Contributions
589 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIncome Tax Rate: ScotlandThanks to the surprising decision by the Scottish Government, our valiant armed forces are obliged to pay a higher rate of income tax than people in other parts of the country. As…20 May 2019HANSARDCommonwealth Servicemen and WomenAs we discussed in an excellent Westminster Hall debate in the week before last, Commonwealth servicemen and women make an important contribution to our armed forces capability.…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. He almost suggested—I am sure that he did not mean to—that the original members of the committee were still serving, but it has advanced and…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategyThe Government already do much to support our brave veterans and their families, but for the first time we are mapping out a 10-year strategy to give greater clarity on how we…20 May 2019HANSARDIncome Tax Rate: ScotlandThere is a question later on armed forces pay, and I will touch on that matter then. Let me make it clear: we see our armed forces as a national asset. If they are to be based in…20 May 2019HANSARDIncome Tax Rate: ScotlandMy right hon. Friend answers his own question.20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsFirst, we now keep track of those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq in a way that we have not done before, so we are having a much better relationship with veterans after…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsEvery suicide is a tragedy, and the hon. Lady is absolutely right: we need to better understand the numbers that are coming through. I am pleased to say that those who join the…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising such an important issue. If we are to look after our armed forces, if we want to achieve our recruitment numbers, and if we want to…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend has mentioned another of the excellent charities that do such a great job. The focus that the new Defence Secretary has given us is on seeing what more we can do to…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI pay tribute to Rock2Recovery, and to my hon. Friend for his support for it. It is one of the more than 400 service-facing military charities that do such an excellent job, not…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am grateful for that question, because it highlights the fact that it is not the MOD that provides veterans support but NHS services across the country. Each NHS authority…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman touches on an important point. When I served, there was no transition process; now, when someone puts their hand up and says they are departing, they go through…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategySo many Members have rightly congratulated the Defence Secretary, but this is the first time that the fact that she is a reservist in the naval reserve has been credited. That…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategyI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his comments. I am afraid that I cannot provide a full answer because, as he suggests, the Secretary of State will be providing more…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategyThe hon. Gentleman touches on two important aspects. First, there is the obligation to honour the covenant, which is still in its infancy. There is so much work still to be done,…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategyThe right hon. Gentleman must not mean the veterans strategy, because we have not yet started it. We put it out to consultation and received over 4,000 replies, which we are now…20 May 2019HANSARDVeterans StrategyIt is difficult to put an exact figure on it, but we estimate that the MOD spends around £7 billion on our veterans. It is so important that we provide that support wherever it is…20 May 2019HANSARDRAF ScamptonI will take those points in reverse order, if I may. First, may I pay tribute to that incredible endeavour that took place in May 1943, with Barnes Wallis and Guy Gibson? Every…20 May 2019HANSARD Commonwealth Personnel in the Armed ForcesThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, and I will come on to address such issues. He allows me to jump ahead and thank him for his contribution and the valuable point that he…08 May 2019