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Question
Will local councils in Northern Ireland be encouraged to embrace the opportunities provided by the Bill and fully integrate the armed forces covenant?
Minister reply
Implementing the armed forces covenant is crucial, hence legislation will implement it on a national basis, including central Government. The Commissioner's role can also benefit councils and communities, so I would encourage his campaign for full implementation.
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Question
Does the Bill provide more powers to family members to raise concerns about welfare, potentially preventing tragic incidents in future?
Minister reply
The Bill will enable family members to raise genuine service welfare complaints with the commissioner outside of the chain of command. It is a route for individuals to voice their concerns and improve unacceptable behaviour within services.
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Question
How will the Armed Forces Commissioner address devolved issues such as health, education, and other matters that affect families?
Minister reply
The role of the Commissioner will build on the Service Complaints Ombudsman's work with the devolved Administrations. The commissioner can raise concerns about housing or other issues with appropriate individuals in Scotland or any part of the UK.
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Question
Does the Bill provide a clear route for whistleblowers to report abuse and unacceptable behaviour within services?
Minister reply
The entire Bill is designed to allow anyone in the armed forces or their families to raise concerns outside of the chain of command. This legislation provides an opportunity for individuals to come forward with issues, addressing unacceptable behaviours.
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Question
The Minister is absolutely right to have a zero tolerance approach in our armed forces. Will he reflect on the connection between the Armed Forces Commissioner and the strategic defence review's focus on personnel retention?
Minister reply
I agree with the hon. Member’s emphasis on zero tolerance. The Bill aims to improve retention by making it easier for people to raise issues about service life, addressing concerns such as housing which have been allocated £1.5 billion.
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Question
Does the Minister agree that in all of this, there is a concern not around the person making the complaint but around the person about whom the complaint is made? How will we ensure support for those falsely accused?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman raises an important point. We need to reflect on the fact that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The Armed Forces Commissioner Bill includes provisions related to anonymity and confidentiality, ensuring protections for people under the policy.
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Question
Does the Minister agree that this Bill is an opportunity for us to show a united Chamber in support of our armed forces?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend’s interventions are well noted. This House is at its best when we focus on supporting our armed forces personnel, their families and the missions they undertake. I urge colleagues across the House to put aside party politics and support this Bill.
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Question
I am pleased that the right hon. Gentleman has raised this point... Does he agree that that shows the complete dereliction of a party that aspires to govern?
Minister reply
For a party that sometimes likes to wrap itself in the flag, if I can put it like that, one would think that when it came to our armed forces, Reform would be more bothered. Empirically, that is not always the case.
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Question
Recently, General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff, said that he was “ashamed” by the stories of sexual misconduct... How can we have a truly effective independent commissioner if there is no whistleblowing function through which these crimes can be reported?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman makes a powerful argument. I hope that if time allows, he will also make a speech.
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Question
I rise to speak in support of Lords amendments 2 and 3... The amendments do something simple but profoundly important: they embed within the commissioner’s role a clear and explicit whistleblowing function, one that empowers service personnel and their families to raise concerns about welfare and wrongdoing safely and with confidence, and, crucially, one that provides statutory protections for those who speak up.
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Question
With the leave of the House, I will respond to the debate in the time that we have left. On behalf of the Government, I thank all Members for their contributions... As we replace the previous Government’s woeful legacy Act, we will prioritise and strengthen the protections to ensure the dignity and respect of veterans...
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Question
It has often been said that the courts rejected the legacy Act, at least in part. I am not aware of which part specifically they rejected, but I would like to remind the ministerial team that in 2017 the then Defence Committee examined in great detail whether it would be legal to have a statute of limitation that would put an end to these prosecutions... Will he make sure that a statute of limitation is part of it?
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Gentleman... I will ensure that my colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office who are leading on that work have heard those remarks.
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Question
Well, 131,000 people do not agree with what the Minister just said, clearly. If he is so confident in the Government’s case, can he say on the record that he would welcome their proposals being debated in Parliament for at least three hours before the summer recess? Presumably he is not frightened of a debate, so could he put that on the record?
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Question
The hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell raised issues around whistleblowing protections in the armed forces, questioning why simply using the term 'whistleblower' would have no practical legal effect.
Minister reply
Minister Pollard responded that using the term 'whistleblower' as proposed by opposition amendments would not provide additional protections beyond what is already covered by the Government's amendment in lieu. He emphasised the importance of a zero-tolerance approach to abuse within the armed forces.
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Question
The right hon. Member for New Forest East intervened, pointing out issues related to whistleblowing protections and raising concerns about culture change in the armed forces.
Minister reply
Minister Pollard acknowledged the spirit of the questions raised by Sir Julian Lewis but reiterated that the Government's amendment goes further than simply using the term 'whistleblower' and provides stronger protections for those raising concerns outside the chain of command.