Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 14 March 2011.
David Mowat
Conservative, Warrington South
2:30,
14 March 2011
What recent representations he has received on the acceptance by licensed premises of his Department’s form 90 as a means of identification.
Andrew Robathan
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
Since this Government came into office, the Ministry of Defence has received a number of letters from Members of Parliament, including my hon. Friend, and from the public concerning the use of MOD form 90 as a means of identification for non-official purposes. I am delighted to confirm that we have now agreed to a change in policy, allowing service personnel to use their service identity card as proof of age, and have written to the relevant trade associations encouraging their members to accept it.
David Mowat
Conservative, Warrington South
I thank the Minister for the answer and for the support that he has given my constituent, ex-Coldstream Guard Lance Reah, in his campaign on the matter over the past year. Does my hon. Friend agree that the change will have a big impact on the morale of our soldiers, and that the fact that the Opposition failed to make any progress on the matter in 13 years demonstrates that their actions do not match their words?
Andrew Robathan
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
I can confirm to my hon. Friend that when I was serving in the Coldstream Guards it was a matter of some upset when young-looking soldiers who were prepared to lay their lives on the line were denied entry to pubs. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his campaign, and I am particularly pleased to see that I am on the front of “Warrington Matters” in connection with it. I do not think the photograph of me is very flattering, though.
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