CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

BUSINESS QUESTION – UK CITIZENSHIP FOR COMMONWEALTH SOLDIERS - 06 September 2012

BUSINESS QUESTION – UK CITIZENSHIP FOR COMMONWEALTH SOLDIERS - 06 September 2012

Dr Julian Lewis: May I say to my former chief at the Conservative Research Department what a pleasure it is to see one of the most decent people in political life now occupying one of the most distinguished positions in Parliament? In return for that, may we have a statement from a member of the new Defence ministerial team on the situation of Commonwealth soldiers who would normally be in a good position to apply for citizenship at the end of their service, but who are being prevented by the UK Border Agency, on very questionable grounds such as minor military disciplinary infractions? We owe those solders a debt of honour, and they should not be discriminated against in that way.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Lansley):  I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and I will raise that issue. I know that people feel strongly that service personnel who serve this country should be treated with the greatest respect and honoured as a consequence. My colleagues at the Ministry of Defence will want to reply to him on that matter.]