Live Defence Questions

:00:00. > :00:10.Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage from the

:00:11. > :00:14.House of Commons. In an hour cosmic time, there'll be two urgent

:00:15. > :00:18.questions. The first on child refugees in Calais and the second on

:00:19. > :00:23.guidance to civil service under the EU referendum. MPs will then be to

:00:24. > :00:27.record -- approve the referendum which takes place on the 23rd of

:00:28. > :00:31.June and the start of the official referendum period on the 15th of

:00:32. > :00:36.April. After that, the Labour Party will lead the debate and the UK

:00:37. > :00:39.steel industry, calling on the government to publish a full

:00:40. > :00:43.industrial strategy which includes the procurement policy which commits

:00:44. > :00:47.to using British steel wherever possible for publicly funded

:00:48. > :00:51.infrastructure projects. Join me for a round up of the day in both houses

:00:52. > :01:08.of parliament at 11pm this evening. Now over two House of Commons live.

:01:09. > :01:17.Order, order. We will not proceed to read the title of the bill. Set down

:01:18. > :01:18.for consideration this day. Transport for London billboards to

:01:19. > :01:32.be considered. Objection taken. Monday the 7th of March. Thank you.

:01:33. > :01:41.Order. Questions to the secretary of state defence,. With permission I

:01:42. > :01:46.will answer this question together with question seven and 11. On the

:01:47. > :01:51.20th of January I attended the defence minister Boss meeting where

:01:52. > :01:56.we reviewed options for intensifying the military operation against Daesh

:01:57. > :02:00.in both Iraq and Syria. On the 11th of February I attended a full

:02:01. > :02:05.counter Daesh military meeting where we agreed on accelerated plan

:02:06. > :02:10.including the liberation and importance of the liberation of both

:02:11. > :02:16.rack and another city and pressing on the Daesh on all sides. I think

:02:17. > :02:21.we have -- the community has previously asked the government to

:02:22. > :02:25.do more in the fight against Daesh. Having just returned from

:02:26. > :02:30.parliamentary delegation in Saudi Arabia, understood and that the

:02:31. > :02:34.Saudi authorities have sent ground troops into Syria to defeat Daesh

:02:35. > :02:40.but require air cover. Will the United Kingdom and other partners

:02:41. > :02:44.and look at that request. I welcome the cooperation, contribution of

:02:45. > :02:53.states including Saudi Arabia and they were president of the meeting

:02:54. > :02:57.in Brussels. I welcome the Saudi redeployment of those 15 aircraft to

:02:58. > :03:01.the Coalition air campaign. I have also seen the reports that my

:03:02. > :03:04.honourable friend has referred to and Saudi Arabia is prepared to send

:03:05. > :03:09.troops to the fight in Syria and we will wait to see the details of any

:03:10. > :03:17.plan before commenting on what support the UK will provide as part

:03:18. > :03:22.of the global Coalition. Russian air strikes have clearly targeted

:03:23. > :03:27.civilian populations in Syria. Killing and maiming many innocent

:03:28. > :03:32.men, women, and children and degrading the Syria moderate forces

:03:33. > :03:36.that we are relying on to defeat Daesh in the region. With these

:03:37. > :03:41.Secretary of State align what actions we are taking now to protect

:03:42. > :03:45.these populations and underpin our military strategy in the region? I

:03:46. > :03:50.know my honourable friend will welcome these disassociation of

:03:51. > :03:55.hostilities at the weekend which appears to be largely holding. Able

:03:56. > :03:59.only to succeed if there is a major change in behaviour by the Syrian

:04:00. > :04:02.regime and by its principal backer, Russia. It is Russia that has

:04:03. > :04:08.honoured this agreement by ending the attacks on Syrian civilians and

:04:09. > :04:12.opposition groups and using its influence to ensure the Syrian

:04:13. > :04:16.regime does the same. As part of the second part of the question, there

:04:17. > :04:22.has been some progress in the last few weeks and reaching the seeds

:04:23. > :04:27.areas. Over some 60,000 people have been reached with aid through the

:04:28. > :04:33.United Nations food programme. Continuing with the Russian bombing,

:04:34. > :04:36.can I ask what my honourable friend and the government is doing to

:04:37. > :04:41.highlight Russia's indiscriminate behaviour and what contact has he

:04:42. > :04:46.had with the Russian authorities to end this outrage? Both my right

:04:47. > :04:51.honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and I have been very clear

:04:52. > :04:55.and public that the Russian actions here have been undermining the

:04:56. > :05:00.prospects for ending the conflict in Syria. We welcome the Russian

:05:01. > :05:07.contribution to the most recent agreement that came into effect on

:05:08. > :05:11.Saturday. Russia can and should play a positive role in the fight against

:05:12. > :05:17.Daesh, ending the conflict in Syria. But I have to tell the House that

:05:18. > :05:20.over 70% of Russian air strikes have not been against Daesh at all, there

:05:21. > :05:26.have been against civilians and moderate opposition groups in Syria.

