Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Leo Docherty

Tuesday 8th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

T2. Does the Minister agree that given everything we put into Afghanistan over the past 20 years or so, we have a particular responsibility not to look away, not least given that 6 million Afghans are living on the brink of famine?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Leo Docherty)]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, which is why this year alone we are committing £286 million of humanitarian aid that is being disbursed through international organisations. That is all the more needed because of the deprivations of the Taliban regime.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Leo Docherty

Monday 13th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

We are acting, and I am pleased to confirm that we are investing £40 million in a radical digitalisation programme, which I saw with my own eyes a few weeks ago when I was in Norcross, where the paper records are held. There are frustrations, but work is continuing apace.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Afghan relocations and assistance policy.

Ukraine: UK Military Support

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Leo Docherty

Wednesday 11th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I agree entirely with that analysis. That is why the Defence Secretary is today in the US—our hugely significant NATO ally. We have continued our work with the joint expeditionary force of amphibian, beer drinking nations of northern Europe, and we are delighted about the Prime Minister’s trip.

On the position of Finland and Sweden, they will choose their own path—NATO is an alliance that waits for people to ask to become members; it does not go around proselytising—but the way in which we have worked closely with such nations in the JEF, and their possible interest in NATO, shows the importance and resolve of the NATO alliance. We are much stronger together, because we have many friends. That is why Russia is much weaker: because it has no allies.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

Decisions about military support to Ukraine are inevitably taken in the context of the state and the size of our armed forces. I am sure that the Minister is a regular reader of Soldier magazine; has he seen the Chief of the General Staff’s comments expressing concern about the size of the Army? He is right, isn’t he?

[Leo Docherty]

We are a threat-led organisation. As a result of the £24 billion uplift in defence spending, we are in good shape, in good size and more lethal, more mobile and more agile than ever before. Of course, we keep the situation under review but, in a nutshell, I think that the invasion of Ukraine has proved the integrated review right.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Leo Docherty

Monday 28th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

My hon. Friend has afforded me a useful opportunity to make exactly that point, but I must first thank her for the magnificent work that she does in support of her armed forces community and veterans in Gosport. The reason there is such high demand for veterans in all sectors is that they make brilliant employees: military service does indeed give members of the armed forces skills for life.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

I am sure that pursuing a Commonwealth veteran for 36 grand in NHS costs is not part of the MOD’s strategy. Does the Minister agree that it is wrong for someone who has served our country and risked his life in Iraq and Afghanistan to be treated in this way and, if he does, will he work with me and with others to put it right?

[Leo Docherty]

I do agree that it is wrong and I look forward to updating the hon. Gentleman personally about that case in particular.