First Day

Part of Defence – in the House of Commons at 5:09 pm on 14 October 1991.

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Photo of Mr Tom King Mr Tom King The Secretary of State for Defence 5:09, 14 October 1991

We are pleased that after such a tragic accident an agreeable settlement has been reached. As the hon. Gentleman knows, it was reached after prompt consideration of the legal processes involved. It is quite untrue to say that the Government refused to budge. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State had to take a considerable amount of flak because he had to stand up and maintain his responsibility for the legal processes. I pay tribute to him for the part that he played in reaching a fair settlement. A number of hon. Members took the easy opportunity to throw flak at my right hon. Friend, but he had the responsibility for ensuring that a fair settlement was reached in a proper and correct way.