Contributions
271 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnergy SecurityIs not the biggest problem with first past the post that often people are voting against rather than for someone? That poisons our democracy, because everyone ends up with someone…19 May 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)In the light of the Minister’s comments, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 31 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 32 Call…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford, and I thank you for the invitation to remove our jackets. Amendment 7 was tabled in my name and that of my hon. Friend…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 7, in clause 31, page 51, line 2, at end insert— “(5) The Secretary of State must, in respect of each financial year, publish a report assessing the impact…16 Apr 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review: FundingFollowing the comments by the right hon. Member for Tonbridge (Tom Tugendhat), may I make a plea that we put this political blame game to one side? The fleet halved under the…15 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Fifth sitting)I can help out a little with the right hon. Gentleman’s question. The post was not filled. The Government were having some difficulty in filling the post, and—14 Apr 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillThis process is, among other things, about protecting British access to the communications spectrum. That is why the previous Government started it, and why the current Government…13 Apr 2026HANSARD North Atlantic Submarine ActivityI hope to give the Minister a focused question. He has rightly laid out the importance of the data cables to the UK as an island, and also highlighted Russia’s continued activity…13 Apr 2026HANSARDMiddle EastThis crisis has laid bare the parlous state of the British military. The three main parties of government should put aside the blame game and accept that we have all played our…13 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)Will the MOD publish a timeline for achieving the targets?26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)I beg to move amendment 2, in clause 3, page 8, line 13, leave out “service family accommodation” and insert “defence housing”. This amendment requires that the framework…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I rise to speak to amendments 3 and 4, which my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon and I have tabled. Amendment 4…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)I would like to make some brief comments in support of amendment 15. We should reflect on how the divorce rate is much higher for service personnel because of the vagaries of…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)The right hon. Gentleman is making a very good speech. Does he think that the metrics by which that bonus is judged should be made public?26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)The decent homes standard, as set out in legislation, is a set of principles that can be enforced by the courts, and the courts will make the judgment. When we talk about modern…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)I know of what the Minister speaks. A four-bedroom house may have four servicepeople living in it as single living accommodation—the defence equivalent of a house in multiple…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Efford. The amendment and the new clause are designed to do the same thing in two separate pieces of legislation. Essentially,…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)If I understand the Minister correctly, he is saying that we are going to take different routes but get to the same place. If he could give me assurances that we are going to see…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)That is not what new clause 1 seeks to do. It is about amending the Renters’ Rights Act so that defence housing standards cover both service family accommodation and single living…26 Mar 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Third sitting)In the light of the Minister’s words— I know him well from before we came into politics—I am happy to take him up on his offer, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.…26 Mar 2026