:05:27. > :05:31.And appalling contribution. This was to a conflict that must end. Can I

:05:32. > :05:37.ask the Secretary of State what the members of governments have had with

:05:38. > :05:42.discussions about extending military action including air strikes to

:05:43. > :05:44.Libya? There have not been discussions about extending air

:05:45. > :05:50.strikes to Libya because of the moment there is no government in

:05:51. > :05:54.Libya, we have been working to assist the formation of a new

:05:55. > :05:58.government in Libya and it is for that government to make clear what

:05:59. > :06:04.assistance it requires. We are party to the Libyan international mission

:06:05. > :06:08.and we will see what kind of support the new government wants, whether

:06:09. > :06:10.that is assistance with advice, or training, or any other kind of

:06:11. > :06:22.support. Last week in of the defence committee were

:06:23. > :06:29.informed of the full horror of Daesh as they forced out of territory.

:06:30. > :06:36.Specifically the minefields and IE D's that were left behind, including

:06:37. > :06:41.toilets that are being left with the resources to being removed are not

:06:42. > :06:44.available. What conversations are you having with partners to ensure

:06:45. > :06:50.this is taking care of? The honourable Lady is quite right.

:06:51. > :06:57.Daesh have been seeking these towns and villages, seeding them with

:06:58. > :07:02.improvised explosives and the British contribution to the Iraqi

:07:03. > :07:09.forces has focused indeed on counter IED training which we now supply at

:07:10. > :07:13.all four centres and if there is more we can do to assist the Iraqi

:07:14. > :07:19.and Kurdish forces in that training we will certainly do so. What

:07:20. > :07:24.support will the UK government be giving to the UN who are today

:07:25. > :07:30.giving fresh aid to Syria under the cease-fire? We have been making our

:07:31. > :07:35.contribution to the United Nations and we are ready to help do more.

:07:36. > :07:41.This is not easy for convoys to get through to some of the very hard to

:07:42. > :07:44.reach areas, and the a drop carried out last week was not entirely

:07:45. > :07:52.successful. It was dropped from a great height into a high wind, a

:07:53. > :07:58.number of the pallets do not reach the ground in the best way to get

:07:59. > :08:02.aid is by land convoys, but that is not easy in some of these

:08:03. > :08:08.particularly hard-to-reach areas. Parts of the defence committed he

:08:09. > :08:11.visited Jordan and Lebanon and we were concerned to see that Daesh

:08:12. > :08:18.were threatening borders of countries that are relatively

:08:19. > :08:20.stable. Where Britain has made a huge and impressive investment in

:08:21. > :08:25.trying to assist those countries, what more can my right honourable

:08:26. > :08:32.friend do and the government do to support these countries in dealing

:08:33. > :08:39.with a clear and present danger from this organisation? The Daesh

:08:40. > :08:43.represents a threat to the stability of the entire region, including the

:08:44. > :08:47.neighbours to Iraq and Syria. We have already made a huge

:08:48. > :08:54.contribution towards training in Jordan, with the Jordanian forces,

:08:55. > :08:57.we have more to do there as well. We have recently been playing a role in

:08:58. > :09:04.Lebanon as well with helping the border defenses of that country.

:09:05. > :09:09.Thank you Mr Speaker. Can the secretary of State tell us whether

:09:10. > :09:17.he believes that the use of the much... Missile against Daesh that

:09:18. > :09:23.the prime minister assured us it would cut off the head of the snake

:09:24. > :09:27.in Raqqa? Room Stone is one of the munitions available to our armed

:09:28. > :09:33.forces alongside bombs and the hellfire missile. We can tell the

:09:34. > :09:38.honourable Tubman, the United Kingdom forces have flown over 2100

:09:39. > :09:43.combat missions against Daesh and have carried out over 600 strikes,

:09:44. > :09:50.including the use of brimstone missiles. But one of the points for

:09:51. > :09:56.review in the Minister review is what more can we do to target the

:09:57. > :09:59.infrastructure that supports the Daesh, the logistics and its supply

:10:00. > :10:06.routes, as well as the effort we have been making in support of Iraqi

:10:07. > :10:09.forces. Could the Secretary of State then comment on recent reports in

:10:10. > :10:14.the New York Times that says that although Daesh numbers have fallen

:10:15. > :10:20.in both Iraq and Syria, the numbers and Libya have actually doubled in

:10:21. > :10:25.that same time period? And isn't it the case that the bombing campaign,

:10:26. > :10:30.rather than diminishing Daesh have actually simply displaced them? I do

:10:31. > :10:33.not think there is direct evidence of moving from one country to

:10:34. > :10:39.another. Daesh as in the back foot in Iraq, the Iraqi forces and

:10:40. > :10:47.Kurdish forces with support from the Coalition have liberated a number of

:10:48. > :10:54.cities and Daesh is being pushed back. That is not happening yet in

:10:55. > :10:57.Syria and I am can send about the proliferation of Daesh along the

:10:58. > :11:01.Libyan coastline which is why we have been urgently assisting the

