Armed Forces

In Defence Questions, James Sunderland seeks assurances on the publication of the statutory guidance for the Armed Forces Bill and on the resolution of legacy issues affecting Northern Ireland veterans.

James Sunderland backs the Government’s position on the Lords Amendments and welcomes the MOD amendment to exclude breaches of the Geneva convention and genocide.

James Sunderland, Chair of the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee, makes a statement to the House of Commons following the publication of the Committee’s special report on the new Armed Forces Bill.

James Sunderland welcomes the statement on the review into the historical actions of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and asks the Secretary of State about future challenges, particularly for sites located in Africa, across the far east and in more far-flung places.

James Sunderland examines the Lords Amendments to the Bill and supports moves to exclude more serious crimes such as torture, genocide and crimes against humanity from the five-year rule.

James Sunderland welcomes the Government's massive £24 billion investment in defence over the next four years but cautions that the Army probably needs an establishment of 82,000 to mobilise a strength of 72,000.

James Sunderland backs the Prime Minister on taking the review back to first principles and seeks reassurance from the PM that people affected by any restructuring will be looked after.

James Sunderland highlights the opportunities membership of the Commonwealth has to offer and calls for an informal resolution for the eight Fijian veterans who lost their court battle to stay in the UK and for all foreign and Commonwealth soldiers serving in our armed forces to be offered the right to remain in the UK.

Today, the House of Commons launches the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill, chaired by James Sunderland MP. The Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill 2021 has held its first meeting to agree its programme of scrutiny on the Armed Forces Bill 2019-21.