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HANSARDExplosive Ordnance Disposal CommunityMy father.11 Dec 2024HANSARDExplosive Ordnance Disposal CommunityI thank the hon. Member for his kind words about my father. I absolutely agree with him about the very important role played by the Royal Navy in maritime bomb disposal, including…11 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. I think we all know that the Forces Pension Society is the Office for Budget Responsibility, if you like, of all military pensions issues, but as it is not here this…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Second sitting)Q You mentioned special educational needs. Historically, it has been an issue that a service family may sometimes have to work for several years to get a statement for an SEN…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Second sitting)Q Following on from your answer, how do you think armed forces personnel and their families need to be better supported than they are at present? Abby Dryden: Since 2018, we have…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for joining us this afternoon, Ms Dryden. We have asked a number of other witnesses who appeared before us this morning a similar question: could you give us your…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Thank you very much.10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you very much. General Gregory, could you answer a similar question on behalf of SSAFA? I am sure you looked at the Second Reading report, too; I know you are a very…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q That is a good description of the breadth of the waterfront that Cobseo covers—thank you. Are there any particular strengths or weaknesses in the Bill that you, on behalf of…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Generals, good morning. Nick, could you give us some idea of how many service charities Cobseo now covers and some idea of the different topics? I know you have banded them…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Lastly, on the veterans point, most local authorities, in accordance with the covenant, have appointed armed forces champions, but I think it is probably true to say—this is not…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Let me turn to Help for Heroes. For the record, Mr Arnold, I had the privilege of knowing Bryn Parry, who is of course no longer with us. We still think of his widow, Emma. He…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q I have one more question on that subject. One issue that cropped up on Second Reading was the proposed UK veterans commissioner and how, if at all, this commissioner would…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q The Bill focuses on serving personnel; what, if anything, do you think the commissioner will be able to do for veterans? As drafted, the legislation does not give the…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Good morning to both of you. Thank you for joining us. First, to the Royal British Legion, your briefing note makes a number of positive suggestions about the Bill. You say…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Thank you very much.10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Having served on the Defence Committee and interviewed your predecessors, but not you, I commend you on that. Clearly, a lot of work has been done to catch up. There were…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Lastly, what is your current backlog of complaints? We are working on the assumption that when the roles transition, anything that is metaphorically in your in-tray will…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q When you were doing your role, would you have preferred the opportunity to do the thematic reports envisaged in the Bill? Mariette Hughes: Yes, absolutely. When I last spoke in…10 Dec 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Commissioner Bill (First sitting)Q Good morning, and thank you to the witness for your time today. You describe the Bill as “positive”. In your opinion, what are the main differences between your position and…10 Dec 2024