Clive Efford reported, that he had been chosen as Chair of the Committee.

Clive Efford reported, that he had been chosen as Chair of the Committee.

Ordered, that Luke Akehurst, Alex Ballinger, Sarah Bool, Juliet Campbell, Al Carns, Pam Cox, Clive Efford, Mr Paul Foster, Mr Mark Francois, Gerald Jones, Jayne Kirkham, Mike Martin, David Reed, Ian Roome, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Rachel Taylor and Christian Wakeford be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.

Ordered, that Luke Akehurst, Alex Ballinger, Sarah Bool, Juliet Campbell, Al Carns, Pam Cox, Clive Efford, Mr Paul Foster, Mr Mark Francois, Gerald Jones, Jayne Kirkham, Mike Martin, David Reed, Ian Roome, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Rachel Taylor and Christian Wakeford be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces...

Ordered, that the following provisions shall apply to the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill: (1) The Committee shall have 17 members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection. (2) The Committee shall have power— Column 710is located here (a) to send for persons, papers and records, to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, to adjourn from place to place and to report from day to day the minutes of evidence taken before it; (b) to admit the public during the examination of witnesses and during consideration of the Bill (but not otherwise); and (c) to appoint specialist advisers either to supply information not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity relating to the provisions of the Bill.

Ordered, that the following provisions shall apply to the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill: (1) The Committee shall have 17 members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection. (2) The Committee shall have power— Column 710is located here (a) to send for persons, papers and records, to...

Ordered, that Dr Andrew Murrison be discharged from the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill and Miss Sarah Dines be added.

Ordered, that Dr Andrew Murrison be discharged from the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill and Miss Sarah Dines be added.

It is a pleasure to see the Chamber so busy tonight and, in particular, to see the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury on the Bench tonight; I know that he will be taking a very keen interest in how Select Committees are operating in the House.

I know that the sight...

It is a pleasure to see the Chamber so busy tonight and, in particular, to see the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury on the Bench tonight; I know that he will be taking a very keen interest in how Select Committees are operating in the House.

I know that the sight...

Motion that Stuart Anderson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Dan Carden, Leo Docherty, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Darren Henry, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Mr Richard Holden, Mr Kevan Jones, Jack Lopresti, Johnny Mercer, Carol Monaghan, Stephen Morgan, Dr Andrew Murrison, James Sunderland and Mrs Heather Wheeler be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill. Agreed to on question.

Motion that Stuart Anderson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Dan Carden, Leo Docherty, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Darren Henry, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Mr Richard Holden, Mr Kevan Jones, Jack Lopresti, Johnny Mercer, Carol Monaghan, Stephen Morgan, Dr Andrew Murrison, James Sunderland and Mrs Heather Wheeler be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces...

Motion, That Stuart Anderson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Dan Carden, Leo Docherty, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Darren Henry, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Mr Richard Holden, Mr Kevan Jones, Jack Lopresti, Johnny Mercer, Carol Monaghan, Stephen Morgan, Dr Andrew Murrison, James Sunderland and Mrs Heather Wheeler be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill. Objection taken.

Motion, That Stuart Anderson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Dan Carden, Leo Docherty, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Darren Henry, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Mr Richard Holden, Mr Kevan Jones, Jack Lopresti, Johnny Mercer, Carol Monaghan, Stephen Morgan, Dr Andrew Murrison, James Sunderland and Mrs Heather Wheeler be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces...

Ordered, That Oliver Colvile, Judith Cummins, Byron Davies, Kate Hollern, Nusrat Ghani, Kevin Hollinrake, Kris Hopkins, John Howell, Mr Kevan Jones, Jack Lopresti, Kit Malthouse, Kirsten Oswald, Mr Gavin Shuker and Ruth Smeeth be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.

Ordered, That Oliver Colvile, Judith Cummins, Byron Davies, Kate Hollern, Nusrat Ghani, Kevin Hollinrake, Kris Hopkins, John Howell, Mr Kevan Jones, Jack Lopresti, Kit Malthouse, Kirsten Oswald, Mr Gavin Shuker and Ruth Smeeth be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.

My right honourable friend the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Ministry of Defence welcomes the Select Committee’s report on the Armed Forces Bill (HC 779). In this formal response, I will deal with each of the committee’s conclusions...

My right honourable friend the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Ministry of Defence welcomes the Select Committee’s report on the Armed Forces Bill (HC 779). In this formal response, I will deal with each of the committee’s conclusions...

