:00:00. > :00:00.questions. The first question is on support for soldiers making legal
:00:00. > :00:22.claims following injuries from the Iraq war.
:00:23. > :00:39.Orderquestions to the Secretary of State for Defense. Mr Speaker, this
:00:40. > :00:41.government believes we can and will succeed in reforming and
:00:42. > :00:48.renegotiating our relationship with the European Union. The cornerstone
:00:49. > :00:56.of our security however is Nato, while the EU plays a significant
:00:57. > :01:05.role in,, lamenting them. Defense remains a sovereign issue. When the
:01:06. > :01:10.Prime Minister told us he was in no doubt that the European question is
:01:11. > :01:11.not only a matter of economic security butt of national security,
:01:12. > :01:25.was he right or wrong was ... Use right that it does play a
:01:26. > :01:33.part. Would my honourable friend like to remind the honourable member
:01:34. > :01:39.how many times in its tenure inception DEQ battle troops have
:01:40. > :01:48.been deployed? The EU Battle groups have not yet been deployed. That you
:01:49. > :01:52.does have five significant missions at the moment where it is
:01:53. > :02:01.complementing in areas where Nato does not become involved. With a
:02:02. > :02:05.minister like to comment on the impact of the Anglo-French military
:02:06. > :02:09.relationship? He will be aware that there are many programmes, joint
:02:10. > :02:17.programmes that are underway. That is likely to be affected if the EU
:02:18. > :02:27.was to pull out... I see no reason why they should be. The Minister
:02:28. > :02:31.would have seen in the press another veteran who is struggling to access
:02:32. > :02:35.the care that she deserves and on top of the report last week would he
:02:36. > :02:39.agree with me that now is the time after putting so much into the
:02:40. > :02:46.government, to take radical reform on this and address the care
:02:47. > :02:49.required in the veteran sector. I sure my honourable friend's concern
:02:50. > :02:55.in this area and he may wish to put a question on this to my honourable
:02:56. > :02:59.friend the excellent honourable and gallant friend, the excellent
:03:00. > :03:05.minister for veterans shortly. We can do that now? How shortly remains
:03:06. > :03:13.to be seen. Not in the honourable gentleman smiled nor in mind. If
:03:14. > :03:18.there's a possible that exit, what is the impact that will have on
:03:19. > :03:38.armed services personnel currently in operations with the EU... As far
:03:39. > :03:44.as I can see, none. Good. Splendid. The Minister is quite liked to
:03:45. > :03:48.remind the House that at the cornerstone of our national security
:03:49. > :03:51.is our membership of Nato. Hear! Does the Minister agree with me that
:03:52. > :03:56.if the British people vote took leave the European Union there is
:03:57. > :04:01.absolutely nothing to stop this country working with our European
:04:02. > :04:08.neighbors and cooperating if they choose to do so. My honourable
:04:09. > :04:15.friend is quite right. We all agree, in fact, both sides used agree that
:04:16. > :04:22.the cornerstone of our defense is a nuclear armed Nato. Of course, my
:04:23. > :04:28.honourable friend is right in saying that under any scenario we will be
:04:29. > :04:35.continuing to cooperate with the other members of the EU, majority of
:04:36. > :04:43.whom belong to Nato anyway. I am glad to hear the Minister gave his
:04:44. > :04:47.support. On that note, will be explained as a single way in which
:04:48. > :04:55.less cooperation with our partners is going to increase our national
:04:56. > :04:57.security? Nobody is suggesting less cooperation on defense matters with
:04:58. > :05:06.our European partners or anyone else. Very well with him saying
:05:07. > :05:08.that, but the fighting project, is one example of how working together
:05:09. > :05:13.with our European partners only creates thousands of jobs, boost
:05:14. > :05:18.exports and secures crucial sovereign capabilities. Can the
:05:19. > :05:23.Secretary of State who is... Can the Minister was supposed to be part of
:05:24. > :05:28.the group wanting to boost the industry, give us an example of a
:05:29. > :05:35.single UK manufacturer that boost the UK leaving the European Union at
:05:36. > :05:39.this moment? The typhoon that he gives as an example of collaboration
:05:40. > :05:48.was a collaboration between Nato countries. I am not sure I fully
:05:49. > :05:51.followed the remains of his question. It was something about the
:05:52. > :06:01.things many structures, let's be clear Nato unlike the EU is the
:06:02. > :06:08.central plank of our defense policy. Number two Mr Speaker. Our military
:06:09. > :06:14.training in Ukraine will continue and we have plans to increase our
:06:15. > :06:22.footprint. Today we plan to get a further three and a half thousand --
:06:23. > :06:27.three 500, give response to a specific request from the Ukraine
:06:28. > :06:33.and will be delivered in the spring. When the Ukraine gained independence
:06:34. > :06:42.in one to keep the option of getting nuclear weapons... It has been its
:06:43. > :06:46.overworked. Following the Nato summit in Wales, British troops have
:06:47. > :06:50.been deployed in a training war in the Ukraine. Can a minister update
:06:51. > :06:53.as to the success that has been hacked in improving the training of
:06:54. > :06:58.the Ukraine and Armed Forces to make sure they have a fair fight against
:06:59. > :07:05.Russian backed aggression? I think the honourable gentleman he is right
:07:06. > :07:11.to point out how our committal to that helps our influence. As I can
:07:12. > :07:17.reassure him that we are on target to reach training, and 2000
:07:18. > :07:22.Ukrainian troops by the end of this financial year. I'm sure the first
:07:23. > :07:27.aid kits are very welcome in the Ukraine, but if we're going to be
:07:28. > :07:34.serious about supporting them who was under such pressure from this
:07:35. > :07:37.regime of President Putin in Russia. Surely he will be doing much more
:07:38. > :07:42.visible and helpful work for the Ukraine. Some of that will be
:07:43. > :07:46.tightening the sanctions on Russia, that is what they don't like and
:07:47. > :07:53.that is what has been successful. Tightening the sanctions, week by
:07:54. > :07:56.week not by month. The honourable gentleman will be aware that that is
:07:57. > :08:03.what we are doing. We have argued for sanctions to our work with Nato.
