Contributions
1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI can indeed. It was one of my predecessors as Defence Secretary who admitted to this House that under 14 years of the previous Government the armed forces had been “hollowed out…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI do agree. I pay tribute to the last Government for ensuring that the UK led in providing support for Ukraine. As a new Government, we have been determined to continue that over…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentWe cannot wish away the threats, and we cannot wish away the conflicts, which is why it behoves any Government to ensure that we have the armed forces that are capable and…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentWe will publish the financial figures for the CEA in due course and in the normal way. On the hon. Gentleman’s previous point, I am very conscious of what he and those who served…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentMy hon. Friend is right. He is pointing to armed forces numbers and to the heart of a deep, long-running problem: the crisis in recruitment and retention in our forces.…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentMy hon. Friend is right. Time and again surveys of armed forces personnel show that poor-quality housing, which would be intolerable in civilian life, is cited as a reason for low…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI think the shadow Secretary of State will agree that one of the necessary reforms to our procurement system, especially in an era in which innovation and technological…11 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Nuclear EnterpriseThe UK is exploring options to re-establish a nuclear fuel cycle for reactor fuel for defence purposes. The Government are committed to modernising defence nuclear fuel production…06 Nov 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransThe legacy Act is without supporters in the communities in Northern Ireland, on any side. That is one of the reasons why it should be repealed. In the process of repeal, we will…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransFor me, one of the great strengths of the House and Parliament is the work of the all-party Select Committees. The right hon. Gentleman’s Committee, during that time, did the…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransI will indeed. The hon. Gentleman is right, of course. On support services for veterans who need them, there is not just what the Government can help provide—including, on mental…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransI will, because the hon. Gentleman is particularly persistent. Despite his youthful looks, he has been in the House for some time.28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransI am so glad that I gave way. I was going to leave that to my hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans and People, who I am sure will have something to say about that. To respond to…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransI had moved on to Afghanistan, but the hon. Gentleman, in his forceful way, makes his point, which is on the record. I want to move on and use this remembrance period and this…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransI beg to move, That this House has considered remembrance and the contribution of veterans. This is the first time in four years that the House has held a general debate on…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransI will give way one more time, and then conclude my speech, so that the House can hear from the many Members who wish to speak.28 Oct 2024HANSARDUK-Germany Defence Co-operation AgreementEarlier today, together with my German counterpart Boris Pistorius, I signed an agreement on defence co-operation between the United Kingdom and Germany. The agreement will…23 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineMy hon. Friend is right. The importance of the British defence industry is not just in the greater security that it gives us as a nation but as part of the economic boost that…22 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineI can give the right hon. Gentleman that assurance. The money is a one-off. It is additional and separate, and it will be accounted for and set out separately in the Treasury…22 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineYes, I can. There were discussions, which were about the level of commitment we must make collectively to Ukraine and the level of commitment we must make collectively to NATO. I…22 Oct 2024