Contributions
1,082 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionThank you, Mr Speaker—it is nice to be back. On recruitment, many who join the armed forces began their military journey as cadets. The previous Conservative Government’s cadet…18 Nov 2024HANSARD Armed Forces Commissioner BillAs the shadow Armed Forces Minister, I begin by reiterating that Conservative Members approach this Bill as critical friends, with a commitment to strengthening its impact for…18 Nov 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Recruitment and RetentionI welcome the Minister’s kind welcome. On retention, how can we persuade people to remain in our armed forces if they sense that the new Government do not really have their back?…18 Nov 2024HANSARD Armed Forces Commissioner BillWhen the Bill goes into Committee next month we shall be able to explore these issues in more detail, but—particularly for the benefit of the Royal British Legion and…18 Nov 2024HANSARD Roadworks (Regulation)I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the regulation of roadworks; and for connected purposes. I introduced a very similar ten-minute rule…04 Nov 2024HANSARDForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeHistory shows again and again that appeasement does not work. It was inevitable after the abject surrender of the Chagos islands, for that is what it is, that the Spanish would…31 Oct 2024HANSARD Roadworks: Journey TimesThe Minister’s opposite number in the previous Government kindly granted me a meeting about my Bill, which unfortunately ran out of parliamentary time. As I have 10 minutes to…30 Oct 2024HANSARDEngagementsPrime Minister, you mentioned veterans a few minutes ago. As we approach remembrance time, one group of veterans we all owe a great debt to are those who served during the…30 Oct 2024HANSARD Roadworks: Journey TimesI congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate. In the previous Parliament, I introduced a ten-minute rule Bill about the regulation of roadworks, which I am…30 Oct 2024HANSARD Remembrance and VeteransDuring the troubles in Northern Ireland, hundreds of thousands of British servicemen served on Operation Banner. Hundreds were killed and thousands were maimed by both republican…28 Oct 2024HANSARD Infected Blood Compensation SchemeI am conscious of your warning about the sub judice rules, Madam Deputy Speaker, as there is ongoing litigation on this issue, but I hope and believe that nothing I say in my…23 Oct 2024HANSARD Infected Blood Compensation SchemeI am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I commend him for the way in which he is handling this very sensitive matter; he has got the tone just right. On behalf of a…23 Oct 2024HANSARDUkraineI welcome the statement, but the BBC reports that the money will be paid not in one go but in tranches over time. We have the Budget next week. Will the Secretary of State assure…22 Oct 2024HANSARD Pie and Mash: Traditional Speciality Guaranteed StatusI thank the Minister for giving way. Perhaps through him I could take up the gauntlet that my neighbour and right hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Holden)…22 Oct 2024HANSARD Pie and Mash: Traditional Speciality Guaranteed StatusI am grateful to my Essex neighbour for giving way. My pie and mash journey began when I was a child in north London. I then moved to Basildon, and have eaten pie and mash in the…22 Oct 2024HANSARDPoints of OrderOn a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister paid tribute to Sir David Amess at questions—we all still miss him—and to General Sir Mike Jackson, who served a number of…16 Oct 2024HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewMay I wholly concur with your tribute to the late Alex Salmond, Mr Speaker? A critical element of the strategic defence review will be the defence of our overseas territories. The…14 Oct 2024HANSARDStrategic Defence Review8. When he plans to announce the outcome of the strategic defence review.14 Oct 2024HANSARD Gibraltar-Spain Border ChecksHistory shows again and again that appeasement does not work. It was inevitable after the abject surrender of the Chagos islands, for that is what it is, that the Spanish would…14 Oct 2024HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: NegotiationsHaving heard the Foreign Secretary’s performance this afternoon, we now know why the Government did not dare announce this in the House of Commons. This abject surrender of…07 Oct 2024