Contributions
597 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDImmunity for SoldiersI entirely endorse what my hon. Friend has said, with one proviso: if someone has been investigated by a competent authority, I think a statute of limitations is perfectly…20 May 2019HANSARDImmunity for Soldiers“Right honourable” is very good.20 May 2019HANSARDImmunity for SoldiersI served for more than three years in Northern Ireland, on seven operational tours. I first went there in 1970. Sadly, I lost six men who were directly under my command, and many…20 May 2019HANSARDImmunity for SoldiersI intervene simply because the command structure does not really come into it. The decision is in the yellow card. Individuals have to make their own decisions about opening fire;…20 May 2019HANSARDUK-Saudi Arabia Joint Military ExercisesWhen I was in the Saudi air operations centre recently, I spoke to Saudi pilots, who were a very impressive lot. I asked them about their rules of engagement. I looked at those…20 May 2019HANSARDImmunity for SoldiersMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Most men on the ground were petrified that, by accident, they would kill an innocent person. That was a factor in the decision to open…20 May 2019HANSARDImmunity for SoldiersIt was Operation Banner. Soldiers did 28 days in Northern Ireland and were awarded a General Service Medal, which is the recognised medal for serving in combat zones such as…20 May 2019HANSARDImmunity for SoldiersMy right hon. Friend is right: it was taken a long time ago. We must remember that most of our young men were 18 or 19 years old. They were kids. My soldiers looked so young that…20 May 2019HANSARD Investigation of VeteransThey asked them to come and give evidence.16 May 2019HANSARD Investigation of VeteransI completed seven tours in Northern Ireland, all with the infantry or associated units. I lost many men and I was involved in fatality shootings. I was investigated, along with…16 May 2019HANSARDDefinition of IslamophobiaWill my right hon. Friend give way?16 May 2019HANSARDPoints of OrderFurther to the point of order made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Sir Mike Penning), Mr Speaker. Captain Nairac was posthumously awarded the George Cross,…15 May 2019HANSARDExiting the European Union (Sanctions)My very good and right hon. Friend talks about sanctions and something happening. Under international law, what can happen to people who are named in one of these sanctions?29 Apr 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Political ProcessI understand that one of Sinn Féin’s preconditions is that the talks allow for Irish Gaelic to become an official language in Northern Ireland, and be on the same level as…29 Apr 2019HANSARDLoan ChargeThe people who are coming to my hon. Friend are normal people, such as nurses—some of them actually work for HMRC.11 Apr 2019HANSARD Arrest of Julian AssangeJulian Assange says, apparently, that his personal space has been violated. That is a bit rich, in view of the number of people who have been put in extreme danger among our…11 Apr 2019HANSARDLoan ChargeI have huge sympathy with my constituents caught by loan charge repayments, because they are normal honest people who thought they were doing the right thing. They had no…11 Apr 2019HANSARDLoan ChargeI am sure that, every year, my hon. Friend’s constituent sent in a tax return, which HMRC ticked, approved and sent back. Only recently has HMRC suddenly seen the way things are…11 Apr 2019HANSARD LGBT Rights: BruneiOne thing we cannot know about, but I bet happens, is the influence of our royal family, who I know feel very much as we do and will be outraged. I am quite sure that some of the…10 Apr 2019HANSARDContinuous At-Sea DeterrentQuite a few colleagues in the House have served in the British Army of the Rhine—I served there three times. When we, as conventional forces, practised deploying against an enemy,…10 Apr 2019