To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists have been mobilised under the Reserve Forces Act 1994 and served longer than 12 months mobilised service for or in support of (a) Operation Telic and (b) Operation Herrick excluding personnel retained on Y list for medical conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists have been mobilised under the Reserve Forces Act 1994 and served longer than 12 months mobilised service for or in support of (a) Operation Telic and (b) Operation Herrick excluding personnel retained on Y list for medical conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops were stationed in Germany in each of the last five years; and how many have been stationed there in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops were stationed in Germany in each of the last five years; and how many have been stationed there in 2006.

What is the current trained strength of (a) regular; and (b) reserve personnel in (i) the Army; (ii) the Royal Navy; and (iii) the Royal Air Force; and how many in each category are planned to be abroad on 15 December 2006.

What is the current trained strength of (a) regular; and (b) reserve personnel in (i) the Army; (ii) the Royal Navy; and (iii) the Royal Air Force; and how many in each category are planned to be abroad on 15 December 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what deployments have been made of units stationed in Germany in each year since 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what deployments have been made of units stationed in Germany in each year since 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are (a) deployed and (b) stationed in (i) Germany, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (iv) Croatia, (v) Kosovo, (vi) Albania, (vii) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (viii) Sierra Leone, (ix) the Gulf Region, (x) Turkey, (xi)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are (a) deployed and (b) stationed in (i) Germany, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (iv) Croatia, (v) Kosovo, (vi) Albania, (vii) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (viii) Sierra Leone, (ix) the Gulf Region, (x) Turkey, (xi)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the last three operational deployments were of (a) 40 Commando, (b) 42 Commando, (c) 45 Commando and (d) 28 Regiment Royal Engineers; and what the length of time was between each such deployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the last three operational deployments were of (a) 40 Commando, (b) 42 Commando, (c) 45 Commando and (d) 28 Regiment Royal Engineers; and what the length of time was between each such deployment.

My Lords, I oppose the amendment. First, new subsection (1) does not have sufficient flexibility to implement the UN protocol. For instance, as drafted, it would mean that service personnel under 18 could not deploy on overseas exercises or ships—certainly not overseas exercises outside NATO or EU states. A good...

My Lords, I oppose the amendment. First, new subsection (1) does not have sufficient flexibility to implement the UN protocol. For instance, as drafted, it would mean that service personnel under 18 could not deploy on overseas exercises or ships—certainly not overseas exercises outside NATO or EU states. A good...

My Lords, we cannot support the amendment. I believe that it would be inappropriate and unnecessarily restrictive to put such a provision in statutory form, worthy though some of the motives behind doing so may be. There are long-established and important procedures relating to under-18s, some of which the noble...

My Lords, we cannot support the amendment. I believe that it would be inappropriate and unnecessarily restrictive to put such a provision in statutory form, worthy though some of the motives behind doing so may be. There are long-established and important procedures relating to under-18s, some of which the noble...

My Lords, I may be corrected, but while going around the apprentice college at Harrogate and the subsequent training facility at Catterick, I have observed that one can be a trained soldier at 17 just as well as at 18. They have the same responsibilities. One cannot base something on...

My Lords, I may be corrected, but while going around the apprentice college at Harrogate and the subsequent training facility at Catterick, I have observed that one can be a trained soldier at 17 just as well as at 18. They have the same responsibilities. One cannot base something on...

My Lords, I listened carefully to the noble Lord, Lord Garden, presenting and explaining his amendment. When I looked at it before he spoke, it seemed like a multiple independent military vehicle. First, it says clearly in subsection (1), "““under the age of 18””." I was not aware until my...

My Lords, I listened carefully to the noble Lord, Lord Garden, presenting and explaining his amendment. When I looked at it before he spoke, it seemed like a multiple independent military vehicle. First, it says clearly in subsection (1), "““under the age of 18””." I was not aware until my...

My Lords, the Minister will be unsurprised that I have not been reassured by his reiteration of the Government’s position. Various noble Lords explained why it is difficult to do the things that this amendment requires. It is certainly difficult, but there is an international perspective that 18 is the...