:11:02. > :11:08.formation of a new Libyan government. -- concerned. Coalition

:11:09. > :11:15.efforts have a effect on stopping Daesh as well. In Iraq, but also

:11:16. > :11:19.domestically in Syria. With the Secretary of State agree with me

:11:20. > :11:24.that the full frontal assault on recto might have the opposite effect

:11:25. > :11:28.and possibly try to do something about the poisonous ideology and

:11:29. > :11:33.funding, it is more important than conventional attacks? I do agree. We

:11:34. > :11:38.have to look at all of these things and deal with Daesh across the

:11:39. > :11:44.border. From its ideology, we have to cut off its financing, we have to

:11:45. > :11:48.deal with the message that it is putting out to local populations and

:11:49. > :11:54.yes, preparations for the liberation of both cities are going to require

:11:55. > :11:59.very careful reparation to assure the Syria population that it will be

:12:00. > :12:07.able to enjoy better security once the Daesh are thrown out. As we

:12:08. > :12:11.considered these issues are thoughts are with the members of our Armed

:12:12. > :12:15.Forces currently serving in the Middle East. And all those living

:12:16. > :12:19.under the brutality of Daesh and the victims of terror attacks across the

:12:20. > :12:24.world. The secretary of state is right to simultaneously welcome the

:12:25. > :12:27.progress towards cease-fire in the contributions made while condemning

:12:28. > :12:30.the previous Russian attacks on moderate forces that the Coalition

:12:31. > :12:34.is working with. Can he tell us at this stage how reliable he feels

:12:35. > :12:40.with the 70,000 moderate Syrian forces at this moment in time? I am

:12:41. > :12:47.grateful to the honourable Tillman and indeed, the official support

:12:48. > :12:52.that has been given to the campaign against Daesh. The 70,000 figure was

:12:53. > :12:56.not the government's figure but a figure produced independently by the

:12:57. > :13:02.joint intelligence committee. We have no reason to believe that that

:13:03. > :13:08.figure is the wrong one, indeed the Civil War in Syria has been raging

:13:09. > :13:12.for six years now so there have been considerable forces engaged against

:13:13. > :13:19.the Syria and regime of which the 70,000 are a formidable part. Just

:13:20. > :13:24.two days ago, Isis launched a series of attacks the Kurdish forces to the

:13:25. > :13:30.north of rack up. Given that we were hoping that moderate forces were

:13:31. > :13:34.waiting to take the fact to -- that the macro fight to do Daesh is

:13:35. > :13:38.concerning. Can you tell us a little more about how effective you think

:13:39. > :13:42.the UK strikes have been in achieving our objectives with Daesh

:13:43. > :13:47.and supporting moderate forces to take back control and liberate rack

:13:48. > :13:53.a? UK is playing the second most important part and Coalition air

:13:54. > :13:58.activity and strikes. Surveillance and intelligence as well. Daesh are

:13:59. > :14:02.being pushed back in Iraq, no doubt about that. They have pushed up the

:14:03. > :14:08.Tigris and pushed back west along the Euphrates. It is much more

:14:09. > :14:12.complicated and we are concerned that some of the more recent reports

:14:13. > :14:20.that may suggest coordination between Syrian Democratic forces and

:14:21. > :14:25.the Assad regime, which is not helpful for the long-term state of

:14:26. > :14:33.defeating Daesh. Question number two. With permission I would like to

:14:34. > :14:38.answer questions two and 16 together. In the SDSR published last

:14:39. > :14:41.November, the Minister of defence agreed to new strategic objective to

:14:42. > :14:45.contributing to the nation pause my prosperity, we do this in many ways,

:14:46. > :14:50.not the least through procurement spending of 22 million a year with

:14:51. > :14:54.UK industry, half of which is in the manufacturing sector. The security

:14:55. > :14:58.defence industry is the largest in Europe and plays a vital role in

:14:59. > :15:01.providing battle winning capabilities for our Armed Forces.

:15:02. > :15:06.We are driving greater innovation for the defence procurement,

:15:07. > :15:10.maximizing opportunities for investing in skills, and contribute

:15:11. > :15:15.into a more prosperous economy. That sounded good Mr Speaker, and I am

:15:16. > :15:18.glad the department has such an objective but manufacturing industry

:15:19. > :15:22.in my constituency tell me that this government has seen far too little

:15:23. > :15:25.action in favour of manufacturing, not least in business rates. In

:15:26. > :15:29.pursuit of those objectives, what with the Minister tell me when he

:15:30. > :15:34.last spoke to the Department of business about refreshing and

:15:35. > :15:38.improving their industrial strategy? I can tell the honourable Lady that

:15:39. > :15:40.I have meetings with colleagues in the Department of business

:15:41. > :15:43.innovation skills on a monthly basis, I was in their offices

:15:44. > :15:52.earlier this month. We are constantly looking for better ways

:15:53. > :15:54.to encourage particular medium and businesses in engaging in the supply

:15:55. > :16:00.chain and I am pleased to tell the House that we have confirmed a

:16:01. > :16:08.target of 25% of minister he defence spending through direct and indirect

