Written Question·Ministry of Defence·UIN 60433
Armed Forces: Speeches
Tabled: 17 June 2025
Answered: 23 June 2025
Named DayQuestion
Mr Mark Francois
Conservative — Rayleigh and Wickford
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason his Department has advised senior military officers not to speak on the record at events where a Minister is present; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of that guidance on
Answer
Luke PollardThis is not true. Recently, the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker spoke on the record, and live on Sky Television at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference on the same day as the Secretary of State for Defence.