Oral Answers to Questions

David T C Davies Excerpts

Monday 12th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mike Penning)]

Our allies in NATO look very carefully at what we can do and where we can do it. Other nations are also joining in. The French are coming with us into Estonia, with 200 troops in the first six-month tranche. As I said in response to an earlier question, as a coalition we will look carefully at what capabilities we need and where we need them, and we will step up to the mark as we always do.

[David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con)]

T5. Is my right hon. Friend able to offer any hope that 2017 will be a better year for soldiers who either have been or are being investigated for decisions taken in the heat of battle, particularly Royal Marine Sergeant Blackman, who faces another Christmas in jail?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mark Lancaster)]

The Ministry of Defence has co-operated with the legal process and will continue to do so. Now that that case has moved to the court martial appeal court, it would be inappropriate to comment.