Speeches by Carns.

“I have been out speaking to the armed forces, and a lot of the reservists, particularly in the RAF, were quite concerned that they had to leave at 55. A lot of this was driven internally by individuals, air traffic controllers, who are maybe not at their peak physical fitness but who could still offer hugely valuable s…”

“Are you content that the Bill is heading in the right direction?”

“General, outside the SDR are there any specific points in the Bill that you think need to be expanded or elaborated on?”

“When we look into how to gather the data and understand who we need to recall, we have some limited records in HMRC and Defence. Would you agree that a data-led ability to map and track our reservists or individuals with recall liability and to understand what professions and capabilities they have once they have left …”

“Are there any measures that ought to be included in the Bill to enhance the capacity and capability of the Reserves?”

“Thank you very much for your service, Richard, and thank you for attending the Committee today. To what extent will the Bill’s provisions meet the aspirations in the Strategic Defence Review to increase the number of active reservists by 20% and to increase the readiness of the UK Armed Forces?”

“Lord Peach, do you agree that our inability to communicate effectively to our people—both when they join and when they leave—about the recall Reserve and the issuing of veteran ID cards creates quite a complicated and confusing picture for them when they leave the military?”

“First, I would like to thank you all for your continued efforts for the Covenant and the armed forces community. This is really an open‑ended question, but how do you think the implementation of centrally funded VALOUR officers, based in a data‑led network, may support our ability to implement the Covenant and provide …”

“Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that often one of the problems is helping service personnel, veterans, their families and the bereaved to understand what is out there and available.”

“Could you give a quick summary of some of the good stuff that the DWP is doing in support of the Armed Forces Covenant?”

“From a statutory guidance perspective, on implementation what does it need to contain to help your Department? Is there anything that we need to do to change it, make it more forceful and enable you to deliver the outputs?”

“The issue is that the Covenant is coming in, and the legal duty on due regard and the statutory guidance are the overarching umbrella and framework for local councils to follow. A couple of comments have been made today about guidance to ensure that the Covenant is not forgotten or left on the side. Every time I have m…”

“A theme that I have a feeling we are going to pick up throughout the evidence session is co-ordination, coherence and, particularly, consistency in the implementation of the Covenant across Government Departments, local authorities and all the different bodies that we rely on. What would you like to see to help us—not …”

“First, I would like to thank you for your service. I always say that, when one person serves, the whole family does, so thank you very much for everything and for all the support you have given me over the last year and a half. The Covenant extends due regard to a multitude of different policy areas. Do you think they …”

“Do you think there should be an English veterans commissioner?”

“I have one final question. In three and a half years’ time, what does good look like?”

“Thank you all very much for your support for veterans all over the country. I really appreciate all your hard work. I have spoken to the representative Ministers within your devolved Administrations. I suppose this is focused on you, David. Do you foresee difficulties in applying the Covenant duty in Northern Ireland, …”

“First, thank you very much for all your support and your work over the last couple of years moving this forward. I would be interested in your view about holding other Government Departments to account, whose responsibility it should be and, importantly, the annual report on education and communication capability not j…”

“It is a true honour to close the debate. I thank hon. Members across the House who have spoken well in support of our brave servicemen and women, upholding Parliament’s proud cross-party tradition of expressing our profound gratitude to those serving in the UK’s armed forces. It is not lost on me who is not here today.…”

“In the strategic defence review, we have committed to an increase of 20%. First, reserve spending went up in 2023-24 from £189.9 million to £202.4 million, so what the right hon. Gentleman says is factually incorrect. Secondly, on personnel statistics, in the last quarter our trained strength in the reserves has risen …”