Debates between James Heappey and Kieran Mullan during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between James Heappey and Kieran Mullan
Monday 21st September 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kieran Mullan Portrait Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con)
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What support the Army reserves have provided in tackling the covid-19 pandemic.

James Heappey Portrait The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)
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Some 1,800 Army reserves were mobilised as part of Operation Rescript, the MOD’s contribution to the covid response. From distributing personal protective equipment in the NHS to delivering mobile testing units and helping build the Nightingale hospitals, our fantastic reservists and the unique skills that they bring have been invaluable in helping the country manage the covid pandemic.

Kieran Mullan Portrait Dr Mullan
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I want to begin by thanking my constituent Josh Grant and others from Crewe and Nantwich who were mobilised as part of the Mercian regiment and were willing to step up and help our country at a time of crisis. What can we learn from the use of remote mobilisation as part of our efforts, and what more can we do to support employers and reservists whose deployment time is reduced from what they have already agreed with their employers?

James Heappey Portrait James Heappey
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I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to his constituent, and I thank him for his service. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, there is a balance between making the reserve as easily deployable as possible and reservists’ not unreasonable expectation to have some certainty about the duration of their mobilisation. My fantastic predecessor has now accessorised some ermine with his combats. Lord Brigadier Lancaster will be conducting a reserve forces review over the coming months, in which exactly these sorts of issues will receive his attention.