All 2 Debates between Lord Swire and Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Swire and Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Monday 22nd October 2018

(5 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Swire Portrait Sir Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con)
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Captain Mainwaring’s doughty band of men who formed the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard are in danger of looking like special forces, on account of their ability to climb in and out of Lance Corporal Jones’s converted bread van, when compared with the modern Army, which has 18,000 clinically obese soldiers and servicemen, with 398 having type 2 diabetes, 160 being on prescribed diet pills and 16 having had liposuction. When is the Secretary of State going to do something about the state of the fitness of the British armed forces?

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Portrait Mark Lancaster
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I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for raising this matter, but, of course, as I look across this Chamber, I do wonder whether or not this was the right establishment to be criticising the British Army for obesity. Every year, all soldiers are required to carry out fitness tests. He will have realised, or seen, that from 1 April we are changing that annual fitness test to make sure it is more aligned with the combat roles our soldiers are required to carry out.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Swire and Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Monday 7th November 2016

(7 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Portrait Mark Lancaster
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This is an interesting area. Ultimately, the national health service is responsible for our veterans because, as a society, we do not have a specialist veterans department; I think that is the right approach. Nevertheless, we have invested over £13 million of LIBOR money in this specialist area. We do indeed allow people access for up to six months, and I am happy to look at the hon. Gentleman’s suggestion to see how we can perhaps do more.

Lord Swire Portrait Sir Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con)
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The provision of a psychologist specialising in trauma services would be of huge benefit to the many veterans in Devon, particularly in East Devon, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Will my hon. Friend commit to having an early discussion with the Secretary of State for Health to make such a provision available to my constituents and others?

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Portrait Mark Lancaster
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As I mentioned in my original answer, I have a regular meeting with my counterpart at the Department of Health, and I am happy to add my hon. Friend’s suggestion to the agenda.