Adjournment debate on compassionate leave for service personnel (case of Corporal Bronwen Pickup)

Adjournment debate on compassionate leave for service personnel (case of Corporal Bronwen Pickup)

I am grateful for the granting of this Adjournment debate. Although there have been many debates and many questions have been asked relating to defence and the armed forces in recent years, Parliament has only touched on the subject of compassionate leave for service personnel. As such, I hope that...

I am grateful for the granting of this Adjournment debate. Although there have been many debates and many questions have been asked relating to defence and the armed forces in recent years, Parliament has only touched on the subject of compassionate leave for service personnel. As such, I hope that...

If the hon. Gentleman thinks that Ministers draft every letter, he should get into the real world. Clearly, the system exists to help Ministers, who have ultimate responsibility for what goes out in their name. The Government and the services recognise that welfare is an important and integral element of...

If the hon. Gentleman thinks that Ministers draft every letter, he should get into the real world. Clearly, the system exists to help Ministers, who have ultimate responsibility for what goes out in their name. The Government and the services recognise that welfare is an important and integral element of...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

I welcome the opportunity to debate a narrow but highly important aspect of welfare support for our service personnel and their families. Although I will deal with compassionate leave in particular, it would be useful if I set out the context of the overall welfare support that we provide our...

I welcome the opportunity to debate a narrow but highly important aspect of welfare support for our service personnel and their families. Although I will deal with compassionate leave in particular, it would be useful if I set out the context of the overall welfare support that we provide our...

I would have hoped the letter had been drafted by a Minister.

I would have hoped the letter had been drafted by a Minister.

No. To call someone who drafts a letter for a Minister a ““minion”” is demeaning of the hon. Gentleman, not of the individual who gives support—

No. To call someone who drafts a letter for a Minister a ““minion”” is demeaning of the hon. Gentleman, not of the individual who gives support—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many workers at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (a) are absent from work on full pay and (b) have been for more than one month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many workers at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (a) are absent from work on full pay and (b) have been for more than one month.

Work and Families Bill. Programme motion (No 2) on consideration of Lords amendments. Agreed to on question (formal). Consideration of Lords amendments. Lords amendment considered and agreed to.

Work and Families Bill. Programme motion (No 2) on consideration of Lords amendments. Agreed to on question (formal). Consideration of Lords amendments. Lords amendment considered and agreed to.

I welcome the Minister. We agree. Lords amendment agreed to.

I welcome the Minister. We agree. Lords amendment agreed to.

I beg to move, that this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment. The Lords amendment was tabled by the Government to correct a minor drafting error in schedule 1, which amends section 80E of the Employment Rights Act 1996. At paragraph 38, line 32 the schedule currently...

I beg to move, that this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment. The Lords amendment was tabled by the Government to correct a minor drafting error in schedule 1, which amends section 80E of the Employment Rights Act 1996. At paragraph 38, line 32 the schedule currently...

May I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister to his new post and congratulate him on the excellent brevity of his first speech on this subject? May I astound the House by agreeing with him entirely in every word? This is clearly a drafting error. The Bill does not...

May I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister to his new post and congratulate him on the excellent brevity of his first speech on this subject? May I astound the House by agreeing with him entirely in every word? This is clearly a drafting error. The Bill does not...

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria staff in his office have to fulfil before they become eligible for fully paid leave.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria staff in his office have to fulfil before they become eligible for fully paid leave.

Work and Families Bill. Queen's Consent signified. Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed and returned to the Commons with an amendment.

Work and Families Bill. Queen's Consent signified. Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed and returned to the Commons with an amendment.

My Lords, the amendment moved by the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, seeks to make it easier for fathers to take the leave to which they already have an entitlement. I agree wholeheartedly with her comments about the importance of fathers, particularly in those early stages of a baby’s life. On Report, I said:"““One...

My Lords, the amendment moved by the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, seeks to make it easier for fathers to take the leave to which they already have an entitlement. I agree wholeheartedly with her comments about the importance of fathers, particularly in those early stages of a baby’s life. On Report, I said:"““One...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply and the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, for her comments. It seems to me that the Government are putting businesses before families. I do not believe that it would do families any good if businesses were put under undue pressure and were to...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply and the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, for her comments. It seems to me that the Government are putting businesses before families. I do not believe that it would do families any good if businesses were put under undue pressure and were to...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, for introducing these amendments and acknowledge that they ameliorate those she produced earlier and are based on agreement with the employer. We have listened to all sides in our consultations and discussions, but, obviously, there is not always agreement particularly on the practicalities....

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, for introducing these amendments and acknowledge that they ameliorate those she produced earlier and are based on agreement with the employer. We have listened to all sides in our consultations and discussions, but, obviously, there is not always agreement particularly on the practicalities....

moved Amendment No. 3:"Page 11, line 39, at end insert—" ““(   )   If no regulations phasing the inclusion of Bank Holidays pursuant to subsection (7) have been approved by both Houses of Parliament by 31st December 2008, this section shall expire and be of no further effect.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, before I speak to the...

moved Amendment No. 3:"Page 11, line 39, at end insert—" ““(   )   If no regulations phasing the inclusion of Bank Holidays pursuant to subsection (7) have been approved by both Houses of Parliament by 31st December 2008, this section shall expire and be of no further effect.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, before I speak to the...

My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Work and Families Bill, has consented to place her Interests, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament...

My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Work and Families Bill, has consented to place her Interests, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament...