Contributions
314 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLGBT Financial Recognition SchemeThe LGBT financial recognition scheme includes two types of payments, the “LGBT FRS Dismissed or Discharged Payment” and the “LGBT FRS Impact Payment”. The impact payment is…18 May 2026HANSARDService Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces: 2025 Annual ReportI am pleased to lay before Parliament today the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the armed forces annual report for 2025 on the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the…14 May 2026HANSARD Army ReserveLike many in the MOD, I like a challenge. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman recognises that I very much mean what I say when I talk about the importance of the reserves and how…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Army ReserveIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I am grateful to the right hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Steve Barclay) for securing today’s debate on…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Army ReserveI will write to the right hon. Gentleman when we have a further update. I am not familiar with the Guardian front page that he mentioned, but I will dig it out of an archive. I am…22 Apr 2026HANSARDNuclear Test Veteransindicated assent .25 Mar 2026HANSARDNuclear Test VeteransI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his hugely important and tireless work on this issue. The whole country owes a profound and enduring debt of gratitude to this generation, who…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNuclear Test VeteransI am very conscious of how long the nuclear test veterans have been fighting for this, and of how many Ministers they have met. I recognise that the onus is on us to deliver, not…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNuclear Test VeteransI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Rebecca Long Bailey) for securing this debate and for all her tireless work on behalf of our nuclear test veterans, and I want to…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNuclear Test VeteransAbsolutely. We are in constant dialogue with them about the right time to have that meeting. I am aware of its importance to the veterans. The Secretary of State, as well as my…25 Mar 2026HANSARD DefenceNo, I need to make time. Our £1 billion contract for new medium helicopters has helped to secure the future of the Leonardo plant in Yeovil, sustaining more than 3,000 jobs. We…24 Mar 2026HANSARD DefenceOur debate today reflects—or should reflect—the seriousness of the global security situation we now face. In eastern Europe, in the Mediterranean and around the world, our service…24 Mar 2026HANSARDDraft Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition, and Consequential and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2026I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition, and Consequential and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2026. It is…17 Mar 2026HANSARDDraft Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition, and Consequential and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2026I thank the hon. Gentleman for his support of the regulations. To answer his questions, the new Armed Forces Commissioner and his office are expected to be operational from April;…17 Mar 2026HANSARDRoyal Fleet Auxiliary: Merchant SeafarersAs we are continuing to work closely across Government and with the maritime trade unions, I do not wish to comment on the ongoing negotiations, but I can assure my hon. Friend…16 Mar 2026HANSARDRoyal Fleet Auxiliary: Merchant SeafarersThe Royal Fleet Auxiliary makes a unique contribution to defence. We thank the maritime trade unions for their commitment to resolving the current pay dispute so that the RFA’s…16 Mar 2026HANSARDRoyal Fleet Auxiliary: Merchant SeafarersWe are continuing close and productive conversations across Government and with the maritime trade unions, so it would not be appropriate for me to comment on ongoing…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Government have reset the relationship with our nuclear test veterans and the organisations that support them, and we appreciate the vital contribution that they made to…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for raising that point. I know from my own time of service in the Army just how vital the Gurkhas are and their hugely high standards of professionalism. We…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe last Government had 14 years to fix defence family housing and failed, delivering instead record low levels of satisfaction. We have reversed that disastrous privatisation of…16 Mar 2026