Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Doughty Excerpts
Monday 17th June 2013

(11 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Murrison Portrait Dr Murrison
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My hon. Friend takes a close interest in the National Memorial Arboretum and the Armed Forces Memorial, so he knows well that they were established primarily to commemorate the fallen from 1 January 1948. He will also know that I am the Prime Minister’s special representative for the centenary commemoration of the great war. In that capacity, I am well aware of a number of projects that will involve the National Memorial Arboretum. As my hon. Friend takes such a close interest in both the arboretum and the memorial, I am sure that he will be intimately involved with them.

Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)
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I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting the National Memorial Arboretum, although I hope to in the near future.

Michael Fabricant Portrait Michael Fabricant
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Write me a letter. [Laughter.]

Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty
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I will.

I will be attending the memorials for Armed Forces day on 22 June in Penarth in my constituency. What assessment has the Minister made of the scale and support of memorials on Armed Forces day this year? I assume and hope that they are growing.

Andrew Murrison Portrait Dr Murrison
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Memorials are certainly a focus for our remembrance and always central to any commemoration of the fallen. I look forward to Armed Forces day this year. I am sure that, as ever, it will be a great success.