Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Wallace and Mike Amesbury

Monday 15th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wallace]

Our veterans are very important to the fabric of society, and it is important that this country is the best place in the world to be a veteran. This Government have been on the right track in delivering that. Yes, there are some things around the veterans card and services, but the agreement of many parts of Government to support the armed forces covenant is the right direction, and we are going from strength to strength.

[Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)]

In 1969, 74 US personnel perished after the USS Frank E. Evans sank. Two Royal Navy personnel from my constituency were present and they have just been invited to a commemoration, but they are struggling to get there. Can a Minister meet me to look at options to help them get there?

[Mr Wallace]

I will be delighted to try to do that, either personally or through the Veterans Minister.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Wallace and Mike Amesbury

Monday 30th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wallace]

Obviously, for security reasons, I cannot tell my hon. Friend exactly the timings. It starts with training on the operation of the platforms and then there is training on joining together with formation units to fight as a formed unit—that is important. From then, the tanks will be put in. What I can say is that it will be this side of the summer—May, or probably towards Easter time.

[Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)]

T3. Some 45% of Cheshire military personnel—220 of them—are living in the lowest standard of single accommodation. That is pretty shameful, and something needs to happen about it quite urgently. How will the Minister ensure that they have homes that are genuinely fit for heroes?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Wallace and Mike Amesbury

Monday 8th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Security (Mr Ben Wallace)]

The Payment Systems Regulator is working with the joint fraud taskforce and the National Crime Agency to invest in new technology to improve the speed of funds repatriation.

[Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)]

T9. Since 2010, according to the Fire Brigades Union, Cheshire fire service has lost more than 170 firefighters, incident response times are up, the number of available appliances is down, and casualties are rising year on year. Will the Minister now accept that his Government’s cuts are having a detrimental effect on local services?