Contributions
1,451 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Veterans UpdateSome of what we are doing comes out of the excellent work done by my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Sarah Atherton) on women in the armed forces, such as allowing people to…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateI am grateful to my honourable colleague across the Floor. As he says, we never know: he may find me back in the Scottish Parliament, where it all began.19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateI am grateful to the hon. Member for his question and for his service. When I think of my own experience, I know that being friends with and getting to know men and women from the…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateI am happy to write to the right hon. Gentleman to clarify the pathway to the pension, which is important. First and foremost, we recognise that there should be a financial award.…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateI totally agree. When people join the armed forces, they want to belong. One of the best parts of basic training is when they are finally given their beret or when they finally…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateMy hon. Friend is a good friend of mine, and I remember him making that brave decision. Many of us on this side of the House who know him well—and many on the other side—pay…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateI cannot answer the question of why it took 22 years. All I can say is that, from the authority I have in my office for now, having been able to commission this report and start…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateWith permission, Mr Speaker, I would like expand on the apology delivered by the Prime Minister this afternoon for the unacceptable hurt caused to LGBT members of our nation’s…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateSome of the recommendations will go across government, including those on homelessness, which the hon. Gentleman rightly highlights. It will be important that the MOD and the…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateI totally hear what my hon. Friend is saying. I have just made certain decisions on exactly that issue that I cannot yet talk about. The relationship between the church and the…19 Jul 2023HANSARD Veterans UpdateIn answer to both: yes. Also, some veterans were told that they did not qualify for medals in the first place. They, too, will be able to have their medals from now on.19 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshIt absolutely is. The House has heard me say that I have taken the profit from those companies; I have nationalised more things than any previous Defence Secretary, so perhaps I…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshWith permission, I would like to make a statement on the publication of our refreshed defence Command Paper. It is just over two years since we published the original Command…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshYes, absolutely. I was delighted to visit David Brown—it is the famous David Brown of the Aston Martin David Brown in Huddersfield. When one goes there, one realises the…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshThe original defence Command Paper absolutely built on that. On the resilience building of nations such as, sadly, Mali, if we can get in early enough and help those countries…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshYes, we are committed to that, but we have also been honest about the time needed to get to being able to do that.18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshThe Ministry of Defence recognises, as does the defence industry, that skills are important. About two weeks ago, I spent a great afternoon at the National Cyber Force, up at…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshI agree with the hon. Gentleman that, as the threat rises, we should respond and design our forces to meet whatever is the threat of the day. Do I think 73,000 is enough to meet…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshThe military could definitely take a leaf out of the civil service’s book. I look at how senior civil servants can flex, do step-ups and step-downs, take breaks or sabbaticals,…18 Jul 2023HANSARDDefence Command Paper RefreshI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind comments. Unfortunately for him, I will, however, be here again tomorrow, delivering my very last statement. I understand what the…18 Jul 2023