:08:04. > :08:05.We are doing much more than supplying first aid kits, we are
:08:06. > :08:10.doing a huge amount capacity building in those Armed Forces. We
:08:11. > :08:14.have given them a huge amount of equipment, particularly to protect
:08:15. > :08:19.them from the cold weather in which they are operating in. I know
:08:20. > :08:21.they're very grateful for that. We stand ready to assist them further
:08:22. > :08:28.and I'll be visiting the country shortly. Ukraine has been on the
:08:29. > :08:34.front line of the expansionist agenda of Putin, but they are not
:08:35. > :08:40.alone in Eastern Europe. In a minister say what assistance the
:08:41. > :08:44.Nato and European Union, the United Kingdom is given to a number of
:08:45. > :08:49.countries particularly the Baltic states to try and combat some of
:08:50. > :08:56.that expansionism from Russia. We do a huge amount of work with Baltic
:08:57. > :09:01.air policing, for example. The huge amount of operational and practical
:09:02. > :09:08.work. But also through diplomatic channels as well. We have been very
:09:09. > :09:12.active through Nato and the EU in holding Russia's the fire on these
:09:13. > :09:18.issues. And progress has been made, we know that recent progress with
:09:19. > :09:21.fewer violations of the cease-fire and we will continue to do both of
:09:22. > :09:27.those things, practically edible magically. -- feet to the fire on
:09:28. > :09:35.these issues. -- and it diplomatically. I hope you'll allow
:09:36. > :09:38.me to formally welcome the new shadow secretary and you'll allow me
:09:39. > :09:43.to formally welcome the new shadow secretary and her team and regret
:09:44. > :09:54.the removal of their mainstream moderate predecessor. Hear! In
:09:55. > :09:56.recently, forces have recaptured Sinjar and the Iraqi warming are
:09:57. > :10:05.clearing the last pockets of Daesh resistance and Ramadi. Interior
:10:06. > :10:08.Daesh forces... Air strikes including those by the United
:10:09. > :10:13.Kingdom also inflict it significant damage on Daesh's A-lister oil
:10:14. > :10:23.industry reducing its revenues by around 10%. -- elicit. I welcome the
:10:24. > :10:28.Secretary of State has to say. Kenny what he considers the measures
:10:29. > :10:32.necessary to put in place to ensure that all members of the Coalition
:10:33. > :10:37.intensified their efforts against Daesh? I'll be meeting with my
:10:38. > :10:42.counterparts from Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands
:10:43. > :10:47.and the United States to review the overall direction of the counter
:10:48. > :10:53.Daesh campaign. We have made some good headway in both Iraq and Syria
:10:54. > :10:57.in recent weeks. Now is the time to discuss how to maximize the
:10:58. > :11:00.Coalition efforts and how to exploit the opportunities that now arrives
:11:01. > :11:08.from the setbacks that Daesh has suffered. A major contributor to
:11:09. > :11:13.Daesh activities and capabilities on the ground is the foreign funding
:11:14. > :11:17.that it receives him with a minister outlined what measures the UK is
:11:18. > :11:23.taking to curb the foreign funding for Islamist groups in particular
:11:24. > :11:28.what pressure is he putting on Saudi Arabia and Qatar. I'm grateful to
:11:29. > :11:36.the honourable member and this is one of the keys to Daesh survival.
:11:37. > :11:41.It is important we maximize our efforts to cut off its sources of
:11:42. > :11:48.revenue rather they are internal to, its access to oil revenues and the
:11:49. > :11:53.taxes it imposes inside Syria, or indeed external affairs that she has
:11:54. > :11:57.described. That is something we'll be discussing in a wider meeting
:11:58. > :12:01.with all members the Coalition including the countries that she has
:12:02. > :12:10.mentioned. In a wider meeting later on. The Secretary of State will be
:12:11. > :12:17.aware that there have been suggestions that is part of the
:12:18. > :12:23.constraining Daesh is to use back work of diplomacy does he agree with
:12:24. > :12:27.beats that cameo Andrew White of Baghdad when he said in an interview
:12:28. > :12:35.on Saturday" you cannot negotiate with them, I have never said that
:12:36. > :12:41.about another group of people. they are so different, extreme and
:12:42. > :12:48.radical. " This is not put into context everything? I was surprised
:12:49. > :12:57.at the suggestion that one could negotiate with Daesh... The strong
:12:58. > :13:03.points of the House will recall our having its opponents, burning resin
:13:04. > :13:07.is alive throwing gays off of buildings, enslaving young women,
:13:08. > :13:12.murdering innocent British tourist in Tunisia. And slaughtering young
:13:13. > :13:21.people out on a night in Paris. I felt it to see any particular
:13:22. > :13:25.attraction... I do not think that Daesh has any strong points for the
:13:26. > :13:30.sector is a benefit. The Prime Minister central argument, there
:13:31. > :13:36.were 17,000 freedom fighters ready to take on the ground in Syria, on
:13:37. > :13:39.Tuesday the Prime Minister still cannot defend that figure. The
:13:40. > :13:44.Secretary of State do that today? I can. That is not my figure of the
:13:45. > :13:53.time minister's figure, it is an assessment produced by the joint
:13:54. > :13:56.Intel intelligence. I was a gently that it does not think there are so
:13:57. > :14:03.many freedom fighters in the city how does he think... How does he
:14:04. > :14:08.think that that's a war has lasted for five years, there are people
:14:09. > :14:13.love been fighting the Asad regime? With my right honourable friend
:14:14. > :14:19.agree with me that a significant is taught by grand forces is the only
:14:20. > :14:25.way to deal with Daesh in the longer term? Yes, and the end Daesh will be
:14:26. > :14:33.priced out of cities like puzzle in Iraq or Raqqa in Syria by local
:14:34. > :14:39.forces. -- Mosul. We have seen some success, like Ramadi. I hope
:14:40. > :14:45.eventually other cities along the Tigris and Euphrates, and I hope in
:14:46. > :14:49.the soonest the time we will see the similar action in Raqqa. That does
:14:50. > :14:54.not mean we should not be getting one now with the full deployment of
:14:55. > :15:03.air strikes to do with the infrastructure that supports them.
:15:04. > :15:10.May I welcome the honourable lady, I wish her well, there are important
:15:11. > :15:19.areas of defense we are in agreement on. Can ask the Secretary of State
:15:20. > :15:26.is he agree with the Prime Minister, who totally Liaison Committee last
:15:27. > :15:32.week that if people make allegations, we must look at them.
:15:33. > :15:36.Let me say to the horrible member, that we do an assessment after every
:15:37. > :15:41.rich air strike of the damage that has been caused, we check carefully
:15:42. > :15:45.whether it is likely to have been casualties. That is taking into
:15:46. > :15:51.account planning and proving the strike in the first place. --
:15:52. > :15:54.honourable friend. It's a happened that in the first year of operations
:15:55. > :16:01.we are not aware of any civilian casualties so far in our strikes in
:16:02. > :16:04.Iraq or indeed the more recent in Syria. These are military
:16:05. > :16:08.operations, we do everything possible to reduce the risk of
:16:09. > :16:15.civilian casualties, it is not possible to eliminate it entirely.
