Backbench debate on Thursday, 2 February 2017, in the House of Commons, led by Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The answering member was Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton.

Armed Forces Covenant

Motion that this House has considered the Armed Forces Covenant Report 2016. Agreed to on question.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 620 cc1238-1292
Session: 2016-17
Department: Ministry of Defence
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Report on the Armed Forces Covenant
Thursday, 15 December 2016
Unprinted papers
House of Lords
House of Commons; Annual Report on the Armed Forces Covenant.
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; General debate on the Armed Forces Covenant Report 2016
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Research briefings; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0135
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0134
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0143
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0148
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0146
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0145
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Deposited Paper DEP2017-0144
Monday, 20 February 2017
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Proceeding contributions: Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 cc1238-9 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the Armed Forces Covenant Report 2016.
...; Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton | 620 c1239 (Link to this contribution)
I do not intend to respond to all questions at the time they are raised throughout the debate, bu...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1239 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister very much for that intervention. I hope that we can look at that in detail.<...; James Gray | 620 c1239 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a powerful point, although it is one that rather puzzles me. I have spen...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1239 (Link to this contribution)
That is very encouraging, but my postbag over the past 18 months—I have received correspondence f...; Ian Blackford | 620 c1239 (Link to this contribution)
I commend the hon. Lady for securing the debate. She is making a powerful contribution. This is a...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1240 (Link to this contribution)
We will leave that very interesting point with the Minister. We must continually be mindful about...; Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton | 620 c1240 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1240 (Link to this contribution)
Oh, the Minister is going to answer the question.; Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton | 620 c1240 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Ian Blackford) for making his point...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 cc1240-1 (Link to this contribution)
I commend the Minister and his devoted team of civil servants in the MOD, who are working tireles...; Martin Docherty-Hughes | 620 c1241 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Lady agree that small and medium-sized businesses in other parts of the United King...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 cc1241-3 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I am keen that MPs from both sides of the House...; Wayne David | 620 c1244 (Link to this contribution)
I hear what the hon. Lady says about military accommodation and I think that we all genuinely sha...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1244 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. We should be extremely mindful of the continuing low...; Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton | 620 c1244 (Link to this contribution)
I do slightly take offence at my hon. Friend’s suggestion that the survey is just a smokescreen t...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1244 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for his comments. My suggestion about a smokescreen is based on the feeling ...; Julian Brazier | 620 c1244 (Link to this contribution)
Much as I respect my hon. Friend the Minister, when we read the questions in the screenshot we ca...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 c1245 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend reflects the deep concerns about the way in which the survey was put together and ...; Andrew Murrison | 620 c1245 (Link to this contribution)
I do not want to get involved in a dispute between two of my hon. Friends, but does my hon. Frien...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 cc1245-6 (Link to this contribution)
Sadly, that is the reality. I talk continually about retention risk. That risk is very real, and ...; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 620 c1246 (Link to this contribution)
I apologise to the House for my inaudibility. I shall attempt by hand signals to explain what I a...; Jeffrey M Donaldson | 620 cc1246-7 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) in this debate....; Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton | 620 c1247 (Link to this contribution)
Let me be absolutely clear. I will not try to evaluate the 83% or 84% figures, but I have been cl...; Jeffrey M Donaldson | 620 cc1247-8 (Link to this contribution)
I very much appreciate the Minister’s intervention, and we will work with him towards that end. I...; Bob Stewart | 620 c1248 (Link to this contribution)
