Contributions
1,082 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Will the Minister give way?16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the Minister for what he said but, given that there is still vagueness in the Railways Bill, which is why we have tabled this new clause, I am afraid that I am not…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The Opposition have some sympathy with what the hon. Member for North Devon is trying to achieve. There has historically been something of a cliff face. The medical requirements…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Ministers keep talking about this “largest sustained increase” in defence spending since the cold war. Why, then, were there £2.6 billion of efficiency cuts last year, and why is…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)As the Minister rightly says, these are highly technical amendments, and therefore we have no objection.16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)As a right hon. Member, I am afraid that we have just heard the same ministerial bluster that we have had for months, so I will press the new clause to a vote. Question put, That…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I will speak to amendments 20 to 24. As they have been grouped together in the largest individual group to be debated today, I will take them in turn, with a few brief remarks on…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)Does the Department have at least a working estimate of how many people it thinks will opt in to that liability, bearing in mind that they cannot be recalled otherwise? What is…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)I take the Minister’s point that via this method we could have a Strategic Reserve of 150,000 within a decade, but what if we do not have a decade? I suspect we will return to the…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)The hon. Member for South Ribble has raised a good point. When people leave the regulars now—I am probably rusty on this—is there a standard operating procedure where they are…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)The Minister just said that some categories of personnel could in certain circumstances continue to serve beyond 65 to 67, which is in line with the spirit of what the Opposition…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)This clause is important and worthwhile. Sunken warships are war graves in their own right, and they are sacred. One example is HMS Hood, which was blown up and sunk in battle…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Clearly, all members of the Committee regard the mental health of our armed forces personnel and their families as equally important as their physical health. We therefore…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)On a point of order, Mr Efford. We will not press amendments 20 to 23. I am grateful that the Minister agreed to take amendment 24 away—we note that—but because the suggestion…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Further to that point of order, Mr Efford. I very much echo the Minister’s sentiments. We have agreed with the general thrust of the Bill from day one. We said that we would…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)In fairness to the hon. Gentleman, I will meet him halfway. I could get him references from Hansard for where the Opposition made exactly that point in the Chamber some weeks ago.…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)We do indeed have a disagreement on principle. I suspect that the Minister might privately have some sympathy with the new clause but, for reasons we are all aware of, he cannot…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I will make just one point, given the current international situation. We will not get into a long debate about the conflict in Iran, as you would rightly call me to order, Mr…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Fair enough. Anyway, it has not been signed for months and has, metaphorically, been sitting on the Chancellor’s desk. It is probably fair to say that the Chancellor has no…16 Apr 2026HANSARDArmed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)Unusually as I moved the new clause, I am not proposing to press it to a vote, because I hope that the point has been made. I hope that the Liberal Democrats, who tabled it, will…16 Apr 2026