Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 24 March 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jonathan Davies invited the Government to reaffirm their commitment to the Royal Marines band service, which the Government praised as a valuable part of the armed forces.
  • David Davis inquired about the Ministry of Defence's duty of care towards soldiers, to which the Minister responded with a commitment to the duty of care and referenced the 2021 Overseas Operations Act.
  • Dr Beccy Cooper questioned the steps being taken to address drug-resistant infections arising from the conflict in Ukraine, spreading to Europe, prompting an offer from the Minister to discuss the matter further.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jonathan Davies Lab Mid Derbyshire
Defence
Context

The question pertains to the ongoing commitment and support for the Royal Marines band service, which is a key component of the UK's armed forces.

Question

On Friday I was pleased to join colleagues from across the House to hear the Royal Marines band service in concert as part of the Mountbatten festival of music. May I invite the Government to reaffirm their commitment to the Royal Marines band service? It makes a huge contribution to defence diplomacy and combat operations.

Answer from Al Carns

That is a great question. The Royal Marine band service is the best band service in our armed forces, and it is absolutely safe under our watch. It provides a fantastic influence opportunity, as well as essential military services outside the musical profession.

Answered
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Q2 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Ukraine Defence
Context

The question arises in the context of a broader discussion about military operations, specifically regarding soldiers' protection against legal challenges following their service.

Question

The Defence Secretary should know that the whole House supports the Government’s actions to preserve peace in Ukraine, but that was not the point that the shadow Secretary of State was making. He was asking whether the Ministry of Defence recognises that it has a duty of care towards soldiers who fight for their country and then face decades of lawfare and the misuse of the European convention on human rights. Will the Ministry do something to protect those soldiers?

Answer from John Healey

I say to the right hon. Gentleman that we are totally committed to our duty of care and to standing by our forces. We also recognise that the previous Government put in place legislation—the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Act 2021—to deal with any concerns in this place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specifics of what actions will be taken to protect soldiers from legal challenges were not provided, only a reference to existing legislation.

How: Referring To Previous Government'S Action

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Q3 Beccy Cooper Lab Worthing West
NHS Ukraine
Context

The issue pertains to the spread of drug-resistant infections in conflict zones, particularly Ukraine, and their impact on national security.

Question

Drug-resistant infections have been rising in Ukraine and remain a challenge in treating wounded soldiers and getting them back to the frontline. Such infections have also spread outside Ukraine and into Europe. In the context of conflict, what steps are the Minister and the Department taking to ensure that antimicrobial resistance is appropriately considered in the national security strategy?

Answer from Luke Pollard

It is important that we meet the threats we face, which are not just from state actors but relate to a range of issues. I would be very happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss her interest in this topic further.

Not addressed: The question was deflected towards arranging a future discussion without providing specific steps being taken by the Ministry.

How: Suggesting A Meeting

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Q4 Gregory Stafford Con Farnham and Bordon
Veterans
Context

The issue involves the delay in processing medical records for an individual seeking admission to the Army Foundation College.

Question

This afternoon I was contacted by the father of Theodore, who lives in Grayshott in my constituency. Theodore wants to go to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in September, but Capita has not sent the request for his medical record to his local surgery. Will the Minister look in general at how Capita is performing, and will he ensure in particular that Theodore can attend the foundation college in September?

Answer from Luke Pollard

I commend Theodore for his interest in attending Harrogate. If the hon. Gentleman writes to me, I will happily to look into it. As he will know, Capita is not continuing the Army recruitment work. It is being replaced by a new tri-service offer that will come online in 2027.

Not addressed: The question was redirected towards broader issues with Capita's performance and future recruitment processes instead of addressing Theodore’s specific situation.

How: Redirecting To General Issue, Future Plans

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