I thought that we were going to set up a national hub or one-stop shop, and I presumed that regio...; Jeffrey M Donaldson | 620 cc1248-9 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is a good friend of the veterans in Northern Ireland. I share his expectation ...; Gordon Marsden | 620 c1249 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman raises a really important issue. It is an issue not just for Northern Ir...; Jeffrey M Donaldson | 620 cc1249-1250 (Link to this contribution)
I cannot add to what the hon. Gentleman has said. He is absolutely right, and I urge the Minister...; 620 c1250 (Link to this contribution); Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 620 c1250 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I hope we can manage this afternoon without a formal time limit, because this is a pleasan...; Gerald Howarth | 620 c1250 (Link to this contribution)
I am delighted to follow the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson) with w...; James Gray | 620 c1250 (Link to this contribution)
On a similar and related point, does my hon. Friend agree that firmly within the Government’s rem...; Gerald Howarth | 620 c1250 (Link to this contribution)
I entirely agree. I felt at the time that that man Phil Shiner was a disgrace. He was a dreadful ...; Andrew Murrison | 620 c1250 (Link to this contribution)
I of course agree with my hon. Friend. Does he agree—I am trying to think of something nice to sa...; Gerald Howarth | 620 c1251 (Link to this contribution)
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend who succeeded me as Minister with responsibility for interna...; Julian Brazier | 620 c1251 (Link to this contribution)
The picture my hon. Friend paints is an excellent one, but I think he would confirm that the cost...; Gerald Howarth | 620 cc1251-2 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely right. I can tell my hon. Friend that the average cost of housing in Aldershot is £259...; Lord Coaker | 620 cc1252-4 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Aldershot (Sir Gerald Howarth), although I did not...; Gerald Howarth | 620 c1254 (Link to this contribution)
In Aldershot, I find that Hampshire County Council has been incredibly enlightened: they make all...; Lord Coaker | 620 c1254 (Link to this contribution)
I am making the more general point that the situation varies across the country. I am sure that i...; James Gray | 620 cc1254-7 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker), who has maintained his in...; Christian Matheson | 620 cc1256-8 (Link to this contribution)
I, too, congratulate the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan), not just on securing...; Bob Stewart | 620 c1258 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Christian Matheson | 620 c1258 (Link to this contribution)
I will always give way to the hon. Gentleman.; Bob Stewart | 620 c1258 (Link to this contribution)
May I remind the House that in the 1970s and 1980s, armed forces personnel were specifically orde...; Christian Matheson | 620 cc1258-9 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. There is, of course, a terrorist threa...; Bob Stewart | 620 c1259 (Link to this contribution)
A fine regiment.; Christian Matheson | 620 cc1259-1260 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, indeed. The decision is myopic and damaging. It will do nothing to maintain morale among the...; Bob Stewart | 620 c1260 (Link to this contribution)
Speaking as someone who has lived in the Dale barracks—my regiment was based there—I remind the H...; Christian Matheson | 620 c1260 (Link to this contribution)
I am most grateful to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, whom I consider a friend. His service in th...; Kirsten Oswald | 620 c1260 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this incredibly important point. Does he agree that, as se...; Christian Matheson | 620 cc1260-1 (Link to this contribution)
I certainly agree with the hon. Lady and shall draw my comments to a close on that very theme.; Julian Brazier | 620 cc1261-3 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) on securing this ...; Gerald Howarth | 620 c1263 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is a complete nonsense that senior military personnel should ha...; Julian Brazier | 620 c1263 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his endorsement. He makes an important additional point.
<...; Tom Tugendhat | 620 c1263 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making some fantastic points, and forgive me for interrupting him because he is...; Julian Brazier | 620 cc1264-5 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. and gallant Friend puts it in a nutshell, much better than I have.
I will finish in...; Marion Fellows | 620 c1265 (Link to this contribution)
First, I thank the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) for securing this debate. I...; Brendan O'Hara | 620 c1265 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is right to highlight the stress that can be caused to servicemen and women, and t...; Marion Fellows | 620 cc1265-7 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I was coming on to that, and indeed will do so short...; Stuart Blair Donaldson | 620 c1266 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making a fantastic speech. I recently visited one of my constituents, who is do...; Natascha Engel | 620 c1266 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I am sorry, but I have just done some calculations and, given the number of Members who wi...; Marion Fellows | 620 cc1266-8 (Link to this contribution)
May I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, lengthy though it was, and say that I appreciate...; Natascha Engel | 620 c1268 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I said that I hoped the hon. Lady was reaching a conclusion. Every minute that she takes i...; Marion Fellows | 620 c1268 (Link to this contribution)
I apologise Madam Deputy Speaker. I got carried away in my enthusiasm.
