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Iran: HMS ““Cornwall””

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. I welcome the decision not to allow payments to serving personnel. For the avoidance of doubt, can the Minister make it clear that ““payments”” includes benefits in kind or any other form of kickback? The Tony Hall report states: "““The relationship between MoD/Armed Forces and the media has, as a result of this and earlier incidents, suffered””." The Minister said that the Government accept the recommendation that the overall relationship between the MoD and the media should be looked at afresh. Elsewhere in the report, Tony Hall states: "““Many of those we have spoken to have advocated the restoration of single Service one star officers within the MoD’s central media and communications structure””." That is a very important point. I was rather aghast to hear the Minister suggest that one-star single-service officers should not form part of the result of that review. Many people with great experience in this field think that it is time we had much better single-service expertise, not only in public relations but also in news management.