Results 1-20 of 168 for iraq speaker:Gordon Brown

Written Answers — Prime Minister: Iraq Committee of Inquiry (12 Nov 2009)

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I gave to the House on 15 June 2009 Official Report, column 21, in which I announced the establishment of the Iraq Inquiry. It is for the Chair of the Iraq Inquiry, Sir John Chilcot, in consultation with the other Inquiry Committee members, to decide which specific areas to focus on within their overall remit.

Written Answers — Prime Minister: Iraq Committee of Inquiry (19 Oct 2009)

Gordon Brown: The Iraq inquiry will make announcements in due course about the hearings it will conduct and which witnesses will appear. In the event serving Ministers or Government officials are called, the Government reiterate their commitment to co-operate fully with the inquiry.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Afghanistan and Pakistan (14 Oct 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...central element of the work that we are doing. The Foreign Secretary emphasised that in a speech only a few weeks ago. The importance of it has led General Lamb, who acted with great distinction in Iraq, to go to work with General McChrystal on the very process of reintegration and splitting the Taliban. There are Pashtun nationalists, people hired for a dollar or two a day, young people...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Afghanistan and Pakistan (14 Oct 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: First, Afghanistan is very different from Iraq. Secondly, the right hon. Gentleman should accept that the figures I have given for the army are the increase in numbers over the next year—from 90,000 to 134,000. That is not necessarily the limit on the numbers that will be placed in the Afghan army or the limit of our ability to train members of the Afghan army. I have already given a...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (15 Jul 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...Monday to see the Merlin helicopters that will be deployed in the field by the end of the year, and the training is being done immediately in America— [Interruption.] Look, as they move from Iraq to Afghanistan—I need to explain this—those helicopters are dealing with different terrain. They have to re-equipped for the functions in Afghanistan, where they have to deal...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (15 Jul 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...programme, we have experienced the longest sustainable increase in defence spending in any period over 20 years. The reason is that, in addition to the defence budget, £14 billion has been spent on Iraq and Afghanistan, and £4 billion of that has been spent on urgent operational requirements for the troops. Part of the spending is on helicopters, and we have now committed £6...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (15 Jul 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...the operational capability of helicopters and if we were not putting more helicopters in the field as soon as we can. I have to insist that the terrain in Afghanistan is different from that in Iraq, and that is why we have to re-equip the helicopters with new blades, as well as retraining our servicemen to deal with those problems. I hope that the Conservative party will come to accept...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Armed Forces (15 Jul 2009)

Gordon Brown: ...terms, in contrast to what happened in the last years of the Conservative Government. I have to say, also, that in addition to the defence budget we have put aside £14 billion for the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. I want to tell the hon. Gentleman that our budget, in cash terms, is still the second largest in the world.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: G8 Summit (13 Jul 2009)

Gordon Brown: ...be more on the ground by the end of the year. In addition, of course, we are converting eight Chinooks to enable them to deal with the weather in Afghanistan. I have to say that to move helicopters from Iraq to Afghanistan is very difficult, because the weather in Afghanistan and the terrain on which people are operating are very difficult. The helicopters have to be converted. Our crews...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: G8 Summit (13 Jul 2009)

Gordon Brown: ...not think that he heard what I said, that there has been a 60 per cent. increase in helicopters and an 84 per cent. increase in the capability of our helicopter forces. The Merlin helicopters from Iraq are being adapted so that they can be brought to Afghanistan as quickly as possible; we set up a helicopter fund to allow other countries to contribute helicopters, to upgrade them for the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: G8 Summit (13 Jul 2009)

Gordon Brown: ..., as I said, it is set to grow to 130,000. In the long term, we want the Afghan army and the Afghan police to be able to take more control over their own affairs. We have suggested that, just as in Iraq, province by province, we could transfer control to the Afghan army and police. I have made my statement about the commitments that we have made in relation to troop numbers. We will review...

Written Answers — Prime Minister: Iraq Committee of Inquiry: Finance (13 Jul 2009)

Gordon Brown: ...with other relevant Government Departments. We will continue to update the House. Letter from t he Prime Minister, dated 17 June 2009: I would like to thank you for agreeing to Chair the Iraq Inquiry. As I said in Parliament, I believe this Inquiry will, through lessons learned, strengthen our diplomacy, our military and our democracy. I am fully committed to a thorough and independent...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (24 Jun 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...am sure that the House will wish to send our sincerest condolences also to the families and friends of Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell following the tragic news of their death in captivity in Iraq. The taking of hostages is a cruel and barbaric act and can never be justified. I can assure the House that the Government are doing all that we can, and our thoughts and those of everyone...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (24 Jun 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: The answer is no, but is it not amazing when we are discussing Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and other major issues that a Back Bencher can reduce himself to re-asking a question that was asked last week?

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (24 Jun 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...shown our commitment to our armed forces by increasing expenditure on them every year. We have made extra money available for all the additional responsibilities that they have had to discharge in Iraq and Afghanistan. We want a spending path for the armed forces that is completely consistent with their responsibilities. It would not make sense—regardless of need and what has...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Iraq (15 Jun 2009) has video

Gordon Brown: ...will not be forgotten. Their sacrifice reminds us of the dangers our serving armed forces confront every day and of why we must continue to give them all our support. Our troops first went into Iraq in March 2003 and now they are coming home. In total, 120,000 men and women have served in Iraq during the last six years, so it is fitting that I should now come to the House to talk of their...