Contributions
394 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Sorry, I do not want to put words into your mouth. First, do you think that this Bill should be stopped? Judge Blackett: Yes, but—08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)I asked him how the 5,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and the 20,000 overall veterans he has contact with would feel if the Bill were stopped. I do not know whether you heard…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I slightly disagree. I do not believe that veterans want amnesty—perhaps a small percentage. If something has gone wrong, professional soldiers, men and women, would expect or…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q On a point of clarification, you said it is very unusual for you not to be consulted, but you started off by saying you were not consulted on any of the other investigations…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Thank you for clarifying that. You mentioned some practical steps that you wanted to put in the Bill. I am by no means a legal expert, so for clarity could you explain, are they…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I am trying to understand the process for someone with your influence and experience. Have you ever taken forward discussions with the MOD to say, “I believe this legislation,…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I am certainly not knocking your work ethic or your proactive approach, but was anything formally put into the MOD with recommendations for overseas operations that ended with…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q You were the only person in that time who could have done that—is that correct? Judge Blackett: No. I am sure other people have similar ideas—I have not got all the good…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Do you think the Bill is needed? Judge Blackett: Not in its present form, no. The court martial system demonstrates that we have, to use the Minister’s words, “rigour and…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I get that. I came into Parliament at the end of 2019 as a veteran, wondering why soldiers have been prosecuted and gone through everything they have. I understand your points,…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Has any Minister come to you or consulted you about putting such a Bill through Parliament? Judge Blackett: No. I have had exchanges and we have had meetings with Ministers, but…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)Q I am on the Defence Committee, so I saw that letter. How long have you been in the position of Judge Advocate General? Judge Blackett: Sixteen years.08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Fourth sitting)What would you say to that, then, with your recommendation that the Bill be stopped? Judge Blackett: I have not recommended that it be stopped.08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Third sitting)I served with General Nick Parker in the same battalion.08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Third sitting)Q I have a supplementary question on that point. Everybody keeps talking about the longstop, but nobody brings in the one year from point of knowledge. That point of knowledge…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Third sitting)If that one year from point of knowledge was not in there, I would get your argument. I believe that we are here to try and get the best for our service personnel and veterans.…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Third sitting)Q When I got involved in politics, I found out through Facebook about the armed forces covenant. When I was shot, I paid for all my own treatment. I did not get any support from…08 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (First sitting)Q Going back to when you said the time limit is a red herring, how do you think the serving personnel and veteran community will take it if we took your recommendation and removed…06 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (First sitting)To err on the side of caution, I should say that I have served on overseas operations. I have also made a successful claim against the Ministry of Defence for my injuries during…06 Oct 2020HANSARDOverseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (First sitting)I want to be on every question, Chair.06 Oct 2020