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Armed Forces Bill

The Coldstream Guards were based in Aldershot until last year, and they returned from Iraq after a difficult tour. Their padre is a close friend of mine. I spoke to several warrant officers in the sergeants’ mess, and there is no doubt that some of them felt inhibited. I sought to say that an authority whom I regard as one of integrity told me that the position has improved, but the Minister will accept that the survey carried out on the 7th Armoured Brigade at the end of November and the beginning of December, and some of the remarks that have been made, indicate that there has been a problem.