:16:09. > :16:11.spending. I am genuinely interested in the Minister's approach because I

:16:12. > :16:16.would like him to explain to the House why for example a new Royal

:16:17. > :16:19.navy offshore boats, 60 presented the steel for those boats has been

:16:20. > :16:23.procured from Sweden when in my part of the where old and Wales, we have

:16:24. > :16:28.a crisis on the behalf of the steel industry? I am happy to try and

:16:29. > :16:33.respond to the honourable gentleman in relation particularly to the

:16:34. > :16:37.specifics he raised. 20% of the steel used in the three offshore

:16:38. > :16:45.patrol vessels has been sourced from UK steel mills. The systems is the

:16:46. > :16:49.prime contractor and has 24 companies to tend to the steel

:16:50. > :16:53.contract, only for Mac or returned, one of which was from a British

:16:54. > :17:03.contractor which won the contract to provide steel which was been sourced

:17:04. > :17:08.from a wide range of suppliers. Not only did I see the skills that

:17:09. > :17:11.helped manufacture parts for Typhoon and joint strike fighter, but I saw

:17:12. > :17:16.the millions of pounds that they are investing in the training academy

:17:17. > :17:20.for the places opening later this year and also into 3-D printing what

:17:21. > :17:24.they will be able to make parts and prototypes vote in plastic and in

:17:25. > :17:27.metals. Does he agree with me that it is these investments that help to

:17:28. > :17:33.keep the systems at the forefront in their field in the world? I think

:17:34. > :17:40.the honourable gentleman speaks not only magnificent for his

:17:41. > :17:43.constituency but also for the defence contractor who's the main

:17:44. > :17:47.centre of innovation in his constituency. I would like to

:17:48. > :17:54.congratulate and applaud him for that. Given that the Ministry of

:17:55. > :17:57.defence procurement operates under European law, what assessment has

:17:58. > :18:01.the Minister made of the potential exit from the European Union on the

:18:02. > :18:10.UK businesses that rely on EU contracts? As the honourable

:18:11. > :18:15.gentleman knows, the UK defence and security industry is the largest in

:18:16. > :18:21.Europe, we continued to place as a default position, contracts on open

:18:22. > :18:25.competition basis. The EU procurement directives apply to our

:18:26. > :18:30.procurement, which means that EU contractors are eligible to compete

:18:31. > :18:34.for our contracts in the same way as UK and other international companies

:18:35. > :18:39.are other than those where we have declared the article 346 exemption

:18:40. > :18:48.from our stalls which accounts for about 35% of our procurement. On

:18:49. > :18:56.procurement, I hope that my honourable friend also applied to

:18:57. > :19:00.Arab territories and with the last recess, I had the chance of reaching

:19:01. > :19:07.out to men and women there. Will the government join me in playing,

:19:08. > :19:12.contribute... And will work closely with the fork Islands government to

:19:13. > :19:16.increase Erki Erm and their two British providers? I am grateful to

:19:17. > :19:20.my honourable friend for his question. I think he might prefer to

:19:21. > :19:26.ask that question to the Secretary of State, he just visited the

:19:27. > :19:29.foregoing islands, the first secretary of state to do so for over

:19:30. > :19:35.a decade. I can confirm to him that as part of the SDSR conclusions, we

:19:36. > :19:42.have committed to ?180 million from the Ministry of defence in the fork

:19:43. > :19:47.when islands, including... There are more than 14,000 high skilled value

:19:48. > :19:52.jobs in the sector in the Northwest alone. 40% higher than the national

:19:53. > :19:56.average. We heard before about the lack of a proper defence industrial

:19:57. > :20:00.strategy with respect to steal, so when is the government going to look

:20:01. > :20:06.at the other economic benefits when it comes to protecting those high

:20:07. > :20:10.skill, high value jobs but also creating new ones in the context of

:20:11. > :20:19.the defence procurement? I think the honourable gentleman should have a

:20:20. > :20:23.word with the leader of his party. We care about both security and

:20:24. > :20:27.prosperity on this side and the honourable gentleman might want to

:20:28. > :20:30.remind his leader that grandstanding on a Saturday places not only the

:20:31. > :20:35.ultimate security of the nation at risk but also the tens of thousands

:20:36. > :20:42.of jobs and hundreds of thousands of companies in the submarine industry

:20:43. > :20:50.in this country at risk. Thank you Mr Speaker, perhaps if the Minister

:20:51. > :20:53.listens to the questions and stops during allegations of grandstanding

:20:54. > :21:00.and takes serious the issue of the steel industry in this country, the

:21:01. > :21:06.chronic underinvestment in this country by this government is

:21:07. > :21:10.nothing less than national disgrace. As my honourable friend said

:21:11. > :21:15.earlier, 60% of steel required for the Royal Navy's offshore patrol

:21:16. > :21:25.vessels came from Sweden, to name just one. Doesn't the Minister agree

:21:26. > :21:30.that with the way employment, industrial and economic factors in

:21:31. > :21:39.this policy, which is obviously not working when he has such a low level