My Lords, the Minister will be unsurprised that I have not been reassured by his reiteration of the Government’s position. Various noble Lords explained why it is difficult to do the things that this amendment requires. It is certainly difficult, but there is an international perspective that 18 is the...

My Lords, before turning to Amendment No. 6, I want to say that during our most useful debate in Committee, the noble Lord, Lord Garden, mentioned that I may have been mistaken in referring to recruits under the age of 18 at Harrogate. Of course, he was quite correct in...

My Lords, before turning to Amendment No. 6, I want to say that during our most useful debate in Committee, the noble Lord, Lord Garden, mentioned that I may have been mistaken in referring to recruits under the age of 18 at Harrogate. Of course, he was quite correct in...

My Lords, I shall be brief. We now know, as the noble Lord, Lord Drayson, said on 12 October, that arrangements for these flights are, "““part of the normal arrangements between states””.—[Official Report, 12/10/06; col. 440.]" We also know, from the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland of Asthal, on 18 October...

My Lords, I shall be brief. We now know, as the noble Lord, Lord Drayson, said on 12 October, that arrangements for these flights are, "““part of the normal arrangements between states””.—[Official Report, 12/10/06; col. 440.]" We also know, from the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland of Asthal, on 18 October...

moved Amendment No. 7: After Clause 359, insert the following new clause- ““FLIGHTS BY FOREIGN AIRCRAFTS AT MILITARY AIRFIELDS (1) The Defence Council may by regulations make provision for the handling of foreign aircraft at military facilities, to ensure that such aircraft are complying with United Kingdom legal requirements and...

moved Amendment No. 7: After Clause 359, insert the following new clause- ““FLIGHTS BY FOREIGN AIRCRAFTS AT MILITARY AIRFIELDS (1) The Defence Council may by regulations make provision for the handling of foreign aircraft at military facilities, to ensure that such aircraft are complying with United Kingdom legal requirements and...

moved Amendment No. 6: After Clause 340, insert the following new clause- ““SPECIAL PROVISION FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (1) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to serve in combat areas. (2) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to...

moved Amendment No. 6: After Clause 340, insert the following new clause- ““SPECIAL PROVISION FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (1) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to serve in combat areas. (2) Service personnel under the age of 18 are not permitted to...

My Lords, the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, has pointed out the gap or hole in the Bill. In response, the Minister pointed to the fact that a juvenile will be dealt with by a single judge advocate who has the powers of a judge in a youth court. Does that...

My Lords, the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, has pointed out the gap or hole in the Bill. In response, the Minister pointed to the fact that a juvenile will be dealt with by a single judge advocate who has the powers of a judge in a youth court. Does that...

My Lords, Amendment No. 5 would prevent civilians who are under 18 years of age from being tried before the court martial. On24 October, the European Court of Human Rights gave its judgment in the case of Martin. We need to be clear about what it decided. The case was...

My Lords, Amendment No. 5 would prevent civilians who are under 18 years of age from being tried before the court martial. On24 October, the European Court of Human Rights gave its judgment in the case of Martin. We need to be clear about what it decided. The case was...

My Lords, the noble Lord said that I was suggesting that the court-martial system was deficient. Your Lordships might not take it from me, but you might take it from the unanimous decision of the European Court of Human Rights, pronounced a fortnight ago. It said that it was impossible...

My Lords, the noble Lord said that I was suggesting that the court-martial system was deficient. Your Lordships might not take it from me, but you might take it from the unanimous decision of the European Court of Human Rights, pronounced a fortnight ago. It said that it was impossible...

My Lords, in our earlier debates, the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, sought to prevent this Bill extending the jurisdiction of the military criminal justice system in relation to most serious offences committed in the United Kingdom. He argued for retaining the current legislative position and proposed an amendment...

My Lords, in our earlier debates, the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, sought to prevent this Bill extending the jurisdiction of the military criminal justice system in relation to most serious offences committed in the United Kingdom. He argued for retaining the current legislative position and proposed an amendment...