:16:16. > :16:22.Can he confirm therefore that the Minister of defense will now accept
:16:23. > :16:28.evidence of civilian deaths from other sources? Cameo sure the House
:16:29. > :16:36.that the evidence from highly credible organizations such as the
:16:37. > :16:39.Syrian Observatory for human rights, groups working on the ground, and
:16:40. > :16:43.are very often the first people on the scene will be considered when
:16:44. > :16:49.calculating civilian deaths in the future? Let me assure the honourable
:16:50. > :16:54.member that we will look at any evidence forward and open source
:16:55. > :17:01.reporting by other organizations in the assessments we make of each of
:17:02. > :17:08.the strikes. I have replied directly to one of the organizations he
:17:09. > :17:12.mentioned, pointing out replying to them and pointing out to them that
:17:13. > :17:18.no particular evidence to back up the assessment they have made in
:17:19. > :17:21.that particular case. Could my right horrible friend possibly give the
:17:22. > :17:26.House and update on the military and nonmilitary support that has now
:17:27. > :17:35.been provided opposition fighters in Syria? -- honourable. We have been
:17:36. > :17:37.supplying, along with other countries, equipment to those
:17:38. > :17:44.fighters. We play a part in the initial training programme that was
:17:45. > :17:47.organized by the United States. We are ready to do so as well. In
:17:48. > :17:54.addition to that, we are working with these groups on the political,
:17:55. > :18:02.the route to a political... In the talks that have now gotten underway
:18:03. > :18:05.under the so-called Vienna process. I like to begin by thanking the
:18:06. > :18:10.honourable gentleman for his generous welcome to this job. And
:18:11. > :18:17.the honourable member... The honourable gentleman has the honour
:18:18. > :18:21.of having perhaps the best job in Westminster, minus the second best.
:18:22. > :18:30.Hopefully we can change soon. LAUGHTER
:18:31. > :18:32.He can be assured that there are be difficult questions asked and will
:18:33. > :18:35.be hoping to work with the government where we can do the sake
:18:36. > :18:40.of security of the people in Britain. They have repeatedly warned
:18:41. > :18:47.that the RAF has been at full stretch and I was even before the
:18:48. > :18:53.air strikes on Daesh began in Syria. A squadron of F 35 sessions but
:18:54. > :18:57.ordered. In the meantime the air campaign against Daesh will be
:18:58. > :19:03.dependent on 40-year-old aircraft. Can the Minister tell us how he
:19:04. > :19:07.believes the air campaign can safely be maintained and what would happen
:19:08. > :19:12.if an was to merge? With the RAF have capacity for any further
:19:13. > :19:17.operations, further than those with the government will allow them to
:19:18. > :19:21.operate under? I think her for her initial remarks in no time ambition
:19:22. > :19:27.to move from that side of the House to the side of the House presumably
:19:28. > :19:31.shared by the two previous shadow Defense secretaries that have so far
:19:32. > :19:37.I have come across. Let me say to her gently that a defense policy of
:19:38. > :19:42.nuclear submarines with no nuclear weapons being said Daesh have strong
:19:43. > :19:49.points and wants to and the Falkland Island... May be laborers defense
:19:50. > :19:57.policy, but it will never be printed's defense policy. In respect
:19:58. > :20:02.to her particular question the RAF are deploying a range of aircraft on
:20:03. > :20:07.operations in the Middle East, including modern typhoons, unmanned
:20:08. > :20:12.aircraft alongside the tornado that she refers to. And I can confirm
:20:13. > :20:23.that the RAF are well able to sustain this effort. Question five
:20:24. > :20:29.Mr Speaker. The nuclear deterrent is a part of the Defense security
:20:30. > :20:34.policy, maintaining continuous requires for ballistic nuclear
:20:35. > :20:39.submarines. The nuclear enterprise is gearing up to deliver the success
:20:40. > :20:45.of replacement to that submarine. Is it not only keep print save but also
:20:46. > :20:50.support over 30,000 jobs across the UK in England and in Scotland. Wells
:20:51. > :20:55.in Northern Ireland, they make a significant contribution to the UK
:20:56. > :21:00.economy. 30,000 jobs, I pick my honourable friend for his answer.
:21:01. > :21:03.Notwithstanding proposals for a nuclear missile boat or summary
:21:04. > :21:09.without nuclear missiles, does he know that there are something like
:21:10. > :21:15.17,000 nuclear warheads around the world, possibly threatening... What
:21:16. > :21:21.is my honourable friend's assessment of the likely risk to national
:21:22. > :21:29.security should the missile submarines not perceive. -- proceed.
:21:30. > :21:34.He is quite right to highlight the deterrent to our national security.
:21:35. > :21:38.I think he was referring to comments over the last 20 for hours, we have
:21:39. > :21:44.seen a most extraordinary contortion of merging from the... The idea that
:21:45. > :21:50.spending tens of billions of pounds to build, but not Army strategic
:21:51. > :21:58.deterrent to trace the new kind of politics from the Labour leadership.
:21:59. > :22:03.A breathtaking lack of understanding of how to keep this country safe and
:22:04. > :22:09.the consequent effects of the national security and to of jobs
:22:10. > :22:12.across the UK. With the Minister agree that it is not just about the
:22:13. > :22:19.number of jobs involved in this programme, but the high school
:22:20. > :22:23.nature of those jobs, despite comments from my own party over the
:22:24. > :22:28.weekend with regard to the shops. Would you agree with me that you
:22:29. > :22:36.cannot simply turn it on and off to relieve them? I would like to add my
:22:37. > :22:39.tribute to the stoic work the honourable member has done in this
:22:40. > :22:46.position both on these binges when he was a defense minister and on
:22:47. > :22:50.those binges when he was a shadow, -- binges. Sorry to see him sitting
:22:51. > :22:53.in the back now, he is white right to point out that this is a
:22:54. > :22:59.long-term endeavor to design and build a nuclear enabled submarine,
:23:00. > :23:06.it takes decades. This is a 35 year project I'm initial conception to
:23:07. > :23:10.commissioning. Does goes only always a good long time to develop, they
:23:11. > :23:12.cannot be switched on and off and they are at the forefront of
:23:13. > :23:17.engineering capabilities in this country. Building a nuclear
:23:18. > :23:24.submarine is more difficult than sending a man to the moon. In light
:23:25. > :23:30.of these astonishing updates from the leader of opposition having in
:23:31. > :23:35.summary without actually having... Does my right honourable friend
:23:36. > :23:39.agree with me that in the uncertain world it is crucial that the health
:23:40. > :23:49.census, nuclear deterrent is continued. I'm grateful for the
:23:50. > :23:58.consideration he put. The House appeared to secure the safety of the
:23:59. > :24:03.United Kingdom as a whole. We must... We very much hope that as
:24:04. > :24:07.many colleagues from across the House when it comes to a vote will
:24:08. > :24:13.be able to recognize a consensus on this issue. The placement of the
:24:14. > :24:20.nuclear deterrent is of course a sovereign decision of the United
:24:21. > :24:24.Kingdom. However, it has made impressions across Nato, should we
:24:25. > :24:36.decide not to proceed. With the Minister tell us what he... Should
:24:37. > :24:43.we decide not to go through? Are deterrent is a Nato asset, so the
:24:44. > :24:48.Nato alliance depends, in part, on our ability to make that asset
