The Minister says that no TA soldiers will be deployed to Afghanistan unless they have been on pre-deployment training. Does he accept that a large number of TA soldiers may choose to walk away because of these spending cuts, so there will be fewer soldiers to go on pre-deployment training...

The Minister says that no TA soldiers will be deployed to Afghanistan unless they have been on pre-deployment training. Does he accept that a large number of TA soldiers may choose to walk away because of these spending cuts, so there will be fewer soldiers to go on pre-deployment training...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of food consumed by members of the armed forces in Helmand province consisted of locally-grown agricultural products in the latest period for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of food consumed by members of the armed forces in Helmand province consisted of locally-grown agricultural products in the latest period for which figures are available.

An increasing number of young ladies are now playing roles in the armed forces. What is the hon. Lady's view of females being put in the front line of infantry regiments, in the killing field?

An increasing number of young ladies are now playing roles in the armed forces. What is the hon. Lady's view of females being put in the front line of infantry regiments, in the killing field?

The right hon. Gentleman said that the size of the Army was about 100,000. Is it his understanding that approximately 10 per cent. are from overseas? Does he agree that there is a need to recruit more from the United Kingdom if we are not to become increasingly dependent on...

The right hon. Gentleman said that the size of the Army was about 100,000. Is it his understanding that approximately 10 per cent. are from overseas? Does he agree that there is a need to recruit more from the United Kingdom if we are not to become increasingly dependent on...

The international community is preparing to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-day, but in Colchester, a much fresher and more raw anniversary will be marked next week. It will be the first anniversary of the deaths of the soldiers of the 2nd battalion, the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. I want...

The international community is preparing to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-day, but in Colchester, a much fresher and more raw anniversary will be marked next week. It will be the first anniversary of the deaths of the soldiers of the 2nd battalion, the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. I want...

This is a NATO exercise as far as I am concerned, and the consequences of whatever goes wrong in Afghanistan are exported to mainland Europe as well as to the United Kingdom. Whatever the background as to why we are where we are, I want to make my point as...

This is a NATO exercise as far as I am concerned, and the consequences of whatever goes wrong in Afghanistan are exported to mainland Europe as well as to the United Kingdom. Whatever the background as to why we are where we are, I want to make my point as...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the armed forces who have applied for re-enlistment in the last 12 months are awaiting a decision; what the longest period an applicant has waited for a decision in the last five years is; and if he...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the armed forces who have applied for re-enlistment in the last 12 months are awaiting a decision; what the longest period an applicant has waited for a decision in the last five years is; and if he...

Can the Minister confirm without any shadow of doubt that the decision made in 2004 to allow Gurkhas who retired from 1997 onwards was retrospective, and that his ministerial colleague is therefore wrong to say that there cannot be retrospective legislation?

Can the Minister confirm without any shadow of doubt that the decision made in 2004 to allow Gurkhas who retired from 1997 onwards was retrospective, and that his ministerial colleague is therefore wrong to say that there cannot be retrospective legislation?

I shall speak only briefly. The bottom line has to be that procurement should be reliable and involve security of supply. I hope that, in summing up, the Minister will give us such assurances because the experience has been that reliability and security of supply are not always there. I...

I shall speak only briefly. The bottom line has to be that procurement should be reliable and involve security of supply. I hope that, in summing up, the Minister will give us such assurances because the experience has been that reliability and security of supply are not always there. I...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions in each of the last three years flights between the UK and the Falklands Islands were cancelled because weather conditions prevented aircraft from landing on Ascension Island;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions in each of the last three years flights between the UK and the Falklands Islands were cancelled because weather conditions prevented aircraft from landing on Ascension Island;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian places are available each week on the RAF aircraft services between the UK and the Falklands Islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian places are available each week on the RAF aircraft services between the UK and the Falklands Islands.

(2) what alternative routes between the UK and the Falkland Islands are available in the event of a closure to aircraft of Ascension Island.

(2) what alternative routes between the UK and the Falkland Islands are available in the event of a closure to aircraft of Ascension Island.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on encouraging former members of the armed forces to re-enlist; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on encouraging former members of the armed forces to re-enlist; and if he will make a statement.

Does my hon. Friend agree that that is a legacy of the privatisation by the previous Government of the MOD housing stock to Annington Homes? It also represents the failure of this Government to address the problem, because 12 years down the line the public purse is still spending a...

Does my hon. Friend agree that that is a legacy of the privatisation by the previous Government of the MOD housing stock to Annington Homes? It also represents the failure of this Government to address the problem, because 12 years down the line the public purse is still spending a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of each of the armed forces re-enlisted in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of each of the armed forces re-enlisted in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) medals for gallantry in the face of the enemy, (b) gallantry medals in other situations and (c) mentions in despatches were awarded in each of the Operation Herrick deployments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) medals for gallantry in the face of the enemy, (b) gallantry medals in other situations and (c) mentions in despatches were awarded in each of the Operation Herrick deployments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to increase the number of military tattoos held each year; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to increase the number of military tattoos held each year; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department worked in the Veterans Advice Unit in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many currently work in the Unit; and how many he estimates will work in the Unit in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department worked in the Veterans Advice Unit in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many currently work in the Unit; and how many he estimates will work in the Unit in...

(2) whether he has met the hon. Member for North Essex to discuss the involvement of his Department in a military academy school or a military vocational college at Colchester; and if he will make a statement.

(2) whether he has met the hon. Member for North Essex to discuss the involvement of his Department in a military academy school or a military vocational college at Colchester; and if he will make a statement.