Contributions
314 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransMy hon. Friend raises an important point about how we make sure that the armed forces covenant, when it is put into law, is delivered consistently, and that those working across…28 Oct 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransI applaud the work that Doncaster council is doing to take the needs of veterans into account. As the armed forces covenant is put into law, I hope that that is exactly the sort…28 Oct 2025HANSARDMOD Security ReviewFurther to the statement made by the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), on Monday 23 June 2025, I…08 Sept 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: WelfareThe armed forces welfare support policy, JSP 770, underwent a full review and was published in January 2025. It now includes updated information and guidance to ensure that…08 Sept 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: WelfareAs my hon. Friend rightly notes, the Armed Forces Commissioner Act, as I can now refer to it, received Royal Assent last week, which is a fantastic step forward. As she…08 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe must recruit the absolute best to serve in the armed forces. As the hon. Gentleman will know, an intelligent strategy for recruitment will seek to reach every single community…08 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI think the hon. Member has answered his own question. We are talking about indicators, and indicators are very different from targets. An intelligent recruitment strategy seeks…08 Sept 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionIt is a huge honour to be here, and I am very honoured. We inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention. This Government are renewing the contract with those who serve by…08 Sept 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionI have served overseas and observed this issue at first hand. Discussions with the Cabinet Office are ongoing, and I hope to update the hon. Member in due course.08 Sept 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionMy hon. Friend has rightly mentioned the largest pay rise in 20 years. I am particularly delighted that we can now say that no member of the armed forces is paid less than the…08 Sept 2025HANSARDArmed Forces: Recruitment and RetentionI thank the hon. Member for her congratulations and for her question. She makes a valid point and is absolutely right that we need to do more in this regard. I am afraid I cannot…08 Sept 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseHaving recently married—[Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!]— I have elected to change my surname. Despite having been warned in advance, I am horrified by the sheer number of bodies,…04 Sept 2025HANSARDProperty TaxesI think the record that we, the Labour Government, had to deal with when we took over last year bears repeating. We have heard theories propounded on the relationship between tax…03 Sept 2025HANSARDSudanEl Fasher has been under siege for over 500 days, and famine and cholera—all man-made problems—are rife. It has been described as the “epicentre of child suffering”. What is the…02 Sept 2025HANSARDSudan2. What assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Sudan.02 Sept 2025HANSARD Middle EastThe famine in Gaza is clearly man-made and it is abominable. That tens of thousands of civilians have been brutally killed is abominable. The retention of the hostages by Hamas,…01 Sept 2025HANSARD Independent Water CommissionJust this morning, I was absolutely disgusted to see reports of a sewage leak in the River Hipper in my constituency, so I welcome the Secretary of State’s ambition to tackle this…21 Jul 2025HANSARDAfghanistanAs a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, I was appalled to watch the chaotic mismanagement following the fall of Kabul that left Afghans who served alongside our troops and who…15 Jul 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Veterans: ProsecutionTo address that point, the head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said that the letters that the right hon. Gentleman refers to grant no immunity. The only thing that…14 Jul 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Veterans: ProsecutionIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Mundell. I begin by acknowledging the outstanding service of the many British service personnel who worked so hard on an…14 Jul 2025