It is both a great honour and a heavy responsibility to be a Member of Parliament, and we have few weightier duties than protecting and provided for our armed forces, whose members put their lives on the line at our command. I warmly congratulate every person who signed this petition, which states:

The Petition of residents of Castle Point and others,

Declares that members of HM Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting and dying, and that they lack basic equipment to do their job and there is insufficient appreciation and support from the Government for them and their families, particularly when they return from active service, and, in welcoming the provision of limited free postage, feels that the Government should go much further to give help and recognition.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to adopt more generous policies for serving and returning members of HM Armed Forces, and to give them priority in housing, in recognition of the contribution made by these brave men and women.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000137]