Armed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth Countries Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces Personnel from Commonwealth Countries

Viscount Trenchard Excerpts
Tuesday 20th October 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Goldie Portrait Baroness Goldie (Con)
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I thank the noble Lord for his kind remarks—he perhaps attributes to me greater powers than I actually possess. He is right to emphasise the significance of the issue, and I reassure him that I do not have to reiterate that to the department. There is active work under way, and I hope that something positive will emerge from that.

Viscount Trenchard Portrait Viscount Trenchard (Con)
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My Lords, does my noble friend not agree that, as an interim measure, Commonwealth service personnel should be granted exemption from visa fees and immigration controls for a grace period of, perhaps, two years after leaving the service, so that they may seek employment, claim benefits and register with a GP?