Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Lincoln Jopp Excerpts
Monday 15th December 2025

(1 day, 19 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Louise Sandher-Jones Portrait Louise Sandher-Jones
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I am disgusted by the mistreatment of our brave LGBT veterans who served between 1967 and 2000, and I am pleased that the Government have now delivered 48 of the 49 recommendations made in Lord Etherton’s independent review. One of those was the unveiling of the LGBT+ armed forces community memorial, which I was deeply honoured to be able to attend alongside LGBT veterans and service personnel. The one outstanding recommendation recognises the unique experiences of female veterans, and work is ongoing on a number of initiatives towards that, including the launch of a new women veterans forum.

Lincoln Jopp Portrait Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)
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The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry said that we would have the defence investment plan in the autumn. The Secretary of State has now told us that they are working flat-out to get it to us by the end of the year. When I was in the Army, we had a saying that two minutes early is three minutes late. Can we just make sure that this lackadaisical approach to punctuality has not spread to the military? Can the Secretary of State confirm that the King’s birthday parade will indeed take place at 11 am on 13 June?

John Healey Portrait John Healey
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I can indeed. A wish a happy Christmas to the hon. Gentleman and the whole House.