Speeches by Thomas.

“On both.”

“Am I right in thinking that there are islands in the High North that, technically, belong to Norway? I might be wrong so I want to clarify this. They are basically uninhabited. There are other islands in the Baltic sea and so on, but there are islands in the High North that, theoretically, Russia could test our resolve…”

“I think you are right, but there are not many people going around suggesting that this would be a silver bullet. The UK is an outrider, particularly in the marine space, for autonomy and uncrewed systems. Let me put this to you: is this related to our experience supporting Ukraine’s activities and Ukraine’s success in …”

“I am going to go back to Professor Blagden to talk about autonomous systems and uncrewed systems; Professor Zysk, I am going to come to you afterwards to ask about the Russian situation in respect of those topics. Professor Blagden, I have been looking at some long tweet strings by you with a lot of views about hybrid …”

“Do you see that ambition and being an outrider as a negative as opposed to as a positive?”

“You will be aware that lots of people are trying to design, and are quite far down the road of designing, uncrewed systems that can or will, in theory, take lots of different types of payload. On that particular point, people would come back and say, “That is hopefully going to change.””

“Thanks for those answers. Professor Zysk, we are quite au fait with what is going on in the UK military. Perhaps you will be able to comment on what is happening in the Russian military as regards uncrewed systems, particularly in the Russian navy.”

“I politely disagree about dithering and delay. The Government are getting on as quickly as possible. The consultation was launched rapidly and is taking place right now, and the Government have committed to implementing the findings of the consultation as quickly as possible. I can assure the hon. Lady and the whole Ho…”

“I congratulate and thank the Minister for her brilliant leadership throughout the passage of the Bill. It is fantastic to see this Labour Government delivering for children. In Plymouth, the free breakfast clubs have made an enormous difference. The measures in the Bill, including those with amendments, will be fantast…”

“I am fascinated. It is the reporting that we have had of things that are changing that I am really interested in. But you have given good answers, thank you. When you are looking at people, Minister, do you have what is happening with religion in the forces regularly reported to you?”

“In the context of women in the Armed Forces, and more widely with the type of person you are managing to get in through the door, what do you mean by “rancorous belief systems…in wider society”, and how does that affect the Army?”

“Can I also ask about women in the Royal Marines? The Royal Marines are very over-represented in Parliament, Government and in top jobs in the MoD compared with the proportion of the Armed Forces that they make up. Clearly, if we are talking about leadership roles and women in future leadership roles, having no women be…”

“That is a completely fair answer. Other services, are you tracking the rise of Christianity at all? Do you get that reported to you at all?”

“Director, did you want to comment on the religion question?”

“General Walker, we know that one of your main concerns is about recruit and retain. You mentioned earlier, and I want to ask you further about it, that your sense is that there are various “rancorous belief systems…in wider society”.”

“I would like to move on to the broader culture within your various services. We have spoken mainly, of course, about women in the Armed Forces—that is the session’s focus. We have also spoken about race. Can I ask about religion? I will come to the Navy first, so to you, General. We saw reports in mainstream media—base…”

“I am sure we are all very supportive of the chaplaincy service across all the services—I know I am personally, from my time in service. I am so short on time, I am going to have to ask a separate question. General, I have heard anecdotally from serving Navy personnel who are women that life is okay ashore on naval base…”

“What about the other organisations? Have any of you lost members in the past year or so on the basis of there not being contracts coming forward from UK defence?”

“The hon. Member mentions quite rightly the brave men who served in Operation Banner. Does he agree that women also served in that operation?”

“When you say it is easier to work in another industry, presumably some of them will think it is easier to work in another country?”