:21:40. > :21:44.of interest in these companies... UK supplies to make a significant

:21:45. > :21:47.contribution to supplied steel for our defence programmes, including

:21:48. > :21:52.some 94% of the steel in the aircraft carriers, 77,000 tonnes

:21:53. > :21:57.sourced from UK mills. But I do recognise and the government

:21:58. > :22:02.recognises that there is an issue affecting the UK steel industry and

:22:03. > :22:04.that is why we have established the UK steel procurement group which

:22:05. > :22:10.ministers are presenting and I instructed the department to our

:22:11. > :22:14.major defence contractors to ensure that the guidance on steel

:22:15. > :22:22.procurement is spread across the fence. Disengages the UK steel

:22:23. > :22:24.market through pipelines and will ensure cost copulations taken into

:22:25. > :22:31.account over the whole life and not the initial price. Exchanges today

:22:32. > :22:35.are a tad more windy. There are a lot of questions to get through.

:22:36. > :22:46.What is required is a pithy question and a pithy answer. It is not

:22:47. > :22:48.difficult. Question number three. With permission Mr Speaker I should

:22:49. > :22:54.like to answer questions three and ten together. Our civilian workers

:22:55. > :22:58.doing an excellent job and reductions in our workforce would

:22:59. > :23:02.require the MOD to continuously list the way we operate. The majority of

:23:03. > :23:06.plan reductions are already under way and there is now an opportunity

:23:07. > :23:11.to identify further efficiencies in defence. We want to deliver a small

:23:12. > :23:13.productive workforce that will ultimately generate savings for

:23:14. > :23:19.reinvestment into front-line capabilities. Does the Minister

:23:20. > :23:23.acknowledged that further cuts to the civilian workforce will

:23:24. > :23:28.inevitably shift the burden onto our armed forces personnel and how does

:23:29. > :23:30.he think that will affect the retention, recruitment, and morale

:23:31. > :23:34.of our troops which according to service men and women in my

:23:35. > :23:40.constituency, is already worryingly low was white know I do not because

:23:41. > :23:45.ultimately I think the savings which we will be able to make of ?300

:23:46. > :23:50.million will be able to be reinvested into front-line

:23:51. > :23:56.capability. How does he think the cut to civilian force will affect

:23:57. > :24:01.the expertise that he may lose as a result of those cuts? Under the

:24:02. > :24:08.whole force approach we try to find the balance between regular and

:24:09. > :24:11.reserve service personnel as well as MOD civilians and contractors. This

:24:12. > :24:14.is a mix that successive governments have followed and we try to use the

:24:15. > :24:25.right people in the right place at the right time. Civilians defence

:24:26. > :24:28.equipment and support for one of the MOD is most important responsible it

:24:29. > :24:36.is, making sure our troops have the right care. Along with other things

:24:37. > :24:41.they face cuts. DNS requires a high expertise such as making sure our

:24:42. > :24:47.aircraft are safe. Can the Minister explain how they propose a 30% cut

:24:48. > :24:54.without losing such vital skills? I am afraid I think the honourable

:24:55. > :24:59.Lady may be misinformed. The E and S to not... They do not have a 30%

:25:00. > :25:04.cut. There is not a blanket 30% cut across the fence. If anything she is

:25:05. > :25:09.slightly skimming and she should reflect on her comments. So the

:25:10. > :25:11.Minister is telling us that although there'll be 30% cut across the

:25:12. > :25:17.civilian staff there will be some areas where we will have higher than

:25:18. > :25:21.30% cuts to civilian staff and in some areas 20%. If it is in the

:25:22. > :25:25.strategic defence review, 30% cuts to civilian staff, they say they

:25:26. > :25:30.will not be in DES, so where would they be? The fact of the matter is,

:25:31. > :25:37.the last two years alone, DN as have lost 5000 staff, and at the same

:25:38. > :25:41.time at the cost of contractors have spiralled so that we are now in a

:25:42. > :25:44.ludicrous position where the public accounts committee says we're

:25:45. > :25:52.spending ?250 million on contractors who are advising us on how to

:25:53. > :25:55.reduced reliance on contractors. Perhaps the Minister should take

:25:56. > :26:00.these cuts in a strategic way as opposed to using arbitrary cuts. I

:26:01. > :26:05.am grateful for the pithy question. LAUGHTER There is a basic

:26:06. > :26:08.misunderstanding here where the honourable lady needs to understand

:26:09. > :26:12.that many of these programmes are already in place, for example the

:26:13. > :26:16.footprint strategy which will see our reduction of our footprint by

:26:17. > :26:22.some of 30% will actually mean that we will have less need for civilians

:26:23. > :26:25.in certain parts of the estate. Some of these measures are already under

:26:26. > :26:36.way so we do not simply have to impose a blanket 30% cut, in DENS.

