Letter dated 01/04/2010 from Stephen Timms MP to Mark Hoban MP regarding secondary legislation to the Finance Bill 2009-10. 14 p.

Letter dated 01/04/2010 from Stephen Timms MP to Mark Hoban MP regarding secondary legislation to the Finance Bill 2009-10. 14 p.

Debate on a motion for the adjournment on armed forces personnel.

Debate on a motion for the adjournment on armed forces personnel.

Leaving aside the practical implications of the cut to the TA budget that the Minister is announcing, what signal does he think he is sending out to it by doing that at a time when we are using the TA for operations more than we ever have in the past?

Leaving aside the practical implications of the cut to the TA budget that the Minister is announcing, what signal does he think he is sending out to it by doing that at a time when we are using the TA for operations more than we ever have in the past?

I am very pleased to be able to take part in this debate and pay my tribute to our servicemen and women, who carry out very difficult tasks on our behalf and often suffer severe injuries. Like the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Derek Conway), when I meet...

I am very pleased to be able to take part in this debate and pay my tribute to our servicemen and women, who carry out very difficult tasks on our behalf and often suffer severe injuries. Like the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Derek Conway), when I meet...

I will listen to, and then read with interest, what the hon. Gentleman has to say, as he has personal experience on this matter. Ministers make judgments based on the best advice they receive. There are financial pressures which must be addressed if we want to do certain things; it...

I will listen to, and then read with interest, what the hon. Gentleman has to say, as he has personal experience on this matter. Ministers make judgments based on the best advice they receive. There are financial pressures which must be addressed if we want to do certain things; it...

I intend to explain at length to the Minister how that will adversely impact on the TA. Will he at least acknowledge that, because of the nature of the TA, a £5 million cut in its budget is equivalent to a £50 million cut in the budget of the regular...

I intend to explain at length to the Minister how that will adversely impact on the TA. Will he at least acknowledge that, because of the nature of the TA, a £5 million cut in its budget is equivalent to a £50 million cut in the budget of the regular...

I am about to come on to that point, but let me say for now that I agree that we have to come up with imaginative solutions to such questions. The work/life balance must figure highly in our considerations on what we do for our armed forces. On accommodation, in...

I am about to come on to that point, but let me say for now that I agree that we have to come up with imaginative solutions to such questions. The work/life balance must figure highly in our considerations on what we do for our armed forces. On accommodation, in...

Is no consideration at all being given to allowing members of the armed forces to have, like other citizens, part-ownership of their property, so that they can take that capital with them when they retire?

Is no consideration at all being given to allowing members of the armed forces to have, like other citizens, part-ownership of their property, so that they can take that capital with them when they retire?

The restructuring of the Army—such as of regiments—will create a change in roles. Previous Administrations and chiefs of staff ducked ending the arms plot; although it was transparently obvious that that needed to be done, they did not do so, but we have tackled that. That can be embedded by...

The restructuring of the Army—such as of regiments—will create a change in roles. Previous Administrations and chiefs of staff ducked ending the arms plot; although it was transparently obvious that that needed to be done, they did not do so, but we have tackled that. That can be embedded by...

We hear, very clearly, how money is being invested, but what the armed forces in my constituency want is a permanent home base. They do not want to be moved around, and they do not want their children to be moved around. In what way are we accommodating that requirement?

We hear, very clearly, how money is being invested, but what the armed forces in my constituency want is a permanent home base. They do not want to be moved around, and they do not want their children to be moved around. In what way are we accommodating that requirement?

As the Minister knows, I have a particular interest in this issue. What would he say to Lieutenant-Colonel Parker—to whom he may be referring—who has said that treatment in Afghanistan is excessively slow and has catalogued a range of shortcomings, of which he has first-hand and expert experience, in the...

As the Minister knows, I have a particular interest in this issue. What would he say to Lieutenant-Colonel Parker—to whom he may be referring—who has said that treatment in Afghanistan is excessively slow and has catalogued a range of shortcomings, of which he has first-hand and expert experience, in the...

I do not accept the allegation of complacency. That is an outrageous comment. I recognise the role played by the hon. Gentleman in Iraq or Afghanistan—I cannot remember where he served—but I do not accept the charge of complacency. I have set out what we do, which is better than...

I do not accept the allegation of complacency. That is an outrageous comment. I recognise the role played by the hon. Gentleman in Iraq or Afghanistan—I cannot remember where he served—but I do not accept the charge of complacency. I have set out what we do, which is better than...

I am conscious that that might send out a negative signal. As I have said, we must carefully consider all such issues. However, we are making changes across the board and any one of them—such as one involving the Royal Navy, for example—could be construed as negative. Our overall aim...

I am conscious that that might send out a negative signal. As I have said, we must carefully consider all such issues. However, we are making changes across the board and any one of them—such as one involving the Royal Navy, for example—could be construed as negative. Our overall aim...

No, I wish to make some progress on the medical theme. The MOD’s defence medical rehabilitation centre at Headley Court is the premier facility for the rehabilitation of injured service personnel. There is nothing quite like it in the NHS, and both the facilities and the staff who work there...

No, I wish to make some progress on the medical theme. The MOD’s defence medical rehabilitation centre at Headley Court is the premier facility for the rehabilitation of injured service personnel. There is nothing quite like it in the NHS, and both the facilities and the staff who work there...

No, I will not give way. I have been very generous in giving way, and I just ask hon. Members to question the veracity of stories before they run with them. A simple query to the MOD would help. Support to our people extends to those families who have to...

No, I will not give way. I have been very generous in giving way, and I just ask hon. Members to question the veracity of stories before they run with them. A simple query to the MOD would help. Support to our people extends to those families who have to...

Selly Oak hospital trust and the medical defence unit are in my constituency. I welcome my right hon. Friend’s firm words about the service done to NHS and military staff by comments made by journalists and politicians. They should be very careful, because from what I have seen the service...

Selly Oak hospital trust and the medical defence unit are in my constituency. I welcome my right hon. Friend’s firm words about the service done to NHS and military staff by comments made by journalists and politicians. They should be very careful, because from what I have seen the service...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

My hon. Friend makes a strong point. On my recent visit to Selly Oak, I was struck by the quality of the NHS staff, all of them dedicated to dealing with trauma cases that they would rather not see, and all the associated issues. We are trying to deliver the...

My hon. Friend makes a strong point. On my recent visit to Selly Oak, I was struck by the quality of the NHS staff, all of them dedicated to dealing with trauma cases that they would rather not see, and all the associated issues. We are trying to deliver the...

May I begin by adding my and my colleagues’ condolences to the sympathy that the Minister extended to all the families of personnel killed recently in Iraq and Afghanistan? The thoughts and prayers of the whole House are with them in their suffering. Like the Minister and some other parliamentary...

May I begin by adding my and my colleagues’ condolences to the sympathy that the Minister extended to all the families of personnel killed recently in Iraq and Afghanistan? The thoughts and prayers of the whole House are with them in their suffering. Like the Minister and some other parliamentary...