Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Tom Pursglove and Michael Fallon(9 years ago)
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Sir Michael Fallon
I think that the Government’s position on this has been made very clear. We do not agree with the way in which the ban is being applied to British citizens, and the hon. Lady may have an opportunity later this afternoon, if she catches your eye, Mr Speaker, to pursue this directly with my colleague the Foreign Secretary.
Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Tom Pursglove and Michael Fallon(10 years, 2 months ago)
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Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)
What impact is our non-involvement in airstrikes over Syria having on our reputation among international partners?
Michael Fallon
Non-action—the decision to do nothing —has consequences, and, as my hon. Friend implies, has had severe consequences not simply for the reputation of this country among its allies but in Syria itself, where we have seen a vicious civil war with hundreds of thousands killed and millions displaced as a result of a decision by the west not to get involved and begin to put a stop to it two years ago.
Counter-ISIL Coalition Strategy
Debate between Tom Pursglove and Michael Fallon(10 years, 6 months ago)
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Michael Fallon
I hope I have made the case, first, that embedding UK personnel in other forces is absolutely standard and normal and has been going on for years—there is nothing unusual about this particular situation; and, secondly, that the UK personnel who have been embedded have been embedded in actions that we support. We support what the Americans have been doing in Syria, as well as the action they have been taking in Iraq. That action is legal and we welcome it, and it is of course action in which they would like us to join.
Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)
On the flipside, how many foreign personnel are embedded in our armed forces today?
Michael Fallon
A number of Americans and personnel from other forces are embedded in our forces. My hon. Friend is absolutely right: this is part of the normal exchange between close partners in NATO and beyond, and these are some of normal operating procedures among the armed forces of friendly countries.