In the light of Britain’s further defence commitment at the NATO summit, will the Prime Minister give a categorical assurance that there will be no more cuts in the size of Her Majesty’s armed forces?

In the light of Britain’s further defence commitment at the NATO summit, will the Prime Minister give a categorical assurance that there will be no more cuts in the size of Her Majesty’s armed forces?

Will the rationalisation of the MOD estate include such things as the scandal in 1995 of the sale of the married housing stock to Annington Homes, and the ongoing revenue rip-off that Annington Homes is enjoying at the expense of the public purse?

Will the rationalisation of the MOD estate include such things as the scandal in 1995 of the sale of the married housing stock to Annington Homes, and the ongoing revenue rip-off that Annington Homes is enjoying at the expense of the public purse?

May I take the Secretary of State back to his comments on last week's statement by the Foreign Secretary? So far, his speech has concentrated, quite rightly, on the military, but may I press him on the importance of joined-up government across Departments here so that in Afghanistan the political...

May I take the Secretary of State back to his comments on last week's statement by the Foreign Secretary? So far, his speech has concentrated, quite rightly, on the military, but may I press him on the importance of joined-up government across Departments here so that in Afghanistan the political...

I intervene to assist the Secretary of State. He should pour a cup of water and catch his breath, so that he can be fully refreshed as he makes his statement. I hope that my intervention has been helpful.

I intervene to assist the Secretary of State. He should pour a cup of water and catch his breath, so that he can be fully refreshed as he makes his statement. I hope that my intervention has been helpful.

I am delighted with whichever Government provides additional resources to 16 Air Assault Brigade. If the previous Government gave additional resources I say well done to them, and if the coalition Government have given them I say well done to them. What our troops need are more resources to help...

I am delighted with whichever Government provides additional resources to 16 Air Assault Brigade. If the previous Government gave additional resources I say well done to them, and if the coalition Government have given them I say well done to them. What our troops need are more resources to help...

I thank you for imposing a time limit, Mr Deputy Speaker. That is the first cut of this Parliament that I welcome, because it means that everyone who wishes to speak will have the opportunity to do so. Let me start by paying tribute to the soldiers of 16 Air...

I thank you for imposing a time limit, Mr Deputy Speaker. That is the first cut of this Parliament that I welcome, because it means that everyone who wishes to speak will have the opportunity to do so. Let me start by paying tribute to the soldiers of 16 Air...

The Deputy Speaker said that many Members want to speak, and the hon. Gentleman has been rabbiting on for about 15 minutes. Can he please wrap it up so that others may get in?

The Deputy Speaker said that many Members want to speak, and the hon. Gentleman has been rabbiting on for about 15 minutes. Can he please wrap it up so that others may get in?

May I help the hon. Gentleman further, and ask him to confirm that the last Conservative Government reduced the size of the British Army, and that the Conservatives opposed the then Labour Government's cuts in the number of infantry units?

May I help the hon. Gentleman further, and ask him to confirm that the last Conservative Government reduced the size of the British Army, and that the Conservatives opposed the then Labour Government's cuts in the number of infantry units?

I know where I am.

I know where I am.

Can the Minister say whether he and his team, as they battle on behalf of the men and women who serve in Her Majesty's armed forces, will ensure that there will be no cuts in the modernisation programme for housing single soldiers and families?

Can the Minister say whether he and his team, as they battle on behalf of the men and women who serve in Her Majesty's armed forces, will ensure that there will be no cuts in the modernisation programme for housing single soldiers and families?

The Secretary of State said, "Our biggest capability is our people…military and civilian", and their ability to deliver defence. He was completely silent on the need for decent housing, whether it be single or family accommodation. Although I acknowledge the disaster of the privatisation of family housing by the previous...

The Secretary of State said, "Our biggest capability is our people…military and civilian", and their ability to deliver defence. He was completely silent on the need for decent housing, whether it be single or family accommodation. Although I acknowledge the disaster of the privatisation of family housing by the previous...

An increasing number of young ladies are now playing roles in the armed forces. What is the hon. Lady's view of females being put in the front line of infantry regiments, in the killing field?

An increasing number of young ladies are now playing roles in the armed forces. What is the hon. Lady's view of females being put in the front line of infantry regiments, in the killing field?

The right hon. Gentleman said that the size of the Army was about 100,000. Is it his understanding that approximately 10 per cent. are from overseas? Does he agree that there is a need to recruit more from the United Kingdom if we are not to become increasingly dependent on...

The right hon. Gentleman said that the size of the Army was about 100,000. Is it his understanding that approximately 10 per cent. are from overseas? Does he agree that there is a need to recruit more from the United Kingdom if we are not to become increasingly dependent on...

The international community is preparing to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-day, but in Colchester, a much fresher and more raw anniversary will be marked next week. It will be the first anniversary of the deaths of the soldiers of the 2nd battalion, the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. I want...

The international community is preparing to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-day, but in Colchester, a much fresher and more raw anniversary will be marked next week. It will be the first anniversary of the deaths of the soldiers of the 2nd battalion, the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan. I want...

This is a NATO exercise as far as I am concerned, and the consequences of whatever goes wrong in Afghanistan are exported to mainland Europe as well as to the United Kingdom. Whatever the background as to why we are where we are, I want to make my point as...

This is a NATO exercise as far as I am concerned, and the consequences of whatever goes wrong in Afghanistan are exported to mainland Europe as well as to the United Kingdom. Whatever the background as to why we are where we are, I want to make my point as...

I shall speak only briefly. The bottom line has to be that procurement should be reliable and involve security of supply. I hope that, in summing up, the Minister will give us such assurances because the experience has been that reliability and security of supply are not always there. I...

I shall speak only briefly. The bottom line has to be that procurement should be reliable and involve security of supply. I hope that, in summing up, the Minister will give us such assurances because the experience has been that reliability and security of supply are not always there. I...

Does my hon. Friend agree that that is a legacy of the privatisation by the previous Government of the MOD housing stock to Annington Homes? It also represents the failure of this Government to address the problem, because 12 years down the line the public purse is still spending a...

Does my hon. Friend agree that that is a legacy of the privatisation by the previous Government of the MOD housing stock to Annington Homes? It also represents the failure of this Government to address the problem, because 12 years down the line the public purse is still spending a...

The Department's living within its means is good, but how much of that additional money will go towards modernising the married family accommodation? In many cases, that accommodation is woeful and does not help with the retention of experienced, skilled military personnel. We must bear in mind that we are...

The Department's living within its means is good, but how much of that additional money will go towards modernising the married family accommodation? In many cases, that accommodation is woeful and does not help with the retention of experienced, skilled military personnel. We must bear in mind that we are...

This morning in Colchester there was a regimental service for 2 Para. The final members returned on Sunday, and tribute was paid to the nine members of the battalion, along with those attached to it—another four—who died. The 16 Air Assault Brigade suffered 32 deaths and 170 serious injuries. I...

This morning in Colchester there was a regimental service for 2 Para. The final members returned on Sunday, and tribute was paid to the nine members of the battalion, along with those attached to it—another four—who died. The 16 Air Assault Brigade suffered 32 deaths and 170 serious injuries. I...

The most important thing is ensuring that parcels from families get through as a priority. If too many people show good will, especially at this time of year, many of our service personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq will not get the family parcels. We need to be careful.

The most important thing is ensuring that parcels from families get through as a priority. If too many people show good will, especially at this time of year, many of our service personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq will not get the family parcels. We need to be careful.