Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Wood Excerpts
Monday 19th October 2015

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Will Quince Portrait Will Quince (Colchester) (Con)
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1. What steps he is taking to increase the number of cadet units in schools.

Mike Wood Portrait Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)
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5. What steps he is taking to increase the number of cadet units in schools.

Jeremy Lefroy Portrait Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)
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12. What steps he is taking to increase the number of cadet units in schools.

--- Later in debate ---
Julian Brazier Portrait Mr Brazier
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Those 145 extra units will all be in state schools. One of the new school cadet forces that we have formed is in north-east England and started against a very difficult background, but it is now so successful that pupils are required to show that they have completed a full year of good attendance and good behaviour before they can join it.

Mike Wood Portrait Mike Wood
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As a former flight sergeant in a combined cadet force, I have benefited from the advantages provided by cadet forces in state schools that the Minister has described. Will the Minister join me on a visit to Brierley Hill Squadron’s air training corps in Brockmoor to see the excellent work that is being done with young people from a range of backgrounds?

Julian Brazier Portrait Mr Brazier
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I am most envious of my hon. Friend: I am afraid that I only made lance corporal in the CCF. His invitation is very tempting. I will be making a number of visits to CCFs—indeed, I was with the sea cadets yesterday, Trafalgar day, in Trafalgar Square —but I cannot promise an immediate visit to his constituency.