Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department recently further delayed publication of the investigation into the case of Corporal Stewart McLaughlin; and what date his Department plans to publish the findings of that investigation.

I am sure the hon. Member will understand that we need to be certain our examination of this case is thorough. To that end, records have been examined at a number of locations, including the National Archive, the Ministry of Defence Medals Office and the Parachute Regiment Regimental Archives. The Under Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend Lord Astor of Hever, will discuss the results of the investigation with Corporal McLaughlin's family shortly.