The Ministry of Defence welcomes the Select Committee's report on the Armed Forces Bill (HC 779). In this formal response, I will deal with each of the Committee's conclusions and recommendations in turn. I shall begin with the Committee's recommendation that Select Committee scrutiny should continue to be the convention...

The Ministry of Defence welcomes the Select Committee's report on the Armed Forces Bill (HC 779). In this formal response, I will deal with each of the Committee's conclusions and recommendations in turn. I shall begin with the Committee's recommendation that Select Committee scrutiny should continue to be the convention...

Ordered, That Mr James Arbuthnot, Alex Cunningham, Thomas Docherty, Gemma Doyle, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Mr Mark Francois, Mr Kevan Jones, Mark Lancaster, Jack Lopresti, Sandra Osborne, Christopher Pincher, Mr Andrew Robathan, Bob Russell and David Wright be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.- (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

Ordered, That Mr James Arbuthnot, Alex Cunningham, Thomas Docherty, Gemma Doyle, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Mr Mark Francois, Mr Kevan Jones, Mark Lancaster, Jack Lopresti, Sandra Osborne, Christopher Pincher, Mr Andrew Robathan, Bob Russell and David Wright be members of the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.- (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, on...

Yes, quite right. We all welcome the good work of the Royal British Legion. The Bill is important for many reasons. I am pleased that the need to bolster the military covenant is recognised. For some years, I have campaigned for widespread recognition of the welfare needs of veterans of...

Yes, quite right. We all welcome the good work of the Royal British Legion. The Bill is important for many reasons. I am pleased that the need to bolster the military covenant is recognised. For some years, I have campaigned for widespread recognition of the welfare needs of veterans of...

I am concerned that the result of the strategic defence review and the basing decisions now being taken might have caused some uncertainty—I am thinking of RAF Marham in my constituency. What is my hon. Friend's view on how to maintain the military covenant in these difficult times?

I am concerned that the result of the strategic defence review and the basing decisions now being taken might have caused some uncertainty—I am thinking of RAF Marham in my constituency. What is my hon. Friend's view on how to maintain the military covenant in these difficult times?

Can the hon. Gentleman clarify the cost of an MOD officer compared to the cost of an Essex police officer?

Can the hon. Gentleman clarify the cost of an MOD officer compared to the cost of an Essex police officer?

Does the hon. Gentleman therefore agree that what is being put forward today is rather disappointing, especially in the light of the Green Paper that I produced in 2009, which set out not only what we had done in terms of the Command Paper, but how we could make what...

Does the hon. Gentleman therefore agree that what is being put forward today is rather disappointing, especially in the light of the Green Paper that I produced in 2009, which set out not only what we had done in terms of the Command Paper, but how we could make what...

The hon. Gentleman has got to his feet again and failed again. All I am asking today is that the Government listen to the arguments being made by the Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and the families' federations, and think again about the policy. I acknowledge that I was...

The hon. Gentleman has got to his feet again and failed again. All I am asking today is that the Government listen to the arguments being made by the Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and the families' federations, and think again about the policy. I acknowledge that I was...

I am grateful to the shadow Secretary of State for giving way. I certainly support the actions of the Government in doubling the operational allowance. If the right hon. Gentleman thought so highly of the forces when he was a member of the previous Administration, why was the operational allowance...

I am grateful to the shadow Secretary of State for giving way. I certainly support the actions of the Government in doubling the operational allowance. If the right hon. Gentleman thought so highly of the forces when he was a member of the previous Administration, why was the operational allowance...

I join the Secretary of State in wishing you, Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr Speaker and the whole House a happy and healthy 2011. I welcome the opportunity to speak in today's debate on the Bill. The Armed Forces Act 2006 was a watershed for the military disciplinary system and I...

I join the Secretary of State in wishing you, Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr Speaker and the whole House a happy and healthy 2011. I welcome the opportunity to speak in today's debate on the Bill. The Armed Forces Act 2006 was a watershed for the military disciplinary system and I...

As a past commanding officer, I think that it is an extremely good thing that more power be given back to commanding officers, including discretionary power. I think particularly of warrant officers who offend. It has been mandatory to reduce such officers to the ranks, but if they have done...

As a past commanding officer, I think that it is an extremely good thing that more power be given back to commanding officers, including discretionary power. I think particularly of warrant officers who offend. It has been mandatory to reduce such officers to the ranks, but if they have done...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. The change that he refers to will not only give discretion but provide a sense proportion and justice in dealing with such issues. The idea of a draconian, one-size-fits-all punishment is not in line with the traditions of this country...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. The change that he refers to will not only give discretion but provide a sense proportion and justice in dealing with such issues. The idea of a draconian, one-size-fits-all punishment is not in line with the traditions of this country...