Contributions
413 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces PersonnelThis is one of the areas—not specifically related to that condition but I am happy to look at it—on which we have had a series of medical symposiums. We feel that perhaps some of…20 May 2019HANSARDArmed Forces PersonnelMy hon. Friend raises a very important point. He will have seen the Secretary of State’s comments on this over recent days. I am pleased to say that a written ministerial…20 May 2019HANSARDArmed Forces PersonnelMy hon. Friend raises a very important point. The issue is not only the application process, but the time of flight from doing that application to actually loading people onto…20 May 2019HANSARDArmed Forces PersonnelThe hon. Lady is right to raise this issue. There is currently a review under the Military Flying Training System. We have, in part, been victims of our own success in this area,…20 May 2019HANSARDArmed Forces PersonnelI have good news for the hon. Gentleman and, indeed, I hope for the House. In January, the total size of the Army, including trained and untrained strength, was 81,750. At the end…20 May 2019HANSARDArmed Forces PersonnelWe remain committed to maintaining the overall size of the armed forces and we have a range of measures under way to improve recruitment and retention. Those measures are kept…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsPromptly.20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsOff the top of my head, I would say that about 75,000 will be trained and 7,000 untrained. However, it is important to understand that people begin by being trained to be infantry…20 May 2019HANSARD Welbeck Defence Sixth Form CollegeI congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Nicky Morgan) on securing the debate, and, indeed, on all her contributions and support for the college over many…30 Apr 2019HANSARD Welbeck Defence Sixth Form CollegeAs I said in my earlier remarks, this is effectively a five-year transition. The intake to Welbeck this year will be going into a two-year programme, which will be the last. That…30 Apr 2019HANSARD Welbeck Defence Sixth Form CollegeThat is a perfectly reasonable request, and I would of course be delighted to meet my right hon. Friend and the Minister. I want to take this opportunity to underline the…30 Apr 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionI have been accused of many things in my life, but lacking courage is probably not one of them. If the hon. Lady knew anything about me, she would probably realise why that is the…25 Mar 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionWe remain committed to maintaining the overall size of the armed forces and a range of measures are under way to improve recruitment and retention. The challenge is kept under…25 Mar 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionWe recognise the importance of connectivity for our personnel. I reassure my hon. Friend that for those serving on operations, the Ministry of Defence will pay for internet…25 Mar 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that a complex programme was announced through the better defence estate strategy. On the specific issue he raises, I am told that the…25 Mar 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has certainly made it clear that he has not ruled out the option of terminating the contract. However, in recent months we have seen…25 Mar 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for highlighting that recruiting opportunity. I might visit myself, given what is on offer. He makes a very sensible suggestion and I will…25 Mar 2019HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionI am certainly not prepared to resign from my role as a member of the Army Reserve, because that would really not help matters, would it? The hon. Lady over-eggs the pudding…25 Mar 2019HANSARDService Personnel: Statute of LimitationsWe take the prosecution of veterans very seriously. Our service personnel are of course subject to the law, but veterans should not have to face repeated investigations many years…25 Mar 2019HANSARDService Personnel: Statute of LimitationsHaving served as Chief of the General Staff and then as Chief of the Defence Staff during the height of the troubles, Lord Bramall clearly brings a unique perspective to these…25 Mar 2019