Contributions
597 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBallymurphy Inquest FindingsI served in Northern Ireland from the early 1970s onwards. I did not serve in Ballymurphy, but all I can say is that those of us who were serving in Northern Ireland when…13 May 2021HANSARDDebate on the AddressI thank my very good friend for allowing me to intercede. I take it that the right hon. Member will fully support the cessation of vexatious claims against veteran soldiers,…11 May 2021HANSARDDebate on the AddressThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I will be on the time limit, I hope. I listened very carefully to the Gracious Speech, and I made the assumption that the promise to address…11 May 2021HANSARD Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillThe distinct purpose of the Bill is to provide legal protection to military personnel serving overseas on operations—that is what it is about. It is all about stopping vexatious…27 Apr 2021HANSARDMinisterial CodeI read through the ministerial code this morning; it took me longer than most Members because I am slower. I could see absolutely nothing in there to make me think that the Prime…26 Apr 2021HANSARDCarrier Strike Group DeploymentMay I point out that I am the chair of the British-Taiwanese all-party parliamentary group? To supplement what my right hon. and gallant Friend, and very good friend, the Member…26 Apr 2021HANSARD Emergency Services Personnel: Awards for Next of KinI thank Mr Speaker for allowing me to have this Adjournment debate, although it seems to be a rather two-edged weapon tonight. I thought I was in a good mood, until I saw the time…26 Apr 2021HANSARD Emergency Services Personnel: Awards for Next of Kinindicated assent.26 Apr 2021HANSARD Armed Forces Bill: Special ReportI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell (James Sunderland), a good friend of mine, on the way he chaired this Committee, which was a difficult one to chair. May I…22 Apr 2021HANSARD Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Historical Inequalities ReportOn 15 June 1955, a small force commanded by RAF Regiment officers, including my father, crawled into the Wadi Hatib in Aden protectorate. They were ambushed. The commanding…22 Apr 2021HANSARD Prevention and Suppression of TerrorismCan the Minister give the figures for how many terrorist attacks have been thwarted by our security services? I realise that he may not be able to do so.21 Apr 2021HANSARD Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillI thank the brand-new Minister for allowing me to intervene. That is very good news indeed, and I look forward to it. If that does not happen, we have second-class veteran…21 Apr 2021HANSARD Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillI thank my friend the shadow Secretary of State for giving way. I have been tussling in my mind with why a war crime is different from torture, crimes against humanity or…21 Apr 2021HANSARD Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMurdered.21 Apr 2021HANSARD Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillWhile my good friend is blowing smoke up the backside of the new, excellent Minister, I have to say that I have a real worry. In the Ministry of Defence, we are now stuck with two…21 Apr 2021HANSARD Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) BillMay I reiterate my congratulations to my very good friend and now my former Whip, who had a very difficult job of keeping me in order? Best of luck to the next one—bring ‘em on.…21 Apr 2021HANSARDUniversity Students: Compensation for Lost Teaching and RentHas the Minister’s Department done any assessment of the impact on the levels of attainment and grades that might be achieved in finals this year? If it is less than normal, will…15 Apr 2021HANSARD Strength of the UK’s Armed ForcesAnd indeed, as my good friend says, they are Fijian. Increasingly, those battalions will have to be manned by Englishmen. I will end on that point. I understand the logic; I…14 Apr 2021HANSARD Strength of the UK’s Armed ForcesI get the idea of grey-zone warfare. I studied strategy; I realise that we cannot fight the next war as we fought the last war—I get that, too. The real problem is that we are…14 Apr 2021HANSARD Strength of the UK’s Armed ForcesThe Minister has outlined a concept predicated on the armed forces fighting an all-out war—a war where no holds are barred and we use everything. I get that; I understand…14 Apr 2021