Contributions
1,811 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)I did say to the right hon. Gentleman that I would come back to those points, and I will do so, rather than responding immediately to his intervention. A particular commissioner…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)The hon. Gentleman raises a fair question. As part of establishing the Armed Forces Commissioner’s office, it may be appropriate for the commissioner to say that they would like a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)Schedule 1, by inserting proposed new schedule 14ZA into the Armed Forces Act 2006, primarily outlines the procedural aspects of the commissioner’s role and functions, including…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)I am happy to write to the hon. Member with our expectation of which specific clearance type would be required, but on the second part of his question about what happens if…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)I echo the shadow Minister’s praise for the work of the Service Complaints Ombudsman in reducing the backlog. Can I go further and thank all her team as well? We have seen a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)Clause 3 amends section 340B(2)(a) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 to specify that a specified person may decide whether a service complaint is admissible, rather than the function…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Third sitting)I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his point. It is important to distinguish between the different roles of the commissioner. The clause makes an amendment specifically in…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I have four quick responses. First, it is good to know that there is a journalist watching or listening to these proceedings. I wish her all the best with the article she will no…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I neglected to respond to the point made by the hon. Member for Spelthorne. If a member of the armed services dies, they are no longer able to access the commissioner because of…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 4 inserts proposed new sections 340IA, 340IB and 340LA into the Armed Forces Act 2006. Taken in order, these new sections enable the commissioner to investigate a general…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank right hon. and hon. Members for their contributions to this important part of the Bill. If I may, I will respond quickly to a number of the points that have been raised.…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I will check with my husband whether I am allowed a cheeky coffee date with the right hon. Gentleman.12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I will resist the temptation to comment. [ Laughter. ] The right hon. Gentleman and I share a common view that the defence accommodation for our armed forces is not good enough. I…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I think the right hon. Gentleman and I have slightly different recollections of Tuesday’s discussion on this. I would like us to get to a point where armed forces families that…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)Certainly, strides are being made right across Government to improve SEND provision. It is absolutely true that SEND provision is a shame on our nation. We have inherited a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I commend the hon. Gentleman, who is clearly using his previous experience in the military to carefully scrutinise how this provision will work in practice. I am very happy to…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell for her new clause and her concerns about potential recruits. First, it is absolutely vital that we fix the recruitment crisis that the…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I was coming to that point. At any one time, there are roughly 150,000 applicants in the military joining process, all of whom are still civilians and who would be brought under…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I believe the right hon. Gentleman has not been on Capita’s Christmas card list for quite some time. Speaking as the Minister responsible for recruitment, we have set out some…12 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for his views on engagement with veterans commissioners. To reiterate, the purpose of the Armed Forces Commissioner is to shine a spotlight on and be…12 Dec 2024