Contributions
860 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentWe thank the relative of the hon. Gentleman for his or her service in the armed forces. On PPE, all precautions are being taken. We have good advice from the Department of Health…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentThere speaks a distinguished former Defence Minister; it is a pleasure to see my hon. Friend in her place. I am glad that she has mentioned DSTL. On a whole series of tasks, from…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentAt the high point, I believe we had 7,500 military personnel deployed in support of the civil power, so it has been a large-scale commitment by Defence, alongside our other tasks.…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI believe I am right in saying that we are indeed assisting NHS Test and Trace, and others; as required, we help with logistics, planning and support, and we are keen to do that.…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI think the hon. Gentleman is aware that Defence has been involved from the outset on planning and logistics. At an early stage, Defence was called on, as it is regularly; we have…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentIt may be a while since my right hon. Friend served in the armed forces, but the Scots Guards’ loss is certainly our gain in this place. I thank him for his question. It is not…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI very much welcome the right hon. Gentleman’s warm words of support for the wider tasks of the armed forces. I absolutely assure him and the House that all essential Defence…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI thank the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) for his urgent question and for the opportunity to highlight the vital role of the armed forces in responding…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentFirst, I do not know the exact number of requests. I have actually asked, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the exact numbers, split between Scotland, Northern Ireland,…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI welcome what my right hon. Friend says about the support that is provided by the armed forces. He is absolutely right that we have a vast array of areas where we can support and…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentMy understanding is that work is being done on planning, logistics and how we would support the important role with a vaccine, but I really would counsel that this is still very…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI thank the hon. Gentleman for the question. We always look at what other people do and how other people respond, but there has been a great well of support—as, indeed, came from…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI should also declare an interest because I am a Sussex Member of Parliament. Those military personnel have done a terrific job, including, I recall, in May with the mobile…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentWe will ensure that all deployed personnel get the right PPE and take the right covid precautions. I warmly welcome what the hon. Gentleman says about how the armed forces…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI feel that I ought to declare an interest because I once served in the Treasury—I put that on the record—but I can absolutely reassure my right hon. Friend that decisions made on…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentFirst, I wish the hon. Lady’s constituents well at a difficult time, and I am glad that the military have been well received in her constituency. We are looking at how we scale…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI am sorry to hear the statistics from Hull, which are indeed sobering, but I repeat what I said to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Dan Carden). There is a particular…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI recognise the particular issues in Kirklees. I am glad that my hon. Friend has brought them to the House’s attention. What we are doing in Liverpool is obviously a pilot, a…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentI can reassure my right hon. Friend that I know many fine major generals but I do not know any who would wish to return to the 1650s. I can also reassure him that there is no way…10 Nov 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Covid-19 DeploymentMay I echo what the hon. Gentleman said so accurately about the response that has been met on the ground by armed forces personnel? They have been really chuffed to see the way…10 Nov 2020