Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Mike Penning Excerpts
Thursday 18th October 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for lobbying for a debate to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. I have had representations from many hon. Members and I seek to find time for such a debate. I will make an announcement on that next week.

The hon. Gentleman asks for a debate in Government time on local government finance, and he might find time to raise that issue during the Budget debates.

Mike Penning Portrait Sir Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con)
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May I also congratulate you, Mr Deputy Speaker, on your richly deserved great honour? Tomorrow is breast cancer care day, and we will all be wearing something pink. Some of us look nicer in pink than others, but it is an important day as we highlight breast cancer, which is still a killer for so many of our constituents.

May I declare an interest and request a debate on the persecution of veterans who served in Northern Ireland, as I did through the ’70s and ’80s and in Operation Banner? It is fundamentally wrong that our ex-servicemen are being treated like terrorists. It is scaring them to death to be dragged into a judicial process that was resolved years and years ago. They have been forgotten, I am afraid, by Governments of parties on both sides of the House. They did not ask to go to Northern Ireland; they were sent. There were sent to do a job to keep the peace, and it is fundamentally wrong that they are being prosecuted today.