Contributions
1,811 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSupport for LGBT VeteransI am sure the whole House will join me, on the death of Lord Etherton, in passing on our condolences and sympathy to his friends and family. His legacy will continue to shape an…19 May 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionThe hon. Gentleman is a role model for what someone can do by serving in the cadet forces. They are a fantastic way of growing in confidence, learning new skills and, for many…19 May 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am delighted to pay tribute to Major Eales and so many other volunteers who are working to support our veterans. Valour marks a departure from the PR-focused postcode lottery…19 May 2025HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionWe inherited a recruitment and retention crisis from the last Government, but since July we have taken decisive measures, slashing the time it takes to access medical records from…19 May 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityIt is certainly true that right across Europe, there are European and American firms providing the capabilities we need to keep our people safe. It is right that we continue those…19 May 2025HANSARDSupport for VeteransThe Government are expanding UK-wide employment support for the armed forces community through Op Ascend, a free advice service for veterans and their families launched earlier…19 May 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityI absolutely agree. The UK is co-leading the drone capability coalition with Latvia, and we are improving and learning from the experiences of our friends in Ukraine. Drone…19 May 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityLet me be absolutely clear with the House: NATO is the cornerstone of our security, and this Government’s commitment to the alliance is unshakeable. The Greens, if that is the…19 May 2025HANSARDNATO: European SecurityThe Secretary of State and I are in regular and close contact with our NATO allies on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security. Last week, the Secretary of State and I were both in…19 May 2025HANSARDSupport for LGBT VeteransI thank my hon. Friend for raising the issue and that case. It is vital that no matter who you fall in love with, there is a place for you in our armed forces. I am pleased to…19 May 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI do indeed. Our commitment to NATO is unshakeable, as is our commitment to our European friends, especially those along NATO’s eastern flank that are being threatened by Russian…19 May 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsA sustained, unconditional ceasefire is the quickest way to stop the killing while creating the space for serious talks to achieve a lasting peace. President Zelensky has…19 May 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsA career in the armed forces or a defence industry is a good career for any school leaver in Bristol, in Plymouth or anywhere across our country. I commend my hon. Friend on the…19 May 2025HANSARDSupport for VeteransI thank my hon. Friend for the way in which she raises that case; it is certainly something that the whole House can get behind. Telling the stories of the bravery and courage of…19 May 2025HANSARDSupport for VeteransIt is vital that we support our veterans. We have extended the national insurance relief for a further year. I am very happy to arrange a conversation with the right hon.…19 May 2025HANSARDAfghan Special Forces Relocation ReviewFollowing my statement in the autumn of last year, I would like to further update the House on the progress of the Triples review. In my previous statement on the Triples review,…16 May 2025HANSARDUS Cyber-operations against RussiaUK defence networks face a range of state threats from malign actors. In 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre received 1,957 reports of cyber-attacks, of which 89 were…24 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces RecruitmentThe hon. Gentleman is entirely right about the terrible state of armed forces retention that we inherited. We have seen armed forces morale drop from 60% in 2010 to just 40% last…24 Mar 2025HANSARDArmed Forces RecruitmentNot only is a career in our armed forces good for a young person; it also offers training opportunities, with each of our single services appearing in the top five apprentice…24 Mar 2025HANSARDDefence of Undersea InfrastructureThe hon. Gentleman is right that subsea fibre-optic cables carry about 99% of our data—many people believe it is satellites, but it is cables. As a country we are investing in new…24 Mar 2025