:26:37. > :26:43.They tell is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom's defence. -- Nato

:26:44. > :26:52.is. The European Union plays an important role in supporting Nato's

:26:53. > :26:59.response to international crisis, applying economic humanitarian and

:27:00. > :27:02.diplomatic levers, that Nato does not have. The government therefore

:27:03. > :27:07.believes that the United Kingdom continued membership of a reformed

:27:08. > :27:14.European Union will make us safer and stronger. A cyber threats pose a

:27:15. > :27:19.significant risk to the B defence of the UK, and this has been identified

:27:20. > :27:24.as one of the four security challenges in the 2015 review. But

:27:25. > :27:29.the BU network and Director was created in 2014 to enhance the

:27:30. > :27:34.security of EU member states and is vital that cyber security continues

:27:35. > :27:38.to be a priority for the MOD. As the Minister agree that remaining as a

:27:39. > :27:45.member of the EU greatly enhances our ability to respond to future of

:27:46. > :27:53.cyber threats? Our recent statistic -- strategic review identifies cyber

:27:54. > :27:56.as one of the key threats facing this country. My department has

:27:57. > :28:02.taken over our responsibility for that for cyber security and we are

:28:03. > :28:06.spending over ?2 billion on it. So we can ensure that we keep the

:28:07. > :28:09.institutions of government properly protected, and we do our best to

:28:10. > :28:18.spread good practice amongst our industry as well. On a scale of

:28:19. > :28:23.1-10, and in terms of preserving our national security, I would be

:28:24. > :28:29.Secretary of State rate and compare our membership of Nato with our

:28:30. > :28:34.membership of the EU? I have already said that Nato is the cornerstone of

:28:35. > :28:38.our defence. The EU plays a complementary role. I have not come

:28:39. > :28:42.across any Nato Defense ministers who thinks we should leave the EU or

:28:43. > :28:51.that we would be safer and stronger outside of it the European Union.

:28:52. > :28:54.These two -- the memberships of these two organisations, taken

:28:55. > :28:59.together, does keep a stronger and safer and -- in an uncertain world.

:29:00. > :29:04.Does he think that President Houston, which edits here is the UK

:29:05. > :29:09.left the EU, isn't it clear that we are better off being part of that

:29:10. > :29:13.collaboration, sitting around a table with France, Germany, thinking

:29:14. > :29:17.about all of those security issues. I would not in her office and safer

:29:18. > :29:24.remain part of the EU? -- President Clinton. He was the EU that was able

:29:25. > :29:37.to oppose sanctions on President Clinton 40 dead in... -- Putin. I

:29:38. > :29:45.think Putin would welcome any fracture of either Nato or the EU.

:29:46. > :29:52.Was he not accept that by advancing this point idea that somehow our

:29:53. > :29:57.membership of the EU enhances our national security, is merely playing

:29:58. > :30:02.into the hands of those like Chancellor Merkel, who wants this

:30:03. > :30:08.boat is taken if Britain where the rural vote to remain in the EU, with

:30:09. > :30:12.advanced towards a European army, the result of which will be to

:30:13. > :30:17.undermine Nato, that the organisation he says it the

:30:18. > :30:22.cornerstone of national defence. Let me make it clear that we would not

:30:23. > :30:28.support any move towards a European union army of the kind that my

:30:29. > :30:33.Honorable friend suggests. These two organisations have different

:30:34. > :30:39.memberships at slightly different objectives. Nato is the key part of

:30:40. > :30:45.our defence. It is the cornerstone. But there aren't levers available to

:30:46. > :30:50.the EU, legal, economic, and diplomatic that Nato does not have.

:30:51. > :30:55.Different membership that the numbers above gives of the best of

:30:56. > :31:02.both worlds. That's big number the boat. He must the knowledge that

:31:03. > :31:05.some would prefer a European defence force to ultimately replace Nato.

:31:06. > :31:08.Can you tell the House with his dues are on that and will he also

:31:09. > :31:15.acknowledged that most of our European security successes are

:31:16. > :31:21.bilateral and not as part of the EU? I have not had a fellow European

:31:22. > :31:25.defence minister called on us to create any type of defence force. It

:31:26. > :31:35.was interesting that at the last minute meeting, --/NATO, Germany

:31:36. > :31:40.asked for Nato to help police the UG GMC to have the would-be migrant

:31:41. > :31:44.pressure. Though the role of some of these operations for Nato, a role in

:31:45. > :31:50.other areas for the EU. We are fortunate of being numbers above.

