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1,406 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNuclear Testing Veterans: Service MedalsI pay tribute to our nuclear test veterans in this 70th anniversary year of our first nuclear test, and we look forward to the commemorative event at the National Memorial…07 Nov 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenThe right hon. Gentleman is correct to put me on the spot on this. I would, however, cite some of the evidence. I mentioned earlier the sexual harassment survey, which is an…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI agree with the hon. Gentleman; there is no question about that. I speak specifically about defence, of course, but what he says goes for society more generally, too.31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI hope that I explained in my previous remarks the importance that Defence assigns to this, particularly when it comes to senior officers who may be complicit in some of the…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenIf the hon. Lady is referring to the House of Commons’ Defence Committee’s report, as I said earlier, the great majority of those recommendations were accepted or partially…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. It is no mean feat even these days to join the armed forces as a woman. The challenges remain enormous, although I hope they are becoming…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI thank my right hon. Friend for his timely question. Before I get going, I would like to declare my interest as entered in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests: I am a…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI would not say that we are not doing anything to deal with the situation—I have outlined a number of ways that we are doing exactly that, and referred to the sexual harassment…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI thank my right hon. Friend again. He is correct to put matters in these terms. He has been robust and forthright, which I respect. My right hon. Friend will know that the great…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenIt would be nice to have the facts first. That is the point of the investigation that was launched on 24 October, which—let us be clear—was before the publication of the lurid…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenHenriques dealt with the three most serious offences, although he could have chosen other offences as well. The judgment has been made that the status quo is probably appropriate,…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his points. I agree with him about external scrutiny. That is why the investigation that has been set up, which will report soon, to which…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI think I touched on that subject when I referred to the Select Committee’s report and the positive comments it made about the experience of most women in our armed forces. We…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI am grateful to my right hon. Friend. This is my 42nd year in Defence as a regular and reservist, and over that time things have changed dramatically—I am happy to say that is…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenThe hon. Gentleman knows from his own background the importance of these matters, and I welcome the expertise he is able to bring to the House. People who are in positions of…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenThe excellent report by our right hon. Friend’s Select Committee, and my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham in particular, makes some recommendations along those lines, and much…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenSexual exploitation is unacceptable in the UK and abroad under any circumstances.31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for his kind remarks and for his question. He will know that a significant number of very senior officers’ careers have been brought to…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenBullying and harassment of women is particularly appalling, but we have to understand and be honest with ourselves that it has historically been a feature of service life more…31 Oct 2022HANSARDRoyal Navy: Conduct towards WomenI hesitate ever so slightly because I have been professionally involved in this area. A set of rules that take my name apply; they govern how servicemen and women who leave the…31 Oct 2022