Queen's speech debate (second day) on foreign affairs and defence.

Queen's speech debate (second day) on foreign affairs and defence.

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me at this stage. To use the term employed by the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), you have released me from ““extraordinary rendition””, which many other Members who are waiting to make their maiden speeches have been experiencing. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me at this stage. To use the term employed by the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), you have released me from ““extraordinary rendition””, which many other Members who are waiting to make their maiden speeches have been experiencing. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker...

I am grateful for the opportunity to make my maiden speech early in this Parliament, particularly in a debate where there have been many valuable contributions. I should like to single out the maiden speech by the hon. Member for Leicester, South (Sir Peter Soulsby), who mentioned De Montfort university....

I am grateful for the opportunity to make my maiden speech early in this Parliament, particularly in a debate where there have been many valuable contributions. I should like to single out the maiden speech by the hon. Member for Leicester, South (Sir Peter Soulsby), who mentioned De Montfort university....

I am proud to have been elected to serve as the Member for Halifax, which is my home town where I was born and educated. I am proud also to be part of an historic third term of a Labour Government. I pay tribute to my predecessor, Alice Mahon, who...

I am proud to have been elected to serve as the Member for Halifax, which is my home town where I was born and educated. I am proud also to be part of an historic third term of a Labour Government. I pay tribute to my predecessor, Alice Mahon, who...

Well, I remember that the Committee was agreed that the powers of the House of Lords were largely satisfactory and should be left as they were, and that we came round to the view that those powers could more effectively and properly be exercised by a House with greater legitimacy...

Well, I remember that the Committee was agreed that the powers of the House of Lords were largely satisfactory and should be left as they were, and that we came round to the view that those powers could more effectively and properly be exercised by a House with greater legitimacy...

The hon. Gentleman made an intriguing reference to a preliminary decision having already been taken in 2004. I do not follow defence matters as closely as many Members, but could he remind me what preliminary decision has been taken? Has any decision been taken other than to carry out a...

The hon. Gentleman made an intriguing reference to a preliminary decision having already been taken in 2004. I do not follow defence matters as closely as many Members, but could he remind me what preliminary decision has been taken? Has any decision been taken other than to carry out a...

The right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Kenneth Clarke) entertained the House with a characteristically fluent and amusing speech and made some very cogent points as well. I must disagree with his suggestion that the Government wasted their first term of office—or did he say their first two terms?...

The right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Kenneth Clarke) entertained the House with a characteristically fluent and amusing speech and made some very cogent points as well. I must disagree with his suggestion that the Government wasted their first term of office—or did he say their first two terms?...

Does the hon. Gentleman perhaps have in mind the reports that preliminary work had started at both Aldermaston and Burghfield? If my recollection is correct, those reports surfaced about 18 months ago.

Does the hon. Gentleman perhaps have in mind the reports that preliminary work had started at both Aldermaston and Burghfield? If my recollection is correct, those reports surfaced about 18 months ago.

I think that the Government’s position is that all options are still open, but there was some discussion at a high level 18 months ago. I do not think that any firm decision has been taken and my point to the House—I repeat it now—is that I hope that the...

I think that the Government’s position is that all options are still open, but there was some discussion at a high level 18 months ago. I do not think that any firm decision has been taken and my point to the House—I repeat it now—is that I hope that the...

Rendition.

Rendition.

I do, indeed, have in mind those reports, which have been in the public domain for some time. I also wish to say a word about our relationship with the United States. The Gracious Speech talks of strengthening and deepening relations between the US and the European Union, and I...

I do, indeed, have in mind those reports, which have been in the public domain for some time. I also wish to say a word about our relationship with the United States. The Gracious Speech talks of strengthening and deepening relations between the US and the European Union, and I...

Yes, ““extraordinary rendition””. We ought to know a little more about extraordinary rendition and should not close our eyes to it. We are supposed to be fighting for democracy and the United States says that it is signed up to the same values as we are. Let us make sure...

Yes, ““extraordinary rendition””. We ought to know a little more about extraordinary rendition and should not close our eyes to it. We are supposed to be fighting for democracy and the United States says that it is signed up to the same values as we are. Let us make sure...

I rise with both surprise and humility: surprise that there is not more competition from Labour Members to laud the Government’s achievements on international affairs and defence; and humility following the two excellent maiden speeches to which the House has been treated. I am from the Marches myself—Monmouth does not...

I rise with both surprise and humility: surprise that there is not more competition from Labour Members to laud the Government’s achievements on international affairs and defence; and humility following the two excellent maiden speeches to which the House has been treated. I am from the Marches myself—Monmouth does not...

These occasions inevitably assume some of the characteristics of a tour d’horizon, but since we all have our own pairs of binoculars, we sometimes see the horizon in different ways. That is why I apologise to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) for not following him in focusing...

These occasions inevitably assume some of the characteristics of a tour d’horizon, but since we all have our own pairs of binoculars, we sometimes see the horizon in different ways. That is why I apologise to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) for not following him in focusing...

I am listening to the right hon. and learned Gentleman with great interest. Like every other analyst of this situation, he will appreciate that if it is to improve, there must be greater security. If the Iraqi forces are to be trained to take up that role, it is necessary...

I am listening to the right hon. and learned Gentleman with great interest. Like every other analyst of this situation, he will appreciate that if it is to improve, there must be greater security. If the Iraqi forces are to be trained to take up that role, it is necessary...

More.

More.

My parliamentary neighbour is very kind, but I will have to deny her the pleasure of listening to me for very much longer. I want to conclude with a point that I made during an intervention on the Minister, and that is the issue of the non-proliferation treaty review conference...

My parliamentary neighbour is very kind, but I will have to deny her the pleasure of listening to me for very much longer. I want to conclude with a point that I made during an intervention on the Minister, and that is the issue of the non-proliferation treaty review conference...

I agree very much with what the hon. Gentleman said about the emerging consensus on trade policy; I focused extensively on it in my election literature. As trade distorting subsidies to western agricultural production are the knowing, deliberate and calculated policies of the richest Governments on earth to make the...

I agree very much with what the hon. Gentleman said about the emerging consensus on trade policy; I focused extensively on it in my election literature. As trade distorting subsidies to western agricultural production are the knowing, deliberate and calculated policies of the richest Governments on earth to make the...

I am astonished and welcome the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. I agree that we will have to take on very powerful lobbies, and in the United States the federal Government’s heavy subsidising of powerful interests to dump food on Africa and other parts of the world, but particularly on Africa, amounts...

I am astonished and welcome the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. I agree that we will have to take on very powerful lobbies, and in the United States the federal Government’s heavy subsidising of powerful interests to dump food on Africa and other parts of the world, but particularly on Africa, amounts...

Does my hon. Friend agree that while we welcome and support the personal commitment by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fighting poverty in Africa and the poorest countries, that campaign should not be conducted at the expense of middle income countries that are our traditional...

Does my hon. Friend agree that while we welcome and support the personal commitment by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fighting poverty in Africa and the poorest countries, that campaign should not be conducted at the expense of middle income countries that are our traditional...