|
|
Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Öpik quizzes Ainsworth on Deepcut
March 30, 2009 11:20 AM
• Lembit Opik (Montgomeryshire, Liberal Democrat): I VERY much agree with the aspiration that the Minister describes for the Army and, on the whole, that is how it is. Does he agree, nevertheless, that those values were sorely lacking at Deepcut Army barracks, and that the death of four recruits there in the most unusual circumstances was the antithesis of what the Army should be about?
[Mar 26]: Can he explain why, even now, 14 years after the death of Cheryl James, we still have not had the release of important information, such as the report by Devon and Cornwall police on the Surrey police investigation into her death? Does he agree that for the Army to achieve exactly what he says, we must have transparency, the absence of which suggests to me that she was murdered and that this is a cover-up?
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour): The hon. Gentleman must believe in his conspiracy theories if that is what he wishes to do, but he knows, as he has been told by me, by my predecessor from the Dispatch Box and by others as well, that we are not the owners of that document. It is not a matter for the armed forces to release the results of police investigations. He must take the matter up with the relevant authorities. I have no ability to tell the police what to do, and no desire to do so. He can keep on raising the issue in defence debates and keep on suggesting that in some way the Army or the MOD is responsible for the report not being released, but that is not true. I think he knows that, in his heart of hearts.
• Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire, Liberal Democrat): I am grateful to the Minister and I do not seek to distract him from his core narrative. I understand what he said, and it has been said to me many times before. I simply observe that if the Minister or the Ministry of Defence indicated that they felt it was in the public interest and in the interests of the image of the Army for that report to be published, I am sure that would have a significant effect in motivating Devon and Cornwall police to do that.
Bob Ainsworth (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour): The hon. Gentleman is free, as are others, to raise the issue with the police. It is not for us to tell the police how to do their job. It is their report, their investigation and their decision. He has been told so often, as he rightly acknowledges, from the Dispatch Box.
The values that our armed forces represent start early through the cadets, which is probably the best youth organisation in the world and it continues to flourish. Whatever their background or their future careers, the young people who join the cadet forces leave better equipped to face the future. They also participate in more worthwhile activities than they would otherwise be able to do.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats
-
Help out or donate
-
Tell us what you think