:24:49. > :24:51.available should the need arise. It is an intense interest in the
:24:52. > :24:52.deliberations in this house being taken by our Nato allies and I think
:24:53. > :25:02.she's quite right to highlight that. With the Minister agree with me that
:25:03. > :25:05.all Nato countries are part of the Nato nuclear alliance based on the
:25:06. > :25:08.three members who are in possession of weapons and not to spend all the
:25:09. > :25:12.money to have a nuclear deterrent but do not actually have one at the
:25:13. > :25:17.end of it would be the worst option of all? I have already indicated I
:25:18. > :25:20.think it is completely farcical to spend tens of millions of pounds on
:25:21. > :25:25.a weapon that could never be used and therefore could never fulfil the
:25:26. > :25:32.deterrent object that it has. I completely agree. In what
:25:33. > :25:38.circumstances that he intend to use nuclear deterrent? I think this gets
:25:39. > :25:42.to the heart of the confusion that lies at the centre of the Scottish
:25:43. > :25:43.nationalist policy. The deterrent has been in use every single day for
:25:44. > :25:58.the last 53 years. Approximately 1700 soldiers were
:25:59. > :26:03.mobilised to support the flood response in Lancashire, Cumbria and
:26:04. > :26:10.Yorkshire. Additional support was provided by an RAF helicopter, Royal
:26:11. > :26:13.Navy search and rescue helicopter and these were temporary
:26:14. > :26:16.accommodation of the Victoria barracks and violent. As with a
:26:17. > :26:20.child service response and included both regular and reserve or this and
:26:21. > :26:24.I am sure the whole house would want to join me in danger be to be
:26:25. > :26:31.tremendous effort our armed forces made and they they support eight
:26:32. > :26:35.divided especially over Christmas. I associate myself with my horrible
:26:36. > :26:38.friend's comment about giving support to armed forces who provided
:26:39. > :26:42.a fantastic response to the Boxing Day blood in Lancashire. Would she
:26:43. > :26:45.just say further was that that been taking to ensure that the Armed
:26:46. > :26:50.Forces are held at a heightened state of readiness in case we see a
:26:51. > :26:56.return of the flood later on this winter? I think they horrible
:26:57. > :26:59.gentleman for his kind words about our Armed Forces. Looking forward to
:27:00. > :27:04.the opportunity to also think the public for the very great efforts
:27:05. > :27:07.they made to express their gratitude largely in calorific form I
:27:08. > :27:11.understand to all of our Armed Forces and I can assure him that we
:27:12. > :27:14.are engage with other government retirement and our network of
:27:15. > :27:18.regional liaison teams will buckle authorities which is a permanent
:27:19. > :27:22.thing that we do. BUK stand-by battalions remained at high
:27:23. > :27:27.readiness and if necessary we are able to provide further support very
:27:28. > :27:31.quickly if the need arises. I witnessed for myself the crucial
:27:32. > :27:35.role that the service is played during the floods over the Christmas
:27:36. > :27:39.period. Without their intervention, the situation would have been far
:27:40. > :27:43.more serious. The British Army and the rest of the forces get again at
:27:44. > :27:47.its best. Despite being overstretched. In light that the
:27:48. > :27:50.Army has been cut by 20,000 personnel in the last five years,
:27:51. > :27:54.there is a template the percent shortfall in the number of
:27:55. > :27:59.reservists and the civilian staff will be cut by 30% before the next
:28:00. > :28:02.election. Can the government explain how it can ensure that it is able to
:28:03. > :28:09.provide a comprehensive response to future national emergencies that
:28:10. > :28:12.alone international crises? I must correct the honourable Lady is not
:28:13. > :28:16.only did we not have a shortfall in reservists but we actually are ahead
:28:17. > :28:20.of target as well in recruiting reservists. I think close to 9000
:28:21. > :28:25.individuals have stepped forward just in the last year alone. We have
:28:26. > :28:28.a very strong pipeline in recruiting, but the reason why we
:28:29. > :28:33.can't give assurances to the British public opinion down the country when
:28:34. > :28:37.such terrible events happen if because we have taken a decision to
:28:38. > :28:44.invest in defence and our kids and in our people and to keep our armed
:28:45. > :28:49.forces strong. That is how we can reassure people and as we have seen
:28:50. > :28:53.over the Christmas period, we were able to generate enormous numbers of
:28:54. > :29:01.people when the need arises in short order. I did a terrific job and I
:29:02. > :29:07.think that any digestion otherwise is not looking at the facts. I start
:29:08. > :29:11.by thanking you Mr Speaker, the students of a school that attended
:29:12. > :29:13.the session you ran last week at the school in my constituency the
:29:14. > :29:22.feedback has been universally very positive and we are very grateful to
:29:23. > :29:26.you. Can I ask the Minister to pass on my sincere thanks and those of my
:29:27. > :29:29.constituents to the armed forces for their magnificent support for my
:29:30. > :29:33.constituents to in the recent flooding. They came over Christmas
:29:34. > :29:37.at very short notice to help out on a whole range of task, where a
:29:38. > :29:40.lifeline to many of constituents and we would all like to place on record
:29:41. > :29:45.hours that sincere thanks or everything they did at that time. I
:29:46. > :29:50.think the honourable gentleman for his kind words. They will have been
:29:51. > :30:01.heard by those that went to his constituency, but I will also pass
:30:02. > :30:07.them on. With permission, Mr Speaker, I will take much and seven
:30:08. > :30:13.and eight together. SDF are made defence engagement in funding call
:30:14. > :30:16.MOD task. We're building our capacity to adjust mobile security
:30:17. > :30:21.concerns at the sort through and throwing thing partner countries.
:30:22. > :30:26.This is inflicting harder countries. Developing a personal defendant
:30:27. > :30:30.engagement career stream to a child to be very best. Furthermore, each
:30:31. > :30:36.Army at that gate is now aligned to a specific region for training and
:30:37. > :30:42.influence purposes. Would the minister just make a comment about
:30:43. > :30:48.increasing our security in the region in relation to south tower
:30:49. > :30:51.and in the context can I give my apologies on behalf of our
:30:52. > :30:54.honourable friend the chair of the defence select committee. He is not
:30:55. > :30:57.able to be here this afternoon because he is attending the memorial
:30:58. > :31:03.service of Lieutenant Commander David Barton who was a hero who went
:31:04. > :31:06.on you 110 during the war and got the code book and machine out. They
:31:07. > :31:15.were set up electorally... the code book and machine out. They
:31:16. > :31:23.were set up Is a hero and probably sorted the war. I hope the Minister
:31:24. > :31:27.can pay JB to him. -- can pay tribute to him. On the Baltics we
:31:28. > :31:30.are very conscious of the importance of the Baltics. Most of the
:31:31. > :31:33.ministers in this theme including the secretary of state and myself
:31:34. > :31:37.have been to visit them and have been well aware of the Ebersole that
:31:38. > :31:43.we have carried out there in our programme of exercises. On the tenet
:31:44. > :31:48.Commander, Churchill once Wesley said that the only campaign that
:31:49. > :31:52.kept him continuously awake at night was the convoy campaign in the
:31:53. > :32:00.Western Atlantic. Without that we would have almost certainly lost it.
