Results 1-20 of 4,765 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Bob Ainsworth

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: Before I answer that question, I am sure the whole House will want to join with me in paying tribute to Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, who died over the weekend in Afghanistan. He was a man of great courage and dedication, and the thoughts and prayers of the whole House will be with his family and friends. The Territorial Army has made a vital...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I agree with my hon. Friend about the contribution that has been made by the TA over time, and about the skills—niche skills—and maturity that members of the TA can bring to our operational theatres. As he says, the London brigade is the lead cohort for infantry for Herrick 12 next year. Altogether, 130 men will be mobilised on 16 November. I thank that brigade for the part it...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I hear what the hon. Lady says about the attitude of the regulars towards the reserves, but I do not think that it is fair at all. There were tough choices to be made, and in-year savings had to be found. They were not in any way easy to find, and they certainly were not easy to find among the regulars. It would be wrong for us to attempt to increase any feelings that there might be between...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I agree that the politics need to advance a long way in Afghanistan. Abdullah Abdullah's decision to withdraw, and the decision taken this morning by the electoral commission to accept that there is therefore no need for a second round, point up the difficulties we have in this area, but they are also welcome, because there was no point in a second round when the decision had effectively been...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: The overall strategic direction of the reserve forces was set by the strategic review of the reserves, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 28 April 2009. This overall direction, and the Government's commitment to the reserve forces, including the TA, remains unchanged.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I cannot recall to what degree the hon. Gentleman engaged with the discussions that we had at the time that we published that review, but it was a strategic review that laid a framework for the future of our reserved forces. It acknowledged the funding issues that would have to be dealt with separately. Just because there were and are resource constraints, it does not mean that we should stop...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I will seek to do what my hon. Friend says, but I have to say that Defence faces tough choices. As I said the other week and repeat again today, in the present circumstances I am unashamed about the fact that Afghanistan is my top priority. If that means that we have to push more resources in that direction, we will seek to do so. Inevitably, that means that other things will have to be...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Territorial Army (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: Where is the clarity about the decisions that would have to be taken by the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues? They criticise everything that is done, but are not prepared or able to say what they would do. Tough choices need to be taken, and if people are trying to present themselves as capable of governing, they have to be prepared—as the shadow Chancellor knows—to take those...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: In Afghanistan, the threat is from the Taliban-led insurgency, which continues to rely on the use of improvised explosive devices against our forces. That is why this year we have deployed 200 specialist counter-IED troops, together with new equipment, including vehicles, and increased flying hours for unmanned aerial vehicles, to find and defuse mines, and IEDs and to identify and target the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: The hon. Gentleman will have seen and heard, I hope, the Chief of the Defence Staff on the television at the weekend explaining the helicopter situation and saying what I have said in the House repeatedly, which is that helicopters are not a panacea. Yes, any commander would like more helicopters, but people plan operations on the basis of the equipment that they have. I also have to tell the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: The development of the Afghan national police is a serious long-term issue that has to be addressed. Yes, the Germans are the lead nation in that regard, but we all need to make a contribution. The progress that has been made with regard to the Afghan national army needs to be speeded up. We can do that through partnering and we can get to a position where the Afghan national army is...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: Now that we at last have an end to this election period, we need to prevail on the Afghan Government to be inclusive, to build good governance in the various different parts of the country—we have seen the benefit of that in Helmand province, where we have had a good governor for some time—and to tackle the very deep levels of corruption in Afghanistan. Unless the Afghan people...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I think that in the very near future we will be able to make an announcement that my hon. Friend will be pleased with.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: The hon. Gentleman has missed the news that the electoral commission has announced that in the circumstances in which we find ourselves, with Abdullah Abdullah having withdrawn from the race, there is no need for a second round. That in itself will be good news to our forces in Afghanistan. With regard to the Nimrod, the fault was found with our airworthiness systems in the MOD, and we will...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: The Prime Minister has already announced, a week or two ago, that we would extend the additional troops that we put in for the election period and make them permanent. We have also announced, as I think the hon. Gentleman knows, that, if certain conditions are met, we will agree to a further troop uplift of another 500 troops, taking us to 9,500.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: It is not a smokescreen at all. The hon. Gentleman ought to welcome the fact that we are not prepared to put in the further troops until we can satisfy ourselves that the equipment levels are adequate for the increased force, or until we have had an opportunity to talk in detail to all our allies, including the United States of America, about what contribution they are making. Heaven knows...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: I totally agree with the hon. Gentleman: I have never tried to suggest otherwise. The reason why we keep our troops in Afghanistan is directly and primarily associated with our national security and our national interests. What the Pakistanis are doing on their side of the border is obviously complementary to that. We should help them where they are prepared to accept assistance, and...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: At the recent informal NATO meeting, I discussed Afghanistan with my Canadian counterpart and the Dutch Defence Minister. As my hon. Friend knows, they both have plans to reduce their commitment: the Dutch in 2010 and the Canadians in 2011. I am hopeful that they will continue to do the maximum that they feel able to do, but I have to say to my hon. Friend that I did not get the level of...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: In April this year, after considering options in consultation with the service chiefs, we announced an uplift in force levels to 9,000 for the period of the election in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister confirmed on 14 October that we had agreed to maintain UK troops at that level beyond the election period. We have also agreed in principle a new force level of 9,500, which will be put into...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Afghanistan (2 Nov 2009) has video

Bob Ainsworth: Yes.