Contributions
314 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWomen in the Armed Forces: Defence Committee RecommendationsMy hon. Friend raises an important case, and I am sure that everybody who read the report into Jaysley-Louise Beck’s death would agree that it was a hugely tragic and deeply…03 Nov 2025HANSARDWomen in the Armed Forces: Defence Committee RecommendationsThe hon. Member makes a good point, and as someone who had to wear the body armour, I am fully on board. Progress is under way to address the very points she mentions.03 Nov 2025HANSARDWomen in the Armed Forces: Defence Committee RecommendationsAs an Army veteran, and indeed a female Army veteran, this mission is deeply personal to me. More work must be done to improve service life for women in our armed forces. The two…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentIn addition to the measures I have outlined to speed up recruitment, we are looking at expanding novel ways of entry into the armed forces, such as direct entry in the cyber…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentI urge the right hon. Gentleman to remember the really serious issues that are at stake here. The priorities of this Government, as we have shown repeatedly, are to do right by…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentIt is in Hansard , absolutely—I urge the right hon. Gentleman to reread it to see the full quote. This Government are committed to protecting those who serve. Our first and…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentSeeing as the right hon. Gentleman is attacking me for something I did not say, I can only assume that he cannot attack me—03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentMy hon. Friend is right that we must celebrate everybody who contributes to our armed forces, no matter their gender or other protected characteristics. The commitment of this…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentI would like to reassure the hon. Gentleman that serving in the armed forces is a fantastic career for any young person. The experiences and skills that one can gain from a career…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentHe is very welcome to check Hansard , where he will see that I was very specifically referring to people spreading misinformation. He will be able to see it there in black and…03 Nov 2025HANSARDCadet NumbersAs a big proponent of the cadets, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we will ensure that all the benefits of the cadets are available across the country.03 Nov 2025HANSARDCadet NumbersI am delighted to hear about the fantastic opportunities given by the air cadets in my hon. Friend’s constituency. I can assure him that delivering the 30 by 30 expansion…03 Nov 2025HANSARDCadet NumbersAs announced in the strategic defence review, we are working to deliver a 30% expansion of in-school and community-based cadet forces by 2030. The campaign is backed by £70…03 Nov 2025HANSARDArmy RecruitmentWe have been very clear in the strategic defence review that we are committed to growing the Army. Under this Government, we have driven improvements to the recruiting process,…03 Nov 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransThe hon. Member raises an important point. In common with any veteran of the war in Afghanistan, I find it interesting how the experience changes as we move away from it. There…28 Oct 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransAs the hon. Member knows, I spent some time in his constituency while at Sandhurst. It is an area with deep connections to the armed forces, and I certainly join him in applauding…28 Oct 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransI very much welcome this debate on disabled veterans. It is a hugely important topic, and I am grateful to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Liz Jarvis) for securing it and for…28 Oct 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransWe are fortunate to have a wonderful charity sector made up of charities both large and small, some with quite broad remits and some, as my hon. Friend mentions, very focused. I…28 Oct 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransThe hon. Member is absolutely right to draw attention to the importance of a trauma-informed response. If she is able to write to me with details of the case, I will take a look…28 Oct 2025HANSARD Support for Disabled VeteransI certainly hope to visit Northern Ireland soon, and I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s invitation.28 Oct 2025