:32:01. > :32:04.As chair of the British Council all party group I am very much aware of
:32:05. > :32:07.the importance of soft power, what my honourable friend agree that it
:32:08. > :32:12.is only through an investment, continuing investment in both hard
:32:13. > :32:16.and soft power that we can continue to play a leading role in protecting
:32:17. > :32:20.the world order on which our security and prosperity very much
:32:21. > :32:25.depend? My honourable friend is quite right and we are sending
:32:26. > :32:31.training emissions now, doing bridal upstream work in a large number of
:32:32. > :32:34.countries. These are helping to deliver the environment that is
:32:35. > :32:40.needed to prevent the prospect of future wars and conflicts. What role
:32:41. > :32:48.does the Minister think that human rights advisors have in developing
:32:49. > :32:53.our influence? Human rights advisors to play a role. We have specifically
:32:54. > :32:59.within the Armed Forces now a number who specialise in advised on gender
:33:00. > :33:02.matters, protecting women in conflict for example. One or two of
:33:03. > :33:09.them have put themselves very much in harms way going to advise and
:33:10. > :33:13.dangerous behaviours. Since taking office in 2010, the prime minister
:33:14. > :33:19.has overseen over ?5.6 billion of military licenses to Saudi Arabia.
:33:20. > :33:28.Can I ask the minister if that would be him exercising soft power or hard
:33:29. > :33:32.power? We have one of the strictest regimes in the world for controlling
:33:33. > :33:41.exports. I would say that exporting to HTML I at a dangerous time in the
:33:42. > :33:49.Middle East was smart power. -- exporting to an important ally. Mr
:33:50. > :33:53.Speaker our programme to grow the reserve forces remained on track and
:33:54. > :33:57.has reversed many years of decline. Central to this is an improved offer
:33:58. > :34:05.including better training, better equipment reiteration and an
:34:06. > :34:10.improved experience for reservists. 8640 people joined the volunteer
:34:11. > :34:14.reserves in the 12 months to the 1st of December. 846% rise on the
:34:15. > :34:30.equivalent period a year ago. Trained strength rose to 26,560 well
:34:31. > :34:33.I had a target -- warty 6%. -- 46%. Shockingly poor recruitment figures
:34:34. > :34:37.have only started to improve since the government raised age limit
:34:38. > :34:42.allowing some recruits to join the reserves until their mid-50s. The
:34:43. > :34:44.major project authorities judge the plant unachievable. Does the
:34:45. > :34:53.government now accept that the Army has been that too far and too fast.
:34:54. > :34:56.I do not accept that Mr Speaker. The major project authority report
:34:57. > :35:01.Stewart stew is more than a year old. The figures you quoted at the
:35:02. > :35:10.target, 35,000 trained is by April 2000 19. We are moving fast in that
:35:11. > :35:13.direction. Mr Speaker, given that the self build and custom house
:35:14. > :35:16.building act is now on the statute but, does my honourable friend
:35:17. > :35:19.consider one way to recruit additional reserves and indeed other
:35:20. > :35:25.members of the armed wars that is to create a help to build so that
:35:26. > :35:32.service families find it easier to get a piece of land and build a
:35:33. > :35:40.house? I will pass my honourable and's ingenious idea Mr Speigel is
:35:41. > :35:46.bigger to colleagues and we will look at it or him -- Mr Speaker. As
:35:47. > :35:50.the government is built short of its target document is to acknowledge
:35:51. > :35:53.the concerns raised by his honourable friend the member for
:35:54. > :36:00.about ten and Billy Ricky who has brought that these cuts are leading
:36:01. > :36:07.to ability gaps in our Armed Forces? Mr Speaker, we had to take some
:36:08. > :36:11.painful decisions when we took over in 2010 as part of the coalition
:36:12. > :36:17.government to cut the country was bending or pounds for every ?3
:36:18. > :36:21.coming in. -- ?4 for every ?3. After the reshaping we have moved to a
:36:22. > :36:25.position where despite there still being some type resistant to take,
:36:26. > :36:28.this country have committed to spending 2% on defence and to a
:36:29. > :36:34.large expansion of its equipment programme. My honourable friend will
:36:35. > :36:42.recall his visit in June of last year to a newly established reserved
:36:43. > :36:46.union after a company... Is he as pleased as I am to note that their
:36:47. > :36:50.units are already beyond exception strength in the past six months on a
:36:51. > :36:54.12 new reservists have started. Doesn't this third the -- show the
:36:55. > :36:59.offer to reserve it is attractive with white it does. It was a huge
:37:00. > :37:06.privilege to be there. For the re-and operation of reserve power
:37:07. > :37:17.troopers in rugby and to have the opportunity to meet a veteran. What
:37:18. > :37:23.have the changes had on the reserves and for the regular forces? The
:37:24. > :37:28.largest changes in pay have actually been to reservists where we have
:37:29. > :37:33.introduced holiday pay for the first time. We have introduced a penchant
:37:34. > :37:34.for the first time. It was only available to those who mobilised
:37:35. > :37:51.before. I think the minister for the
:37:52. > :37:56.recruiting battle we are allowed to do in Northern Island and that we
:37:57. > :38:02.have just under 7% of the reserve forces from Northern Ireland against
:38:03. > :38:04.3% of the population. Maybe the Minister could look at recruiting
:38:05. > :38:07.more in Northern Ireland and we could carry on the backbone of the
:38:08. > :38:13.armed services. Northern Ireland has always been a really excellent
:38:14. > :38:18.recruiting ground for both regulars and reservists. I am conscious
:38:19. > :38:20.author of the fact that beyond the statistics the honourable member
:38:21. > :38:23.mentioned a higher proportion of people from Northern Ireland have
:38:24. > :38:31.been obliged than any other part of the UK. Gas have been mobilised. My
:38:32. > :38:34.department regularly receives representations covering a wide
:38:35. > :38:41.range of views on defence matters including the replacement of the
:38:42. > :38:43.independent nuclear deterrent. Mr Speaker North Korea recently
:38:44. > :38:47.announced that it tested a hydrogen bomb and only yesterday boasted that
:38:48. > :38:51.it had the capacity to obliterate the United aides. To what extent
:38:52. > :38:55.does my right honourable friend think that North Korea would be
:38:56. > :38:59.deterred in its nuclear ambition by the knowledge that somewhere below
:39:00. > :39:07.the surface of the East Dynasty and unarmed submarines was lurking?
:39:08. > :39:12.LAUGHTER Let me first of all strongly
:39:13. > :39:15.condemned the nuclear test conducted by North Korea which seriously
:39:16. > :39:20.threatens regional and international security. This government, let me
:39:21. > :39:24.assure my right honourable friend, will not gamble with the long-term
:39:25. > :39:27.security of our citizens. We remain committed to maintaining an
:39:28. > :39:32.independent nuclear deterrent. The only thing that a nuclear submarines
:39:33. > :39:35.without nuclear weapons is likely to deter is anybody who cares about our
:39:36. > :39:44.security from ever voting labour again. If the UK were to go down the
:39:45. > :39:52.route of decommissioning its warheads and then in the so-called
:39:53. > :39:56.Japanese style and then were to decide that it needed to recommence
:39:57. > :39:59.in them at some future point, is that the government assessment that
:40:00. > :40:05.it could do so and remain compatible with the nonproliferation treatment?
