Lords debate on motion to take note of matters relating to Her Majesty's Armed Forces and the service personnel Command Paper (Cm 7424). Agreed to on question.

Lords debate on motion to take note of matters relating to Her Majesty's Armed Forces and the service personnel Command Paper (Cm 7424). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, we on these Benches also welcome the White Paper. My party, like the others, has done considerable work and published on the military covenant and support for our Armed Forces, and there is a great deal of common ground in this White Paper with which we can all...

My Lords, we on these Benches also welcome the White Paper. My party, like the others, has done considerable work and published on the military covenant and support for our Armed Forces, and there is a great deal of common ground in this White Paper with which we can all...

My Lords, I join the Minister in paying tribute to our Armed Forces who are serving on our behalf, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to their families who support them. I also join the Minister in paying tribute to those who have given their lives for this country in...

My Lords, I join the Minister in paying tribute to our Armed Forces who are serving on our behalf, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to their families who support them. I also join the Minister in paying tribute to those who have given their lives for this country in...

My Lords, I thank all those who contributed to this debate. There have been common themes in what we have all said. While there will be differences in emphasis and on particular issues, it is clear that all noble Lords share an admiration for those who fight on our behalf...

My Lords, I thank all those who contributed to this debate. There have been common themes in what we have all said. While there will be differences in emphasis and on particular issues, it is clear that all noble Lords share an admiration for those who fight on our behalf...

rose to move, That this House takes note of matters relating to Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and the service personnel Command Paper (Cm 7424). The noble Baroness said: My Lords, this debate is very timely and will be welcomed by Members on all sides of the House. Recently, we have...

rose to move, That this House takes note of matters relating to Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and the service personnel Command Paper (Cm 7424). The noble Baroness said: My Lords, this debate is very timely and will be welcomed by Members on all sides of the House. Recently, we have...

My Lords, a great many such parcels have already been collected. Last year, many were sent to Afghanistan and the response from the troops was one of great gratitude and appreciation. I understand the problem, but will the Minister think again on this point?

My Lords, a great many such parcels have already been collected. Last year, many were sent to Afghanistan and the response from the troops was one of great gratitude and appreciation. I understand the problem, but will the Minister think again on this point?

My Lords, I put on record that I hope that all parties in this House would commit themselves to an increase in defence expenditure.

My Lords, I put on record that I hope that all parties in this House would commit themselves to an increase in defence expenditure.

I understand the point, my Lords. There is a system in operation to get non-addressed parcels out to as many people as possible, but those are from a recognised charity. Last December I went to Brize Norton and saw the boxes for myself. Many of them contained unsuitable items such...

I understand the point, my Lords. There is a system in operation to get non-addressed parcels out to as many people as possible, but those are from a recognised charity. Last December I went to Brize Norton and saw the boxes for myself. Many of them contained unsuitable items such...

My Lords, I hear the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig, echoing that. I am sorry, it was my noble friend Lord Gilbert, who has sneaked round from the other side of the Chamber and is now in his more usual place. He has long advocated that a lot more...

My Lords, I hear the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig, echoing that. I am sorry, it was my noble friend Lord Gilbert, who has sneaked round from the other side of the Chamber and is now in his more usual place. He has long advocated that a lot more...

My Lords, I shall be brief. I have two questions for the Minister, both relating to matters of severe welfare concern to two categories of members of the Armed Forces. I am sure that the noble Baroness will be aware of the workings of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act...

My Lords, I shall be brief. I have two questions for the Minister, both relating to matters of severe welfare concern to two categories of members of the Armed Forces. I am sure that the noble Baroness will be aware of the workings of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act...

My Lords, it is 90 years since the Armistice which brought an end to the tragic and needless slaughter of the First World War. It is difficult to argue that the world has learnt the lessons of the futility of war, or has become more civilised. We find ourselves engaged...

My Lords, it is 90 years since the Armistice which brought an end to the tragic and needless slaughter of the First World War. It is difficult to argue that the world has learnt the lessons of the futility of war, or has become more civilised. We find ourselves engaged...

My Lords, I am most happy to add my wholehearted support for all the men and women who have served or are serving right now in the regular and volunteer forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. The bravery and dedication of these troops and the valiant support of their families is...

My Lords, I am most happy to add my wholehearted support for all the men and women who have served or are serving right now in the regular and volunteer forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. The bravery and dedication of these troops and the valiant support of their families is...

My Lords, it is entirely appropriate that the first photograph of a serviceman in the Command Paper is of a Royal Marine—the photograph is on page 7, in chapter 1, ““The Context””. He is, I believe, a member of the Armoured Support Group and was in the Royal Gallery the...

My Lords, it is entirely appropriate that the first photograph of a serviceman in the Command Paper is of a Royal Marine—the photograph is on page 7, in chapter 1, ““The Context””. He is, I believe, a member of the Armoured Support Group and was in the Royal Gallery the...

My Lords, first, I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to discuss this particularly important subject today. Secondly, as noble Lords will see, I am a bit down the batting list. However, after the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, and the noble and gallant Lord, Lord...

My Lords, first, I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to discuss this particularly important subject today. Secondly, as noble Lords will see, I am a bit down the batting list. However, after the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, and the noble and gallant Lord, Lord...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the debate and the White Paper on which it is based. With our troops engaged in armed conflict in two major theatres, it is absolutely right that we regularly look at all the issues concerning them. This applies not only to their physical and equipment...

My Lords, I, too, welcome the debate and the White Paper on which it is based. With our troops engaged in armed conflict in two major theatres, it is absolutely right that we regularly look at all the issues concerning them. This applies not only to their physical and equipment...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity that this debate gives us to discuss a number of very important issues and I congratulate the Minister on securing it. It is to the Government's credit that at long last, in Command Paper 7424, they have taken more seriously than heretofore the importance...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity that this debate gives us to discuss a number of very important issues and I congratulate the Minister on securing it. It is to the Government's credit that at long last, in Command Paper 7424, they have taken more seriously than heretofore the importance...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the Minister for raising the debate, and I support her comments on the poignancy of the Remembrance services. I was in Osnabruck on 11 November and shared in a service with the personnel there. They had just returned from Afghanistan and...

My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the Minister for raising the debate, and I support her comments on the poignancy of the Remembrance services. I was in Osnabruck on 11 November and shared in a service with the personnel there. They had just returned from Afghanistan and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent Armed Forces Families' Attitude Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent Armed Forces Families' Attitude Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the latest service families continuous attitude survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the latest service families continuous attitude survey.

Letter dated 21/10/2008 from Bob Ainsworth MP to James Gray MP regarding payment of compensation to bereaved families. 2 p.

Letter dated 21/10/2008 from Bob Ainsworth MP to James Gray MP regarding payment of compensation to bereaved families. 2 p.