Speaking in a debate commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, James Sunderland intervenes to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives and highlights the importance of maintaining our forces at the very highest readiness, with the best kit and the best training, so that if the Falklands or anything like it happens again, we are ready.
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
Once again, I commend the hon. Gentleman for bringing this debate to the House. I spent a fair bit of time in the Falklands and I am very familiar with the environment, having served down there. Those who have been to the Falklands know that it is a very austere, difficult, tricky environment, particularly in the winter. It is appalling under foot. Madam Deputy Speaker, we can both recall the images on the screens back in 1982, when I was 12 years old.
I want to make two points. First, does the hon. Gentleman agree that we should pay tribute to the 255 members of Her Majesty’s forces who were killed, the three islanders who lost their lives and the Argentine fallen, who were just doing what they were ordered to? Secondly, does he agree that the demands we made of our armed forces in 1982 are as applicable today as they were then and that, as we have seen over the years in Afghanistan, Iraq and all the other theatres we have asked our people to serve in, we need to maintain our forces at the very highest readiness, with the best kit and the best training, so that if the Falklands or anything like it happens again, we are ready?
Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)
The hon. Gentleman has made some incredibly important points, and done so very eloquently. Of course I agree with everything that he has just said.