Written Statements - Hansard - UK Parliament 1 of 8 https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2008-10-29/debates/5f8c5cc8-04e7-4c66-adfc-5cfff3e33f80/Wri... Back to top Hansard UK Parliament  Hansard  Lords: 29 October 2008 Written Statements OCT 29 Volume 704: debated on Wednesday 29 October 2008 2008 Download text House of Commons data for 16 July 2026 is currently being processed. Data for this date may temporarily appear incomplete. Written Statements Wednesday 29 October 2008 Column 89WS Armed Forces: National Recognition Study The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence  (Baroness Taylor of Bolton) Share My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Defence (Bob Ainsworth) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. I wish to announce the publication today of the Government response to the independent inquiry into the national recognition of the Armed Forces carried out by my honourable friend the Member for Grantham. My honourable friend was invited by the Government last December to examine ways of improving the nation’s understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces and his report was published on 19 May. As I said when it was published, the Government warmly welcome this report, which is comprehensive in its coverage and based on extensive consultation. The Government are acutely aware of the debt owed to our Armed Forces. Our gratitude for the work they do in the service of our country is reflected in a raft of recent initiatives with the service personnel Command Paper the central plank. This unprecedented piece of work set out to achieve two things: first, to end any disadvantage associated with service life and, secondly, to apply, where appropriate, special treatment, particularly for those injured in the course of their service. Complementing this, it is also vital for our serving men and women, especially those engaged in difficult and dangerous overseas campaigns, to know that the whole of Britain understands and appreciates the work that they do in our name. That is why the Prime Minister set up the national recognition inquiry. The report made many recommendations, the majority of which have been accepted. We have been considering how we might implement them and I am pleased to announce that the Government have already taken action to bring a number of measures into effect, including on the wider wearing of uniforms in public, a more systematic approach to homecoming parades and new rules on dealing with Members of Parliament. However, we are also conscious of the need to avoid placing additional burdens on our hard-pressed Armed Forces, especially given 22/07/2026, 15:49