Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 5th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle) (Con)]

As the role of NATO in Afghanistan is increasingly criticised and the threat of terrorism here comes far more from our own disaffected Muslims than from the Tora Bora mountains, is it not rather bizarre that from on high we have heard recently that there are likely to be cuts in our counter-terrorist units here while we continue to sacrifice the precious, heroic lives of our young people in an unnecessary and unwinnable war against the Pashtun tribes?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I know that in the reply from the Front Bench the hon. Gentleman will of course refer to the reform of NATO.

[Mr Howarth]

I have quite a few challenges, Mr Speaker, but that is one that I am not entirely geared up to meet in the light of the observations and question from my hon. Friend. His views are well known and I have a huge admiration for him, but I have to tell him that I am not responsible for the resources that are devoted to counter-terrorist operations. None the less, I can tell him that there is a very clear view from the Government Front Benchers here that the mission in Afghanistan is a NATO mission. It is not an American mission; it is not even an Anglo-American mission. It is a NATO mission, and it is extremely important that that mission succeeds.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

May we have a Minister—any Minister—to answer?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Andrew Robathan)]

I am just so busy today that I missed that one, Mr Speaker. We have received a number of representations on armed forces pensions, including in relation to the 1975 armed forces pension scheme and eligibility for those who served prior to its introduction; the link to the retail price index; and widows’ and widowers’ pensions for life.