Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Prinsley Excerpts
Monday 16th March 2026

(1 day, 10 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Healey Portrait John Healey
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I am very happy to look at the hon. Lady’s Bill, but in recent weeks the Prime Minister has reasserted exactly the basis on which any UK military forces are committed into conflict.

Peter Prinsley Portrait Peter Prinsley (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) (Lab)
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Many United States service personnel from RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall live off base in Bury St Edmunds. Three planes from Lakenheath were shot down in friendly fire over Kuwait last week. Fortunately, the pilots were rescued. Mildenhall is home to a large fleet of aerial refuelling tankers. I do not know whether it was a tanker from Mildenhall that was lost, but I do know that there are six grieving families right now. Will the Secretary of State join me in extending our support and sincere condolences to our brave United States families? Wherever they are, they are in our thoughts.

John Healey Portrait John Healey
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I will indeed. My hon. Friend speaks for the House, and it is a message that I made sure the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, heard directly from me on behalf of the UK people.