:40:06. > :40:09.Let me make it clear that Japan does not have nuclear powered submarines
:40:10. > :40:19.and Japan does not have nuclear weapons. Talk of some Japanese
:40:20. > :40:23.option is entirely farcical. So far as the honourable gentleman's
:40:24. > :40:32.questions concern we have no intention of decommissioning.
:40:33. > :40:37.Question 11 Mr Speaker. We are fully committed to supporting Nigeria and
:40:38. > :40:39.its efforts to defeat Boca around. During his visit and number the
:40:40. > :40:42.Secretary of State committed to a major increase in UK support to the
:40:43. > :40:46.Nigerian Armed Forces with the intent of war than doubling the
:40:47. > :40:51.number of British personnel deployed on training passed in the coming
:40:52. > :40:56.year. I am very grateful for the minister's response because your DJ
:40:57. > :40:59.ties between the United kingdom and Nigeria are important to our
:41:00. > :41:02.country. Can the Minister provide more detailed about what the
:41:03. > :41:09.deployment of UK troops see anticipates the country making over
:41:10. > :41:12.the next 12 months? We expect us to 300 military personnel to be
:41:13. > :41:17.providing assistance over the forthcoming year. They angry around
:41:18. > :41:21.30 RAF personnel who have been deployed this month to deliver worse
:41:22. > :41:24.protection and training to the Air Force and more than 35 personnel
:41:25. > :41:30.from the second Battalion, the Royal Anglican Regiment to bullying later
:41:31. > :41:37.this month to train Nigerian personnel that lead to combat global
:41:38. > :41:43.around. Boca around have operated not only Nigeria but across borders
:41:44. > :41:48.in the region. We have also seen -- and Al-Qaeda affiliated. Giving your
:41:49. > :41:51.thick even in Burkina Faso over the weekend can see explain what the
:41:52. > :41:55.board is given to that country from the UK armed Forces but what that
:41:56. > :41:59.are being given up across the region into court against Islamic violence.
:42:00. > :42:02.There is a huge effort going on not just from the UK but also with our
:42:03. > :42:06.partners. The range of things that we are doing as well as ongoing
:42:07. > :42:12.bilateral relationships to build the opacity of their own armed forces we
:42:13. > :42:17.provide a huge amount of training. Particularly on the issue of women
:42:18. > :42:22.please insecurity. And also tactical support as well. We keep all our
:42:23. > :42:32.time to review but a huge amount of work has been done. MOD housing
:42:33. > :42:35.supports serving members of the Armed Forces and their families.
:42:36. > :42:45.While a margin of unoccupied properties is returned retired gas
:42:46. > :42:49.retained,... We have allocated ?40 million from libel finds to support
:42:50. > :42:54.projects of running better and accommodation including ?8.5 million
:42:55. > :43:01.to Mike Jackson house. I think the minister for that response. We have
:43:02. > :43:04.a number of MOD properties currently standing vacant. Will my honourable
:43:05. > :43:07.friend agree with me to meet and discuss some of these properties and
:43:08. > :43:13.how they could potentially be used for temporary accommodation for
:43:14. > :43:16.military veterans? We do have approximately 10% of our service
:43:17. > :43:20.family accommodation unoccupied but we keep it at that level to ensure
:43:21. > :43:24.that we can cater for triple postings and people returning from
:43:25. > :43:27.overseas. I am not convinced that the use of service accommodation is
:43:28. > :43:30.a sustainable way of supporting veterans however there are a number
:43:31. > :43:33.of excellent projects around the country and I would be delighted to
:43:34. > :43:39.meet my honourable friend to discuss how we can pursue them in cold
:43:40. > :43:45.tester. -- cold tester. To the minister advised the house on the
:43:46. > :43:50.government support status for homeless veterans who have mental
:43:51. > :43:55.health double, what more can be done? We continue to provide support
:43:56. > :43:58.for veterans in particular any mental health area. We have invested
:43:59. > :44:02.a lot of money in recent years but we do except that the job is not
:44:03. > :44:05.done. There has been a rise of mental health problems both in
:44:06. > :44:08.society and in the armed forces and it is something that we keep under
:44:09. > :44:16.constant review and are determined to tackle. Thank you Mr Speaker. Of
:44:17. > :44:20.course it will be difficult to respond to the question, it is
:44:21. > :44:31.supporting veterans given that 30% of the MOD estate has been sold off.
:44:32. > :44:35.Also concerning is the invention of laying off 30% of civilian work
:44:36. > :44:43.force including significant job losses in defence equipment and
:44:44. > :44:50.support. At the same time, spending on outside expertise has rocketed to
:44:51. > :44:56.some 30% of the DNS budget. Does the Minister accept further lay-offs
:44:57. > :45:01.will not only drive up consultancy cost but also further exacerbate
:45:02. > :45:07.these skills shortage which the public accounts committee identified
:45:08. > :45:15.as a key reason for the increase is in the cost of military equipment
:45:16. > :45:18.overall? I do not accept that and I make absolutely no apologies as a
:45:19. > :45:30.result of our SBS are to continue to optimise our defence output. -- SBS
:45:31. > :45:36.are. -- SDSR. I had a successful bilateral meeting last Friday of
:45:37. > :45:43.which the ever 35 programme came up. Aircraft in line with estimates,
:45:44. > :45:46.operation capability of the bending and we reliability is improving as
:45:47. > :45:50.more aircraft come on stream and into the programme and logistic
:45:51. > :45:53.support increases. The aircraft remained on petrol to meet our
:45:54. > :46:03.initial operating capability in December 20 18. Will he reassure the
:46:04. > :46:07.house that he will not ring -- bring the current fleet of tornado
:46:08. > :46:12.aircraft out of service until the F35 has proven it operation
:46:13. > :46:18.reliability after several years of active service? The outstanding air
:46:19. > :46:24.to ground capability of our tornado watch her and has been that all he
:46:25. > :46:29.migrated onto the typhoon platform. Initially, in SDSR November we
:46:30. > :46:32.figured considerable investment in the RAF combat jet fleet including
:46:33. > :46:39.extending our tornado squadrons out of service date to 2018-19,
:46:40. > :46:43.increasing our type in fleet by two swatches and extending the typhoon
:46:44. > :46:47.out of service date to 2040. In addition we reaffirmed our
:46:48. > :46:51.commitment to acquiring a total 148F35s to rely for the programme
:46:52. > :47:03.and buying more aircraft earlier so we have... My priorities are our
:47:04. > :47:06.operations against bias which I'll be reviewing that my counterparts
:47:07. > :47:11.later this week. And implementation of the security defence review
:47:12. > :47:16.decisions to increase the size and power of our armed forces to keep
:47:17. > :47:25.Britain's eight. -- keep Britain's faith. -- Dave.
:47:26. > :47:31.Can ask my right honourable friend what impact these are DJ defence and
:47:32. > :47:37.security review will have on the future size and power of our armed
:47:38. > :47:39.Forces. You may recall I serve as patron to the military preparation
:47:40. > :47:43.college which has bathed in my constituency of Eastbourne and
:47:44. > :47:48.served a keen interest in the next generation of servicemen and women.
