To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits by foreign civil and military dignitaries have been hosted by (a) HMS Cumberland and (b) HMS Cornwall in their current deployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits by foreign civil and military dignitaries have been hosted by (a) HMS Cumberland and (b) HMS Cornwall in their current deployment.

(2) how many vessels have been (a) queried and (b) boarded by HMS Cornwall during her current deployment.

(2) how many vessels have been (a) queried and (b) boarded by HMS Cornwall during her current deployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many vessels have been (a) queried and (b) boarded by HMS Cumberland during her current deployment;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many vessels have been (a) queried and (b) boarded by HMS Cumberland during her current deployment;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ports visits (a) HMS Cumberland and (b) HMS Cornwall have made during their current deployments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ports visits (a) HMS Cumberland and (b) HMS Cornwall have made during their current deployments.

The White Paper ““Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence Review”” (Cm 7948), presented to the House on 19 October 2010, explained the Government's intention to make certain changes to the armed forces in order to deliver the force structure we require for the future and to...

The White Paper ““Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence Review”” (Cm 7948), presented to the House on 19 October 2010, explained the Government's intention to make certain changes to the armed forces in order to deliver the force structure we require for the future and to...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Liam Fox) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The White Paper Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence Review (Cm 7948), presented to the House on 19 October 2010, explained the Government’s intention to make certain...

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Liam Fox) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The White Paper Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence Review (Cm 7948), presented to the House on 19 October 2010, explained the Government’s intention to make certain...

asked Her Majesty's Government:What protective marking appears on the first page of the Fulton report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What protective marking appears on the first page of the Fulton report.

Further to the Statement by Lord Drayson on 19 June, how the Government can disseminate lessons learnt from the Fulton report to coalition partners when the report is classified as ““Secret—UK eyes only””.

Further to the Statement by Lord Drayson on 19 June, how the Government can disseminate lessons learnt from the Fulton report to coalition partners when the report is classified as ““Secret—UK eyes only””.

On 16 April I announced that the Chief of the Defence Staff had appointed Lieutenant-General Sir Rob Fulton of the Royal Marines, currently the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar, to lead an inquiry into the operational circumstances surrounding the seizure of 15 of our personnel on 23 March. I also...

On 16 April I announced that the Chief of the Defence Staff had appointed Lieutenant-General Sir Rob Fulton of the Royal Marines, currently the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar, to lead an inquiry into the operational circumstances surrounding the seizure of 15 of our personnel on 23 March. I also...

I have no hesitation in accepting my right hon. Friend’s invitation to confirm the view—which almost every hon. Member and many across the world share—that the Royal Navy rightly enjoys a world class reputation. No matter how much damage anybody thinks that this one incident has done, I do not...

I have no hesitation in accepting my right hon. Friend’s invitation to confirm the view—which almost every hon. Member and many across the world share—that the Royal Navy rightly enjoys a world class reputation. No matter how much damage anybody thinks that this one incident has done, I do not...

The Secretary of State must agree that this incident was a very serious operational failure indeed. If the captain of one of Her Majesty’s ships were to run it aground on a sand bank, he would be arraigned before a court martial. It seems astonishing to me that the right...

The Secretary of State must agree that this incident was a very serious operational failure indeed. If the captain of one of Her Majesty’s ships were to run it aground on a sand bank, he would be arraigned before a court martial. It seems astonishing to me that the right...

I of course respect the hon. Gentleman’s position as a Member of this House. In handling this report in this way, I sought to square the issue of confidentiality and the secrecy that was necessary to protect operational security with parliamentary accountability, but I recognise that I do not have...

I of course respect the hon. Gentleman’s position as a Member of this House. In handling this report in this way, I sought to square the issue of confidentiality and the secrecy that was necessary to protect operational security with parliamentary accountability, but I recognise that I do not have...

I believe that it is important to remind people that nobody died and that 15 young people came back alive. The Secretary of State has acknowledged, as he has on previous occasions, that there were mistakes and shortcomings. Surely what we need now is to draw a line under this...

I believe that it is important to remind people that nobody died and that 15 young people came back alive. The Secretary of State has acknowledged, as he has on previous occasions, that there were mistakes and shortcomings. Surely what we need now is to draw a line under this...

I can give my right hon. Friend an unequivocal assurance on that point, and I thank him for his support.

I can give my right hon. Friend an unequivocal assurance on that point, and I thank him for his support.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the armed forces personnel clearly needed training and instruction that they did not have, and that the rules of engagement were clearly wrong? Is he aware that this feeble and evasive statement cannot be the end of the matter? I, for one, as...

Is the Secretary of State aware that the armed forces personnel clearly needed training and instruction that they did not have, and that the rules of engagement were clearly wrong? Is he aware that this feeble and evasive statement cannot be the end of the matter? I, for one, as...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman and to his Committee for taking on that onerous task, and I recognise that there will need to be a continuing relationship. He and his Committee know that where I can share information with the Committee across the range of my responsibilities,...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman and to his Committee for taking on that onerous task, and I recognise that there will need to be a continuing relationship. He and his Committee know that where I can share information with the Committee across the range of my responsibilities,...

I have no doubt that the media handling of this matter was a failure and an embarrassment, but it is of secondary importance to the operational effectiveness of our forces and the security of our serving men and women in the Gulf. I welcome my right hon. Friend’s decision to...

I have no doubt that the media handling of this matter was a failure and an embarrassment, but it is of secondary importance to the operational effectiveness of our forces and the security of our serving men and women in the Gulf. I welcome my right hon. Friend’s decision to...