Contributions
1,690 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentI agree with the points that the hon. Gentleman is making, but I think that there must be a real, radical revolution in the way in which the armed forces not only recruit but…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentThe right hon. Gentleman has got that on the record. I am not going to get into a history lesson about the 10-year rule—I think the history books tell the story—but we have seen…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentIt did. If we look back, the common theme —it is a matter of fact, whether people like it or not—is that we have defence cuts under Conservative Governments, and when Labour is in…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentIt is laughable, as my right hon. Friend says. We need to make sure that we actually invest, because this is about skills and about ensuring that we have the workforce. We have…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentAs Chancellor of the Exchequer, he cut defence expenditure, so there are parallels there, but not the ones that the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford is referring to.21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentI begin by joining the Chair of the Defence Committee, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Sir Jeremy Quin), in thanking the men and women of our armed forces—we should never…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentDoes my hon. Friend agree that that has been made worse by the MOD’s tendency to purchase off-the-shelf solutions from the United States in dollars, which is now accounting for a…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentNo, I did not. If the Minister had actually listened, what I said is that our contribution in the event of a crisis in the South China sea would be a gnat on the backside of an…21 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree with me that the number of cases is small—I have heard different figures, but we are talking about no more than 30 cases—but that cannot…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillWe need to get that message out. I have quite a few cases in which people were not prosecuted, but they put money—a lot, in some cases—back in. The hon. Gentleman just spoke about…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI welcome this Bill. I know that it is groundbreaking and possibly sets some nerves off with the judiciary, but I think the judiciary need to look at themselves and how they have…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI welcome the changes that have been made in the compensation. Some of the proposals—for example, for fixed sums—are going to make a lot of cases easier to sort out. I do not feel…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI hear what the Secretary of State says, but I would just say to her that this is a small number of people and they have to be looked at. Can I ask that she shows the same zeal…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI concur with my hon. Friend’s statement about the separation of powers. Does he agree that it is time for the courts and judicial system to reflect on their role in the scandal,…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillCan I begin by declaring an interest as a member of the Horizon compensation advisory board? It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Scully). When he…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillExactly. If somebody gets more money out of this than they have in quantum lost, I am comfortable with that, as I believe is the Minister. It is better putting it into their…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI have to say to my good friend the shadow Minister that this is where I depart from the Select Committee. The advisory board has been very clear that we need to make the system…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillPeople might think that because the system is not Horizon, the Bill does not apply to them, but the cases I am dealing with show that there was an injustice. I have spoken to…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI have seen some of those individuals at first hand at the public inquiry. People have said that everyone who is going to make a case has come out of the woodwork already, but…20 Mar 2024HANSARD Post Office (Horizon System) Offences BillI agree totally with my hon. Friend and I pay tribute to him. In all these debates over the years, he has always been on my right hand side arguing for his constituents. I thank…20 Mar 2024