Al-Sweady Inquiry Report
Debate between Sandra Osborne and Michael Fallon(10 years ago)
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Michael Fallon
I think that my hon. Friend is tempting me to stray slightly from the subject of the statement. The inquiry clearly benefited from the professionalism and skill of Sir Thayne Forbes and his team, and I think we should leave it at that.
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)
In all my time in the House, I have seldom been more shocked than I was by the statement today. I cannot even imagine how those service people have coped for 10 years with such a cloud hanging over them. What support are the Government giving them and their families?
Michael Fallon
The hon. Lady’s question gives me an opportunity to update an earlier answer. One of the soldiers named in the report is still serving, but I understand that the rest have left the armed forces.
The hon. Lady has made a good point about the support available to soldiers who must either serve or, if they have left the forces, bear the brunt of allegations of this kind. If I may, I will look into the matter further and write to her.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Sandra Osborne and Michael Fallon(10 years ago)
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Michael Fallon
I am happy to reassure my hon. Friend on that. It is very important that families understand the nature of service life, and there can be some misapprehension about the scale and length of reserve activity. If I may, I will ask the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr Brazier), the Minister responsible for the reserves, to meet her to see what further reassurance he can offer.
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)
15. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to process compensation claims for injured armed forces veterans.