 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeaving the EU: Defence ExportsI thank my hon. Friend for her kind words. I reassure her that, through our long-standing bilateral relationship with the US, we work closely across the full spectrum of defence,…21 Oct 2019HANSARDForestry Investment Zones: EnglandI welcome the Minister’s visit to Northumberland last week and thank him for his kind words. Does he agree that what we need is a whole of Northumberland FIZ, which will be…25 Jul 2019HANSARDForestry Investment Zones: England2. What steps she is taking to designate forestry investment zones in England.25 Jul 2019HANSARDRural Areas: Health Service Funding2. What steps he is taking to increase the level of funding for health services in rural areas.23 Jul 2019HANSARDRural Areas: Health Service FundingWill the Minister update the House in more detail on how the Department plans to support CCGs such as Northumberland, where managing the extra costs associated with the extreme…23 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI am sure we all agree that our elite Royal Navy forces— our Royal Marines, which are known to be the best in the world—should be commended for taking their role in enforcing…22 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI agree completely. Deferred cost will always be increased cost in such big projects. We need more financial flexibility to get better value for money. Why did we have to battle…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI completely agree. We must continue to hammer home the importance of sovereign capability and work with industry to build opportunities. I say again, despite the criticism of the…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI absolutely agree. In my role as chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on the armed forces covenant, I have spent some time in Northern Ireland, where we have some real…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingThe hon. Gentleman’s point is well made. The question today is defence spending. Let me therefore share with the House the assessment the Public Accounts Committee made of the…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI thank all colleagues and the Minister for their continuing commitment to the armed forces and for speaking out so that those who have no voice of their own know that many of us…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI beg to move, That this House has considered defence spending. It is a pleasure to lead this important debate on defence spending, and to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Betts.…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI thank the hon. Lady for that point. It is important to look at how we spend that investment for UK prosperity. The hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard)…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingThe hon. Gentleman pre-empts some of what I am going to talk about. He is absolutely right. Our doctors and nurses tell us directly and bluntly if the funding systems for the NHS…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingAs ever, the right hon. Gentleman is a great defender of his party’s financial position. I would not choose to pick a fight with him, because he is a staunch defender of all…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his comments. The challenge is that the premise of SDSR ’10 was not just financial; it was that there was no longer an existential threat to…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingThe hon. Gentleman’s point is well made. I will refer to submarines later. We need to challenge the Department continually on whether Committees such as the Defence Committee and…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingThat question of sovereignty and the prosperity agenda—the third pillar of defence’s remit—is one we need to continue to challenge. As a Brexiteer, I am happy to say that I think…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingWell, that is my opinion. Leaving the EU will give us more flexibility to bring the various parties together and will enable UK businesses, which are world leading, to make their…16 Jul 2019HANSARDDefence SpendingI thank the right hon. Gentleman. The Minister will have heard his perspective. One of the key issues for defence is its people, who are flexible, selfless, uncomplaining and…16 Jul 2019