In Scotland, we try ...; Andrew Murrison | 620 cc1268-9 (Link to this contribution)
It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Marion Fellows). May ...; James Gray | 620 c1269 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that one thing we have to get right is the means by which people are re...; Andrew Murrison | 620 cc1269-1270 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. People simply walk. They do not give a reason; they just get ...; Lisa Cameron | 620 c1270 (Link to this contribution)
This has been an excellent debate with much consensus. I speak as someone who is proud to be the ...; Andrew Murrison | 620 cc1270-1 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, the hon. Lady is absolutely right. If we accept that we have a culture in the armed forces t...; Martin Docherty-Hughes | 620 cc1271-2 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) on bringing this debate to ...; Jack Lopresti | 620 cc1272-3 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) on securing this ...; Stephen Pound | 620 c1273 (Link to this contribution)
As one Royal British Legion vice-president to another, may I tell the hon. Gentleman that I very ...; Jack Lopresti | 620 c1273 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is of course absolutely right. There is a responsibility on our part as Member...; Nick Smith | 620 c1273 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Gentleman support the Royal British Legion’s “Count them in” campaign, which calls ...; Jack Lopresti | 620 cc1273-5 (Link to this contribution)
Of course I will support that. As I said, it is imperative on all of us to link up with local ser...; 620 c1275 (Link to this contribution); Natascha Engel | 620 c1275 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I am afraid the time limit is dropping down to five minutes. I call Danny Kinahan.
4...; Danny Kinahan | 620 cc1275-6 (Link to this contribution)
It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to speak in this debate and to follow the hon. Mem...; Jack Lopresti | 620 c1276 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman and I both serve on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. In the last Parlia...; Danny Kinahan | 620 c1276 (Link to this contribution)
I very much agree. We should have an update. We also have to find a way of drawing a line, perhap...; Bob Stewart | 620 cc1276-7 (Link to this contribution)
The main point of the armed forces covenant is to ensure good morale in our armed forces. Mainten...; Stephen Pound | 620 c1277 (Link to this contribution)
As someone who was around in 1979, I must say that, while I hate to disagree with the hon. and ga...; Bob Stewart | 620 c1277 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely—and graciously—accept that point.
When I went to Bosnia, I learned this lesson...; James Cleverly | 620 c1277 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. and gallant Friend agree that what underpins the strong morale in the fighting eleme...; Bob Stewart | 620 c1277 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my hon. and gallant Friend for that very good intervention. The armed forces covenant wil...; Gordon Marsden | 620 cc1277-9 (Link to this contribution)
I am not quite sure how to follow the last point made by the hon. and gallant Member for Beckenha...; Rishi Sunak | 620 cc1279-1280 (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Gordon Marsden). I pay tribute to...; Tom Tugendhat | 620 cc1280-1 (Link to this contribution)
I welcome the report, and I particularly welcome the work of my hon. Friend the Member for Berwic...; Jack Lopresti | 620 c1281 (Link to this contribution)
In the light of my hon. Friend’s military service and the operational tours that he has done, may...; Tom Tugendhat | 620 c1281 (Link to this contribution)
I have only a few minutes to speak, so if my hon. Friend will forgive me, I will not talk much ab...; James Cleverly | 620 c1281 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my hon. and gallant Friend for giving way. On the question of support networks, does he a...; Tom Tugendhat | 620 c1282 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. and gallant Friend speaks absolutely correctly. Of course, he will know this very well, h...; Julian Lewis | 620 cc1282-3 (Link to this contribution)
I shall begin with a number of expressions of gratitude: gratitude to the Chair for allowing me t...; Tom Tugendhat | 620 c1283 (Link to this contribution)
Does my right hon. Friend agree that there are other lawyers who might be included in the points ...; Julian Lewis | 620 cc1283-4 (Link to this contribution)
I would say that we have to find a system to ensure that what happened in Iraq is never allowed t...; Kirsten Oswald | 620 cc1284-6 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) and the Backbench Business Committ...; Nia Griffith | 620 cc1286-9 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mrs Trevelyan) on securing today’s debate ...; Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton | 620 cc1289-1291 (Link to this contribution)
In the six minutes I have to respond to the debate—if I am to allow my hon. Friend the Member for...; Anne-Marie Trevelyan | 620 cc1291-2 (Link to this contribution)
I thank all colleagues who have spent their Thursday afternoon here in the Chamber rather than in...; Martin Docherty-Hughes | 620 c1292 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Earlier today, you may recall that the Secretary of St...; Natascha Engel | 620 c1292 (Link to this contribution)
I think the hon. Gentleman has quite successfully just done so himself. I am sure that the Treasu...
Subjects: Armed forces Armed forces covenant
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

Armed Forces Covenant

Secondary information

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