:47:49. > :47:52.I do recall that and indeed my visit to her constituency surely before
:47:53. > :47:57.her election to the way. I map the commitment to increase the defence
:47:58. > :48:01.budget every year is our armed for this certainty and stability. We are
:48:02. > :48:06.maintaining besides of the Army, increasing the size of the Royal
:48:07. > :48:09.Navy, the Royal Air Force and the reserves. We will have more ships,
:48:10. > :48:14.warplanes, more helicopters, more troops at readiness and better
:48:15. > :48:18.equipped special forces to protect our people, to project our influence
:48:19. > :48:25.across the world and to promote our prosperity. In the last two days,
:48:26. > :48:29.reports of the difficulties faced by veterans suffering from Gulf War
:48:30. > :48:32.syndrome have reminded of how important it is that we recognise
:48:33. > :48:35.the extra Erick devices made by our men and women in uniform. We must
:48:36. > :48:40.not only ensure that our service people are properly or reported but
:48:41. > :48:43.also looked after properly when they finished serving. Can the Minister
:48:44. > :48:47.tell the outlets are the message you think it sends that the government
:48:48. > :48:51.has chosen to freeze war pension at a time when the basic state pension
:48:52. > :48:57.is to be protected by a triple log and is set to rise by 2.9%? I think
:48:58. > :49:01.the government have actually got a good record when it comes to
:49:02. > :49:04.supporting veterans. We have seen in recent years unlike the previous
:49:05. > :49:11.government major investment when it comes to mental health, veterans
:49:12. > :49:15.accommodation and when it comes to veterans... We have the multi
:49:16. > :49:18.million pounds invested when it comes to investing in our veterans.
:49:19. > :49:21.Something not done under the previous government. I am sure the
:49:22. > :49:26.Minister will know that this year we are proud to Mike the centenary of
:49:27. > :49:31.the event the boards or in my constituency. But I invite the
:49:32. > :49:34.Minister to commend the work of Jonathan Weil and his demands
:49:35. > :49:39.regulate on the challenges they may face in next hundred years? I am
:49:40. > :49:43.able to my honourable friend for reminding the house that we do this
:49:44. > :49:48.year celebrates 100 years of the outstanding research effort which
:49:49. > :49:51.was established in response to the threat from chemical weapons during
:49:52. > :49:57.the First World War. Last week I reported at the house that we
:49:58. > :49:59.decided to make the STL and executive agency. I'm looking
:50:00. > :50:04.forward to visiting next month and I hope you'll be able to join me to
:50:05. > :50:13.think those who do such a fantastic job there. Defence missiles
:50:14. > :50:22.currently being chopped in Syria are estimated to cost in the region of
:50:23. > :50:24.?150,000 each. With such a massive financial commitment to the Minister
:50:25. > :50:30.as her the house that the cost of this campaign are being monitored
:50:31. > :50:38.and that a similar financial contribution will be made towards
:50:39. > :50:43.rebuilding Syria? The honourable Lady is right to identify that
:50:44. > :50:47.assistant munitions are costly. But I can reassure her that we are
:50:48. > :50:52.keeping a very both watch on stockpiles and ensuring that we have
:50:53. > :50:54.sufficient missiles in stock to meet our requirements. As the prime
:50:55. > :50:59.minister has said in his house during the debate over Syria is
:51:00. > :51:02.absolutely this government's intend to press for a rebuilding programme
:51:03. > :51:12.for Syria when this terrible double war comes to an end. -- terrible
:51:13. > :51:15.Civil War. The rules surrounding transportation of rifles and
:51:16. > :51:19.ammunition to make it all but impossible for schools and the debt
:51:20. > :51:23.union to participate in particularly target rifle shooting. Will my right
:51:24. > :51:25.honourable friend meet with me and representatives of the National
:51:26. > :51:31.Rifle Association to discuss how we can get around these that will rule
:51:32. > :51:35.and impractical and safe plan out? I would be delighted to meet with my
:51:36. > :51:40.mobile friend and the National Rifle Association. I should say they'll
:51:41. > :51:44.that while it is clearly a very skilled business, handling
:51:45. > :51:51.youngsters on a rifle range, we cannot find any evidence through any
:51:52. > :51:55.of these for service organizations that there is a particularly acute
:51:56. > :51:57.shortage although there are some individual cases that have been
:51:58. > :51:59.brought to my attention but I would be delighted to have been meeting he
:52:00. > :52:09.the just. -- he's the commando Joe's work across goals
:52:10. > :52:12.across the country placing veterans and costumes to share skills and
:52:13. > :52:15.experiences with young people despite robust evidence of the
:52:16. > :52:19.success of their work their government funding is due to end in
:52:20. > :52:22.March of this year placing the organisation in jeopardy. Will you
:52:23. > :52:27.make representations on it and look at what can be done to allow this
:52:28. > :52:30.hugely important work to continue? I would be delighted to meet with the
:52:31. > :52:39.honourable gentleman to discuss this matter and the if we can pursue it.
:52:40. > :52:44.Does my right honourable friend agree that any moves to weaken our
:52:45. > :52:48.commitment to an independent nuclear deterrent or our leading role in
:52:49. > :52:55.Nato will make us less safe? Absolutely. Our independent nuclear
:52:56. > :53:00.deterrent is the ultimate ear and Nato's security and necessary
:53:01. > :53:04.insurance in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain world. Our
:53:05. > :53:09.can conventional nuclear capabilities underwritten by our
:53:10. > :53:12.commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence support our leading role in
:53:13. > :53:18.Nato which remained at the heart of our. This government will not put
:53:19. > :53:23.our security at risk. The armed forces are facing here is SNL
:53:24. > :53:25.shortages in some of the most crucial nationalist trade including
:53:26. > :53:31.nuclear engineers and white technicians. Given that a great deal
:53:32. > :53:36.of the expertise is in MOD civilian workforce, which the government is
:53:37. > :53:39.planning to cut by 30%, can the and how the government plans to ensure
:53:40. > :53:48.that operational capabilities are protected when the pets go ahead?
:53:49. > :53:52.For particular point in trade there are particular programmes that are
:53:53. > :53:59.ongoing to ensure that we retained people but we also recruit. Those
:54:00. > :54:01.training people are offering apprenticeships but also allowing
:54:02. > :54:06.people to move in from the private sector. Those principles are well
:54:07. > :54:11.established, we are going to also be introducing into our worth is more
:54:12. > :54:13.flexible working patterns to allow more of that to happen and allow
:54:14. > :54:19.people to move from regular to reserve forces into civilian
:54:20. > :54:22.contacts and then back into the Armed Forces. This is very much the
:54:23. > :54:26.direction of travel and for each trade there is a particular plan
:54:27. > :54:31.which is going very well. In fact I think this month we have started
:54:32. > :54:39.recruiting apprenticeships into nuclear engineering 35 have started
:54:40. > :54:42.this month alone. Could be secretary of state explain was that the MOD is
:54:43. > :54:46.taking to release their blessed land for housing and could he also
:54:47. > :54:53.explained what progress the MOD has made in selling or renting the
:54:54. > :54:57.control centre in water beach? As part of the government prosperity of
:54:58. > :55:01.gendered the MOD is omitted to really demand for 55,000 housing
:55:02. > :55:04.units in this Parliament. I am delighted to announce the first
:55:05. > :55:10.block size which will contribute some ?500 million of land received
:55:11. > :55:15.will be reinvested into defence and more than -- provide more than
:55:16. > :55:19.15,000 potential housing units. I will place a full list of sites in
:55:20. > :55:23.the library of the house and I had written to be an view concerned.