:31:51. > :31:53.Does the Secretary of State agree that it is essential that all

:31:54. > :31:58.members of our Armed Forces serving away from home lesbian being able to

:31:59. > :32:09.vote in the general referendum? -- June referendum. Yes. I will of

:32:10. > :32:15.course, following her reminder, I will ensure that we make every

:32:16. > :32:27.effort to ensure a higher turnout by the Armed Forces as possible. Ngosso

:32:28. > :32:34.the house on the 16th of December that doctors diagnosed after that

:32:35. > :32:38.date -- veterans diagnosed, would receive a payment of ?140,000. I

:32:39. > :32:43.also committed to look at whether this can be extended to veterans

:32:44. > :32:47.diagnosed before that date. We have kept our work and I'm delighted to

:32:48. > :32:51.confirm that this option of a lump sum payment will be extended to

:32:52. > :32:57.veterans who received the war pension, diagnosed before the 2nd of

:32:58. > :33:11.December 2015 as well. That is good news. Many of us in the house, this

:33:12. > :33:20.will be very welcome. I will people affected be able to claim this money

:33:21. > :33:24.going forward? I have instructed the veteran agency to contact all those

:33:25. > :33:28.who we know with immediate effect and I hope these payments will be

:33:29. > :33:34.made shortly after the 11th of April. Will the Minister Dummy

:33:35. > :33:40.impact every to those members who have campaigned and others on this

:33:41. > :33:46.issue and I welcome, where he also paid tribute but the Navy sailor who

:33:47. > :33:51.was recently diagnosed as has to benefit when he got the one issue

:33:52. > :33:57.that more research is to be done and to this devastating disease. I

:33:58. > :34:01.recognise the actions of of of both sides of the house who attend --

:34:02. > :34:03.campaign to ensure the changes. The last. I'm delighted to stay ahead

:34:04. > :34:08.today to make this announcement. It is directing to do. -- stand here

:34:09. > :34:15.today. -- it is the right thing to do. I have recently got me contacted

:34:16. > :34:18.that's been contacted, who is concerned that services are not

:34:19. > :34:29.being properly funded. Does the Minister find research... It is

:34:30. > :34:32.rightly a matter for the Department of Health, but a more than happy to

:34:33. > :34:41.pick that up with them to see what can be done. I'm delighted to

:34:42. > :34:47.welcome the information. They were cautioned. To make sure that when

:34:48. > :34:52.people are given the option, that there is no unintended consequences,

:34:53. > :35:01.specifically for what was -- what words. For many years, to make sure

:35:02. > :35:04.that if the option of a lump sum, and does not have an impact on her

:35:05. > :35:13.in terms of getting benefits over the years. I page every to him. He

:35:14. > :35:17.is absolutely right. I simply emphasise to the house, this is an

:35:18. > :35:22.option. I will ensure that when recipients are notified, but there

:35:23. > :35:30.are fully informed as to what the options actually mean.

:35:31. > :35:39.The OAD have been undertaking site monitoring rules and stood up alone.

:35:40. > :35:43.We are capable to the next days when the other third parties of agree to

:35:44. > :35:47.site access. Discussion around the taken place at it it is anticipated

:35:48. > :35:50.that an agreement will be signed shortly. We will continue to work

:35:51. > :35:56.closely with all parties to ensure that the matter is resolved as

:35:57. > :36:02.quickly as possible. After 26 years, this nonaction is just not good

:36:03. > :36:05.enough. In recent weeks, the officials have cancelled meetings

:36:06. > :36:10.with landowners to discuss access. They have failed to turn up to

:36:11. > :36:13.meetings with local elective officials, and oxidant at local

:36:14. > :36:17.community with content. When I'm at the Minister on Wednesday, I hope I

:36:18. > :36:26.can get a detailed timeline of when action is going to be taken. I don't

:36:27. > :36:28.accept as the he says. Per my understanding, we have been making

:36:29. > :36:35.positive progress. Action has been taken through monetary and removal

:36:36. > :36:37.is available. There will be him of the responsibilities are in this

:36:38. > :36:40.matter. I look forward to meeting with the honourable gentleman later

:36:41. > :36:42.this week but I look forward to meeting with the honourable

:36:43. > :36:43.gentleman later this week by how we can have constructive approach to

:36:44. > :36:58.moving this issue forward. The new purpose figure, will be

:36:59. > :37:05.crucial for the longer-term future of the UK's for shipbuilding

:37:06. > :37:07.industry. And form a central part of the national shipbuilding strategy,

:37:08. > :37:12.which is due to be published later this year. The decision is expected

:37:13. > :37:18.to be made on the build location into the programme is prepared.

:37:19. > :37:22.Given the expectations that the government raised following the

:37:23. > :37:28.SDSR, that answer is most unwelcome. Does he not agree with me that given

:37:29. > :37:33.the finest ships, anywhere in the world were built, will be the

:37:34. > :37:40.perfect location for this to take place. Three and a half billion has

:37:41. > :37:44.been spent to date on the aircraft carrier programme in Scotland. In

:37:45. > :37:49.2014, we placed the hundred 48 million contract for three of the

:37:50. > :37:56.fees, hoping to sustain a hundred Scottish jobs. And helping to zoo

:37:57. > :38:03.the skills for the eight type 20 type global sales to be constructed.

