Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Murrison and Michael Fabricant

Monday 17th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Dr Murrison]

It is always nice to find common ground with the hon. Gentleman and the Labour party. On this subject, we are in violent agreement.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

3. When he next plans to visit the National Memorial Arboretum and Armed Forces Memorial.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Andrew Murrison)]

May I start by thanking the Royal British Legion for its custodianship of the National Memorial Arboretum and the trustees of the Armed Forces Memorial for its upkeep? As my hon. Friend will recall—we were there together—I visited the arboretum and laid a wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial on 11 November last year. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence also visited in November last year and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will attend the annual ceremony to unveil the new names on the memorial next month.

[Michael Fabricant]

The National Memorial Arboretum, which is in my constituency, receives more than 300,000 visitors a year and is a real testament to those who died before the second world war and, with the Armed Forces Memorial, those who have perished since that war. What plans does the Minister have for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first world war? Will anything be done at the National Memorial Arboretum then?

[Dr Murrison]

My hon. Friend takes a close interest in the National Memorial Arboretum and the Armed Forces Memorial, so he knows well that they were established primarily to commemorate the fallen from 1 January 1948. He will also know that I am the Prime Minister’s special representative for the centenary commemoration of the great war. In that capacity, I am well aware of a number of projects that will involve the National Memorial Arboretum. As my hon. Friend takes such a close interest in both the arboretum and the memorial, I am sure that he will be intimately involved with them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Murrison and Michael Fabricant

Monday 26th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Dr Murrison]

I think that it would be premature for the Scottish Government to engage with NATO, as I confidently expect the good people of Scotland—people of sound good sense—to reject independence at the forthcoming referendum.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

Following the successful deployment of Iron Dome and the trials of David’s Sling, what discussions has the European Defence Agency had with Israel regarding procurement of those two vital tools?