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1,451 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateDFID. We often talk about organisations and machinery of Governments—they come around, and come and go—but the key here is the sense of purpose and the mission. The mission has…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateI know that the right hon. Gentleman is a thoughtful colleague and, indeed, at the time I think we were in the same Government. We should be proud that we spent £3 billion of aid…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateWe have been clear that we are not in the business of reducing the potency and capability of our armed forces. We are in the business of making sure that we are modernising to…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateIt was going so well until the very last comment. If we stuck all our planning for the armed forces on numbers, we would end up back in the first world war. Modern armed forces…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateI can give my hon. Friend that assurance and that prompts me to answer one of the other questions. The integrated review is back up and running. Part of the purpose of that review…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateIt is vital, for all the people of Iraq and Syria, that we get as much stability as possible. It is incredibly important that we work with the Kurds and the Iraqis to ensure that,…22 Jul 2020HANSARD Counter-Daesh UpdateI will do my best to answer all the questions. I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his support of the counter-Daesh actions. The right hon. Gentleman asks whether the…22 Jul 2020HANSARDArmed Forces PayToday I am announcing the Government’s decision on pay rises for the armed forces. The armed forces pay review body (AFPRB) has made a recommendation for a 2% increase for the…21 Jul 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Wraparound ChildcareI am pleased to announce today the launch of a wraparound childcare pilot scheme for UK armed forces families. This announcement represents another significant step towards the…07 Jul 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Overall SizeRecruitment is up, as is retention. That is the direction of travel. That is what we are delivering for our armed forces. It is very clear that our armed forces are growing, as is…06 Jul 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Overall SizeI can confirm that there is no plan to slash the size of the armed forces. The reports in The Sunday Times were completely erroneous, as was made clear to the journalist at the…06 Jul 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Overall SizeThe hon. Gentleman makes some valid points. However, due to the extra effort we have put into the Army recruiting process, the Army has now in fact hit its recruitment target, and…06 Jul 2020HANSARDArmed Forces: Overall SizeSince 2015 we have introduced many measures to respond to a difficult armed forces recruitment and retention climate. These include financial incentives, flexible service, the…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsForgive me, but 2015 was the last time we set the numbers for the armed forces. What we will do is make sure we give those men and women the best equipment, the best kit, the best…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsOnly today, the permanent secretary and other officials attended the Public Accounts Committee to answer some of those questions, no doubt in detail. The point to be made is that…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe right hon. Member often campaigns for shipbuilding in the UK and he has heard my answers. First, I am keen that it gets under way as soon as possible; indeed, I have asked…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsFirst, on the Intelligence and Security Committee, which is the Committee that would publish the report, I gave evidence for that report as Security Minister, and, in fact I have…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsAn impact assessment will have been published with the Bill when it was brought to the House. We are hoping to get the Bill to Second Reading sooner rather than later, so the hon.…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsFirst, I can give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance that this is not driven by financial pressures; it is driven first and foremost by threat. As a former Security Minister,…06 Jul 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsAbsolutely. If I think back to the days when I was at Sandhurst, in defence, there were really three domains: air, sea and land. Cyber is very much a real and new domain that we…06 Jul 2020