:55:24. > :55:25.I've had to be in a position before the end of the year to provide
:55:26. > :55:28.further details including a full list of sites effective. With regard
:55:29. > :55:32.to my honourable friend own constituency I confirm that the
:55:33. > :55:33.whole of that site has now been transferred to our civilian delivery
:55:34. > :55:43.partner. Does the Secretary of State have any
:55:44. > :55:47.more concerns about the arms in Saudi Arabia giving its rates and
:55:48. > :55:51.the fact that it has been documented by Amnesty International by others
:55:52. > :55:58.that is a clear risk of UK arms being used to read... The United
:55:59. > :56:04.Kingdom has some of the strictest arms export criteria in the world.
:56:05. > :56:08.We are obviously concerned that were any of our arms are exported to
:56:09. > :56:12.their use should be in full compliance with international
:56:13. > :56:18.humanitarian law and that is something I discussed regularly with
:56:19. > :56:20.my counterpart the deputy crown prince, the defense minister of
:56:21. > :56:31.Saudi Arabia and my other colleagues. My right honourable
:56:32. > :56:41.friend inform what support they are offering veterans making claims for
:56:42. > :56:45.what happened during the Iraq war? Let me make it clear to My Noble
:56:46. > :56:49.friend that we take it seriously our duty to provide support for the
:56:50. > :56:54.balloon may be facing proceedings arising from the past service would
:56:55. > :56:58.pay for independent legal advice in all such cases. I am extrema
:56:59. > :57:03.concerned that the number of claims now being brought on an industrial
:57:04. > :57:08.scale and we are considering steps to stem the outflow with options
:57:09. > :57:13.including restricting legal aid, limiting the time in which claims
:57:14. > :57:20.can be brought in limiting the territorial advocation of the rights
:57:21. > :57:23.that those claims are in. I'm convinced that Trident has a crucial
:57:24. > :57:29.role to play in the defense of our country. The economic aspects are
:57:30. > :57:33.important as well and there are a huge number of workers in our
:57:34. > :57:37.country waiting with some anxiety to see whether or not Parliament is
:57:38. > :57:42.prepared to pick a final approval for success the programme. And I
:57:43. > :57:45.asked was suggested to give an assurance that he will not allow any
:57:46. > :57:50.unnecessary debate to get in the way of the need to bring the main gate
:57:51. > :58:00.proposals to the floor of his house for debate in the decision? I give
:58:01. > :58:04.the honourable Lady the assurance she seeks. It takes more than ten
:58:05. > :58:09.years to build one of the submarines and we need to get on and replace
:58:10. > :58:15.the existing boats that will be obsolescent towards the end of the
:58:16. > :58:18.20 20s we have set out our commitment in the strategic review
:58:19. > :58:23.at the end of November to replace all four bodes and I hope it will
:58:24. > :58:31.not be too long before Krugman is asked to endorse that commitment. --
:58:32. > :58:36.boats. -- Parliament. Despite the obvious differences with Russia over
:58:37. > :58:38.Crimea and the Ukraine will the Secretary of State give assurance
:58:39. > :58:42.that he would redouble efforts to engage with his Russian counterparts
:58:43. > :58:49.on fighting collaboratively against Daesh and Syria? I do not have to
:58:50. > :58:53.tell my... I am not currently engaged in any discussions with my
:58:54. > :58:59.Russian counterpart. The illegal annexation of Crimea and 2014 and
:59:00. > :59:04.Russia's continuing support to separatist in eastern Ukraine do not
:59:05. > :59:12.allow a return to normal engagement. However, in the interest of air and
:59:13. > :59:14.maritime safety, I have authorized MOD officials to undertake limited
:59:15. > :59:32.military to military engagement with the Russians to ensure that our own
:59:33. > :59:35.airspace is properly protected. ... Also Chauveau Forge Masters, the
:59:36. > :59:38.Secretary of State said the government position is to
:59:39. > :59:46.maintain... Will be used in British filled? The honourable gentleman
:59:47. > :59:49.will be interested in a statement that immediately follows these
:59:50. > :59:54.questions in relation to what the government majors are making in
:59:55. > :59:58.British steel. We are keen to ensure that British manufacturers have an
:59:59. > :00:01.opportunity to compete for defense contracts with significant steel
:00:02. > :00:08.components and they'll be continuing to be the case. On Thursday have a
:00:09. > :00:14.great pleasure to company my visiting the defense support
:00:15. > :00:19.decision... Man salute this innovation by my honourable friend
:00:20. > :00:25.who is doing fantastic work and assessing Britain's defense need and
:00:26. > :00:31.as well as assessing the technology opportunities. May ask my honourable
:00:32. > :00:35.friend to give continuing thought to the effort of the high-altitude
:00:36. > :00:40.record-holder which fantastic surveillance... In which my great
:00:41. > :00:52.friend and late friend was a part of. I'm very grateful to my
:00:53. > :00:55.honourable friend for giving me the credit for establishing the defense
:00:56. > :00:59.solution center it would only be fair to the House into my future
:01:00. > :01:02.career if I placed the credit where it is properly due at the feet of my
:01:03. > :01:09.right honourable friend the Secretary of State and his former
:01:10. > :01:15.role. I did enjoyed our visit to the DFC, bait are doing a great job to
:01:16. > :01:19.place UK innovation of the heart of the defense industrial supply chain
:01:20. > :01:24.globally endangered he would have noted that in the STS are we did
:01:25. > :01:27.make reference to investing in a unique British capability for
:01:28. > :01:35.advanced surveillance was I know will interest him. -- which I know.
:01:36. > :01:45.The placement of the nuclear weapon system, how much does the government
:01:46. > :01:55.think that will cost? As to make crystal clear in the -- SCSR we
:01:56. > :01:58.recalculated the cost which we estimated at ?31 billion and added a
:01:59. > :02:03.?10 billion in to that. We have no intention at this point to replace
:02:04. > :02:10.the warhead, a decision on that will be taken later. Therefore, higher to
:02:11. > :02:13.the honourable gentleman to focus on the 31 billion MMU plus the 10
:02:14. > :02:22.billion commitment as the cost that is relevant today. The Minister of
:02:23. > :02:33.State for small business industry and enterprise. Minister of State.
:02:34. > :02:38.Mr Speaker, it is with regret that I find myself having to update the
:02:39. > :02:40.House on further job losses in the steel sector. This morning Tartarus