Results 1-20 of 101 for iraq speaker:James Gray

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: ...very many magnificent speeches that we have heard, from all parts of the House, praising the fantastic work that the Territorial Army has done and will do, not only on deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq but here at home. I pay particular tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies), who most recently did precisely that. His regiment, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal...

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

James Gray: ...Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire), who said that the TA should be deployed only as formed units. The one-Army concept means that most of the 20,000 TA soldiers who have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been trickle-deployed, not deployed as formed units. Nowadays, it is much better that our TA soldiers should be ready to be deployed individually in regular units...

[Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair] — Armed Forces Veterans (21 Apr 2009)

James Gray: ...Bassett, the high street might be a suitable location, in the long term. That might be a way of recognising the town's mark of respect. The all-party Army group has welcomed back brigades from Iraq, up till now, and Afghanistan from now onwards. That very visible thank you to our armed services does wonders for our veterans. Sometimes, I think that they sit at home wondering whether anyone...

Royal Assent: Defence in the UK (26 Mar 2009) has video

James Gray: ...shifting 3,500 RAF people and up to 50 planes from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton, which is already too small. Anyone who has had the misfortune to travel courtesy of crab air to Afghanistan or Iraq, which I have done two or three times recently, will know that RAF Brize Norton is already one of the least hospitable bases and that it is demonstrably too small for the job that it does at...

Bill Presented: New Clause 14 — Inquests in camera (23 Mar 2009) has video

James Gray: ...currently carries out the vast bulk of military inquests—although previously it was the Oxford coroner—because of the geographical peculiarity that our casualties from Afghanistan and Iraq are repatriated through RAF Lyneham in my constituency. I raised the matter of military inquests in Committee. The Under-Secretary immediately responded to my concerns about whether they...

Public Bill Committee: Coroners and Justice Bill: Clause 11 (24 Feb 2009)

James Gray: I will happily give way to the Minister after I have given the example. The inquest into the crash of Hercules XV179 was carried out this year in Wiltshire. That plane was shot down in Iraq towards the beginning of the war, resulting in the deaths of 10 servicemen. The coroner concluded that there were a number of reasons for the incident. First, the Americans had not shared with us...

Business of the House: Armed Forces Personnel (29 Jan 2009) has video

James Gray: ...which it pays its respects to our armed services and the contribution that they make to the defence of the realm. In that context, it is through RAF Lyneham that the bodies are returned from both Iraq and Afghanistan. The ceremonies that are laid on at the base are superbly well done. However, under current plans, the Hercules fleet at RAF Lyneham will be moved to RAF Brize Norton in 2012,...

Coroners and Justice Bill (26 Jan 2009) has video

James Gray: ...are not disadvantaged by it. I welcome the extra resources that the Government have pumped into the Wiltshire coroner service in the past year or so. That must be continued if operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are to continue in years to come. If that huge burden is to be placed on the coroner in Wiltshire, resources have to follow it, and some formal structure has to be put in place to...

Written Answers — Defence: Defence Equipment: Deployment (15 Jan 2009)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the deployment of the remaining 174 Mastiffs to Iraq and Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bills Presented: Iraq: Future Strategic Relationship (14 Jan 2009) has video

James Gray: ...some sensible things to say although, sadly, he wrapped them around with some things that were demonstrably incorrect. I particularly regretted the way he allowed his dislike of what happened in Iraq somehow to be transferred to our troops. The first thing I would say, speaking partly as chairman of the all-party group for the Army, is that no matter what we think of what happened in...

Bills Presented: Iraq: Future Strategic Relationship (14 Jan 2009) has video

James Gray: ..., I am one of those who would agree with most hon. Members who have spoken in saying that getting rid of the vile dictator Saddam Hussein is of course greatly to the benefit both of the people of Iraq and of the people of the world. There is no question about it: the Iraq that we have today is vastly better than the Iraq we had 10 years ago. I am still not convinced that what we did was...

Bills Presented: Iraq: Future Strategic Relationship (14 Jan 2009) has video

James Gray: ...me twice even though he has not been here. The situation of women and Christians has been extensively covered in the debate. My answer to my hon. Friend is yes, the lot of women and Christians in Iraq is vastly better than it was for dozens of years under that vile dictator Saddam Hussein. If my hon. Friend is implying that the lot of women and Christians is worse today, I challenge him to...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Inquests (12 Jan 2009) has video

James Gray: ...retiring Wiltshire coroner, David Masters, who has done a superb job in getting the backlog down and in carrying out very difficult inquests such as that into XV179, the Hercules that was downed in Iraq. In the town of Wootton Bassett in my constituency, we see the return of the bodies week by week. Surely it is time for the Government to consider something rather like the hon. Member for...

Written Answers — Defence: Peacekeeping Operations (25 Nov 2008)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been (a) killed and (b) injured while in Snatch Land Rovers in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan in (A) 2006, (B) 2007 and (C) the first six months of 2008.

Written Answers — Defence: Armed Forces: Health Services (24 Nov 2008)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with Help for Heroes on funding for rehabilitation for military casualties from (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

Written Answers — Defence: Army Benevolent Fund (12 Nov 2008)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Army Benevolent Fund on their ability to fund rehabilitation for military casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan (29 Oct 2008)

James Gray: ...who have been to Afghanistan more recently than I have and who know far more about the country than I do. I think this debate is so important because it makes me think back to the time of the Iraq invasion, when I resigned my post as shadow Defence Minister because I was very much opposed to the invasion; I regret the fact that I did not vote against it and instead abstained, when I should...

Afghanistan (29 Oct 2008)

James Gray: ...into Pakistan? Certainly, the United States of America seems to believe that aggressive operations across the border into Pakistan are justifiable. Just as I did not believe that our invasion of Iraq was justifiable under international law, I do not believe that any intrusion into Pakistan's airspace or land is justifiable under international law, so I do not accept the argument for our...

Business of the House: Defence in the UK (9 Oct 2008) has video

James Gray: ...might result for local people. Another current issue with regard to RAF Lyneham is the inquest being conducted by David Masters, the Wiltshire coroner, into the tragic loss of Hercules XV179 in 2004 in Iraq. Initial evidence given to the inquest, which is happening as we speak, seems to indicate that had the Hercules fleet been fitted with foam suppressant in the wing tanks before...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Topical Questions (21 Jul 2008) has video

James Gray: ...presence, Mr. Speaker, at 3.45 pm at the North Door of Westminster Hall is symbolic of the pride and gratitude that the entire nation feels for the fantastic job that 4 Mech Brigade has done in Iraq?