Contributions
245 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I have spent my entire adult life serving my country, and I view being in this House as an extension of that service. For the hon. Member for North Durham even to hint that I am…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The Minister has a great deal of experience in this space, and defence is working hard to unblock some of these issues. The point I raised in my speech was that it is almost…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I rise to support new clause 16, tabled by my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford. In the last 10 years working in the defence space—in the civil service, with…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)There is a major inconsistency in this new line of attack. I do not want to fall into the blame game, because we need to look forward and be in a position where we can protect…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)We are now blaming officials. If the original deadline for the DIP was October, and now the argument is that the delay is because so many problems have been identified, were the…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I declare an interest: I am also a proud holder of a veterans railcard, as are many of my constituents. The new clause is modest in scope. It does not create new schemes. Both HM…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. I raised a point about clearances when we first started discussing the Bill, and that is one of the sticking points we…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)Given that my colleagues have very ably gone through amendments 21 to 24, I will just comment on amendment 20 before handing over to the Minister. Amendment 20 would increase the…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)To back up the shadow Minister’s point, I was an air cadet for a number of years —[Interruption.] I know he is laughing at that, but in my experience, it was not about recruitment…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)I will just pick up on a point I raised this morning, which I discussed with an hon. Friend who has experience in this space. Take, for example, a crime that is committed while a…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)Clauses 28 and 29 are practical and proportionate reforms. Clause 28 defines rehabilitation periods for certain service punishments under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)Clause 27 aligns the service justice system with the civilian courts and introduces a constructive way for offenders to reduce their disqualification period through completion of…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)It continues to be a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. Clauses 21 to 24 cover powers to impose post-charge conditions on persons not in service detention. We…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)Yes, I completely agree. If a crime has happened and the victim engages with a support unit, having to move between civilian and military judicial systems, and switch between…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)My hon. Friend has again laid out the argument in an extremely comprehensive way, and it will be difficult to add anything new to the argument that he has put forward, but I will…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)I will make that intervention now, and then we can carry on that conversation. If there is zero tolerance of drugs, and if the person who has committed a crime knows they will be…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)The Minister is laying out a very well-structured argument, and I see many of the points, but I wonder about certain circumstances. For instance, if a serviceperson took drugs and…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 10 is a necessary and proportionate step to ensure that victims of service offences are properly recognised and supported within the military justice system. Those affected…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)It is difficult to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull West and Shirley—he is a former Army officer, a doctor and a barrister—but I will attempt to add to the debate.…14 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)These clauses deal with entry for purposes of obtaining evidence, arrest and detention by civil authorities, pre-charge custody, and time limits for charging certain offences. It…14 Apr 2026