Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Uppal Excerpts

Monday 4th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con)]

3. What recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the middle east and north Africa; and if he will make a statement.

[Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the middle east and north Africa; and if he will make a statement.

[Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con)]

16. What recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the middle east and north Africa; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Nick Harvey]

I am pleased to give precisely that confirmation. As the Chief of the Defence Staff has said, we can sustain the operation for as long as necessary. We have flexible and adaptable forces. That is not to say that sustaining operations will not put stress on people and assets, but we are perfectly capable of doing so, and nobody should be in any doubt about our determination.

[Paul Uppal]

It is as well to remind the House that the international community came together to avert an injustice and a massacre in Benghazi. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is essential that we keep that international community cohesion and effort on this most pressing issue?