British Armed Forces: Size and Strength

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. We need hard power on a large scale. We need to be able...

Just on a technical point, an army by definition is meant to have more than 100,000 people. Below...

I am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for that intervention. I agree entirely with his poin...

Many of us are calling for greater numbers of British troops and a greater frequency of rotationa...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Some of what we have been discussing, such as the fundament...

On the issue of the defence estate, Imphal barracks is due to close in 2031, yet it is the jewel ...

I am sympathetic to the hon. Lady’s point, and I know the Minister is particularly well positione...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate at this critical time. On resourc...

I entirely agree with my right hon. Friend. It is our duty to make it clear to the Treasury that ...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that in articulating his argument, it is important to stress that h...

I absolutely acknowledge that. Defence is not really a party political issue; it is an issue of n...

I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and congratulate him on this timely debate. I am grateful t...

I absolutely agree. The response has to be threat-based, and the review must not be a sticking pl...

Seven people wish to speak and wind-ups need to begin at 10.30 am. I will leave you to work out t...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Aldershot (Leo Docherty) on securing this debate, especially w...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries. I congratulate my hon. Friend the ...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries. I congratulate the hon. Member for...

I thank the hon. Lady for giving way, and congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot on...

I was one of those families who experienced operational stretch and know first hand the impact it...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries. I congratulate the hon. Member for...

Like Scots!

I shall ignore the comment from the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

With your forbearance, Ms D...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries, and to be called to speak in this ...

I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and the hon. Member for Aldershot (Leo Docherty), my collea...

My hon. Friend makes an important point. She and all hon. Members will be most welcome to join me...

I am sorry for making another intervention, and I thank my hon. Friend for taking it. I believe t...

I am sorry to hear that, if it is the case. We will hear about that from the Minister later.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries.

With yesterday’s shipbuildin...

It was a very good-natured debate, but the Scottish National party can never resist. What assessm...

I will be happy to answer that when I come to that point in my speech. The armed forces continuou...

It is good to see you in the chair, Ms Dorries. I congratulate the hon. Member for Aldershot (Leo...

May I point out to the hon. Gentleman that those of us who were in Germany for many years took gr...

I have much respect for the hon. Gentleman but we disagree on the deterrent. The point I am tryin...

It is a pleasure to welcome you to one of our weekly defence debates, Ms Dorries. I see the usual...

rose—

I am not going to take an intervention from the Minister because he will have the chance to sum u...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, I am going to finish my point. The Minister’s comments on tax were not based on any research ...

rose—

The Minister will have 10 minutes to sum up, so I am not going to take an intervention from him.<...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries. I warmly congratulate the hon. Mem...

Those figures may well be true, but the hon. Gentleman has to deal with the fact that, regularly,...

A whole host of measures need to be put in place. Recruitment is an important issue, but so is re...

It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Dorries, and I declare an interest as...

On recruitment, does the Minister accept that the approach of Capita leaves a lot to be desired? ...

The hon. Gentleman makes a perfectly reasonable point. There have clearly been challenges, and to...

I thank the Minister; but can we have an assurance that the statement will not be made in the eve...

That was one of the issues, to be fair. There is a genuine feeling that on a matter of such impor...

Will the Minister give way?

Should I give way? Well goodness me, I am a generous soul. I hope that will be a lesson to the ho...

The regular faces will know it is not my normal MO not to allow an intervention. I was perhaps un...

It is not for me to offer a lesson in the development of grand strategy, but in my training it wa...

Does not what the Minister said imply that his answer is yes, it will be fiscally neutral?

That is not what I am saying at all. To be fair to my boss, the Secretary of State, he has made a...

Will the Minister deal with the point made by the hon. Member for Barnsley Central, which is key ...

Certainly, a division, by definition, because of the orchestra of capabilities that it brings to ...

As the Member of Parliament for Aldershot, the home of the British Army, I am delighted to have b...