🗣️ Speeches and Debates
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I share in the tributes made on both sides of the House to those who have fallen during the past week. The pain and anxiety felt by their families and friends at this time is unimaginable, and it cannot adequately be addressed by a few words in the Chamber. That is why whenever the House makes a decision on defence matters, it is vital that we remember those who have fallen. That is the...
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The hon. Gentleman probably knows the answer to that question.
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The hon. Lady makes a sensible point. If the company had a conscience about these matters, it would repay a contribution. The state of some of the accommodation leaves a lot to be desired, and a contribution would be appropriate, as she suggests. I shall move to a slightly more consensual topic, health, where there have been some improvements. The Selly Oak facility is recognised as first...
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The hon. Gentleman makes a valuable contribution, but I am afraid the response is rather piecemeal across the country. Some work has shown that not all health boards and health authorities are responding in the same way. Among GPs, awareness of veterans care is not as it should be. I shall return to that shortly. However, there have been some examples of good care, as the hon. Gentleman...
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We underestimate the contribution that the ministry makes to general health care in the military and to the social well-being of individuals who are in hospital. We should recognise and praise that. We sometimes dismiss things that have been there for some time; we take them for granted, and we should not do so. The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. There is a centre at Chilwell for the...
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The hon. Gentleman is paying attention. The Government committed back in 1998 to construct the aircraft carriers, but the deal was signed only in 2008. Embarrassingly, only months later the project was delayed by another two years, costing the taxpayer an additional £1 billion. The hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) stole my line-the "spend now to save later" principle has been changed to...
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We have made considerable progress with the Eurofighter contract, but we are referring to tranche 3, as the hon. Gentleman knows full well, because I am sure that he has studied these matters. The MOD spent £259 million buying eight Chinook Mk 3 helicopters for the Special Air Service, but the cost to the MOD is now £500 million and those helicopters are still not in the air.
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The hon. Gentleman was a wee bit slow to intervene.
More of Willie Rennie's speeches and debates
✍️ Written Questions and Answers
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To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the small firms loan guarantee scheme.
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To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with Royal Bank of Scotland on its administration of the small firms loan guarantee scheme.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2010, Official Report, column 1117W, on armed forces: housing, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service family accommodation properties in England and Wales were identified as awaiting disposal or demolition in each year since 2004; and how much rent was paid to Annington Homes for those properties in each of those years.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers subject to manning control have been downgraded to Grade P 4 since 2007.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 203W, on armed forces: housing, how many requests for repair call outs were made in respect of family housing.
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To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to train operating companies of rail replacement (a) buses and (b) coaches in each of the last five years.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions officials of UK Financial Investments Ltd have had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on the level of lending by RBS to small businesses.
More of Willie Rennie's written questions
