Contributions
3,157 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Personnel and Veterans: Legal ProtectionsWe all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our armed forces, who perform exceptional feats in incredibly difficult circumstances to protect this country. We set the highest standards…21 May 2019HANSARDUK-Saudi Arabia Joint Military ExercisesI hope I can reassure the hon. Gentleman with my track record in my previous post, when I went to Djibouti, got the shipping records of the traffic that was being held at Hodeidah…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasI quite agree with my right hon. Friend: it is absolutely fundamental to everything that we stand for and everything that our armed forces represent that we uphold the law, that…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasFirst, the change to the policy introduced in 2018 was an amendment at the request of the IPCO. As I say, it is only a short number of weeks before we will get the review back…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasThe UK Government stand firmly against torture and do not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsIf you are Royal Navy reservist, you cannot avoid being familiar with Plymouth. I would be very happy also to visit Faslane and Plymouth, our other navy bases besides Portsmouth.20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI think I will have to issue an explanatory note for the hon. Gentleman on this. If we are trying to spend ODA money on things that are not ODA eligible, it is not ODA; it is as…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Armed Forces Pay Review Body is about to report, and we will obviously look at that issue, but let me gently say to the hon. Gentleman that esteem for our armed forces is…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThese aircraft have an endurance that will enable them to meet the requirement for core UK missions without the need for air-to-air refuelling. For extended endurance missions,…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn addition to the budget, we need to look at the behaviours that have resulted in previous SDSRs not being fulfilled—I dwelled on that in my speech at the sea power conference.…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for her kind remarks and for indicating that she wants to work constructively on issues on which we agree. I particularly thank her for her remarks following…20 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for her kind remarks. No legislation is required, despite what she suggests. In 2016, this House, by an overwhelming majority, supported the assessment that…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasI hope that I have given the House every reassurance. There is a legal definition of torture. At the beginning of my statement, I outlined all the descriptions and forms that that…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasThe confidence that the right hon. Gentleman and other Members can get is that the processes in the Department have to be right. Clearly, different people coming into office and…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasI can give my hon. Friend that assurance. We do not condone torture, we will not be implicit in it and we are fully aware of our obligations in terms of third parties.20 May 2019HANSARDIranian Military Action: DeterrenceThe United Kingdom shares United States, European and Gulf partners’ concerns about Iran’s destabilising activities in the region. We continue to work closely with our allies and…20 May 2019HANSARDIranian Military Action: DeterrenceWe want the increasing tensions to de-escalate. I think that the major general’s remarks have been clarified; he was speaking in a particular context. We are absolutely on the…20 May 2019HANSARDUK-Saudi Arabia Joint Military ExercisesThat concurs with what I have seen and, indeed, with reports that are in the public domain. We know that our training has assisted individuals in making judgments, while…20 May 2019HANSARDUse of Torture OverseasI completely agree with what the hon. Gentleman has said. The Royal Navy played a huge role in the ending of the slave trade; our nation has a huge heritage in that respect. I…20 May 2019HANSARDUK-Saudi Arabia Joint Military ExercisesI am happy to give the hon. Gentleman that reassurance. I will go into more detail on the matter when I respond to the urgent question later, but that is the Government’s policy.…20 May 2019