:38:04. > :38:09.They also may be built on the clock, but too early to commit now. That's

:38:10. > :38:14.on the Clyde. On making this isn't, what a given that the need to avoid

:38:15. > :38:20.the difficulties of the type 45 have had in the electrical and mechanical

:38:21. > :38:26.motion systems? Yes. They are friendships. There were mistakes

:38:27. > :38:36.made under the last government. -- find ships. The Lord heard today,

:38:37. > :38:40.how the patrol vessels, the Minister has admitted that the have been made

:38:41. > :38:43.in Korea with Bristol. They can commit where distillate is going to

:38:44. > :38:50.come home for the type essay. How will we know that but it still will

:38:51. > :38:56.be used for these? Desperate stuff. He is our genetic Opera answer on

:38:57. > :39:01.the use of steel. They will have the opportunity to bid as they always

:39:02. > :39:05.have. We clearly cannot commit in advance of that. We don't even know

:39:06. > :39:15.for certain that British companies will be dusted. We can not commit at

:39:16. > :39:19.this stage. As part of the defence programme, we are reviewing a series

:39:20. > :39:22.of options that are expected to change the way we please bug are

:39:23. > :39:27.some of our establishment. It is early to say what the impact will be

:39:28. > :39:31.on a number of them of the police. -- it of the police. Can you tell me

:39:32. > :39:38.what legal advice he has sought or seek in relation to potentially

:39:39. > :39:40.removing the arm and said Defense police from civilian establishments

:39:41. > :39:46.and replacing them with forces personnel? There are a number of

:39:47. > :39:54.options we are looking at of how we can make the best use of our

:39:55. > :39:58.ministry of Defense police. So the gap a more proactive role in the

:39:59. > :40:00.communities and our service communities. There have been a

:40:01. > :40:04.number of discussions, but the doctors had yet to be explored fully

:40:05. > :40:16.and I will, to the house in due course. Not wishing to the in any

:40:17. > :40:21.way from the wonderful work done by the Ministry of Defense, we've this

:40:22. > :40:29.opportunity to present the work of the world Marines, who police are

:40:30. > :40:32.nuclear facilities in Scotland? I am delighted to join him and the

:40:33. > :40:34.present the work that the Marines have done. I have seen first-hand in

:40:35. > :40:45.recent years. Where there are allegations of

:40:46. > :40:49.serious wrongdoing, they need to be investigated. We are aware of the

:40:50. > :40:52.stressed that the places on our service personnel. We must honour

:40:53. > :40:56.our duty of care to them. This will involve an independent legal advice

:40:57. > :41:00.and support, however where are also aware that a great many allegations

:41:01. > :41:03.are being made on grounds of malice, all by some law firm for profit.

:41:04. > :41:12.Will shortly bring forward measures to close down the shameless and

:41:13. > :41:18.shoddy record. Of allegations were found to be false by the Inquirer.

:41:19. > :41:24.Does my friend agreed that we should all began to reclaim Loughran who

:41:25. > :41:28.shamefully promoted this allegations that anybody who received financial

:41:29. > :41:33.backing from them will be well biased to either return or to make a

:41:34. > :41:39.donation to help the heroes? I thank him for writing this point. The

:41:40. > :41:44.Casey raises the cost of a taxpayer 31 million to defend. The law firm

:41:45. > :41:50.involved have been referred to the solicitors do so -- tribunal. We're

:41:51. > :41:54.looking at ways we can would improve cost, and in others. Those who have

:41:55. > :42:01.their own associations with that firms will need to make their own

:42:02. > :42:04.judgements. Contact him and said to have clarity of intent is picking

:42:05. > :42:10.over the heads of the present soldiers and brave soldiers and

:42:11. > :42:13.servicemen to those who I joined the Army, very worrying for getting

:42:14. > :42:20.people thinking that they might be serving their country and finish up

:42:21. > :42:28.to be accused of that full-time. -- accuse a dreadful crimes. This is a

:42:29. > :42:33.huge stress to service personnel. It corrupts their operations and it

:42:34. > :42:34.also undermines human rights by undermining international

:42:35. > :42:38.humanitarian law. I can totally see why some one who want to join the

:42:39. > :42:41.Armed Forces would be concerned about all three of those things.

:42:42. > :42:49.That is why we bring forward a number of measures that will address

:42:50. > :42:53.all three. The minister and the Secretary of State, have been very

:42:54. > :42:58.vocal about the importance of bringing forward a bill to protect

:42:59. > :43:04.service personnel from spirits, costly, and stressful legal action.

:43:05. > :43:09.There have been one of form reports that the bill is ready to proceed,

:43:10. > :43:16.but is being held of an Downing Street for fear that it might

:43:17. > :43:22.somehow impinge on an forthcoming EU referendum debate. Can she confirm

:43:23. > :43:27.that her department will do as much as possible to ensure that this

:43:28. > :43:33.legislation is brought forward at the earliest opportunity and not

:43:34. > :43:42.delayed for any external political reasons? I can give my friend those

:43:43. > :43:45.reassurances. In all respects, the information he is working on is not

:43:46. > :43:50.correct. There will be a number of measures that will be brought to. So

:43:51. > :43:55.maybe attached to pieces of legislation and we are hoping to be

:43:56. > :44:04.able to make announcements on this before local government kicks in. We

:44:05. > :44:08.do not envision the point ground forces to Libya in a combat role.

:44:09. > :44:14.The United Kingdom is considering with our partners have a and new

:44:15. > :44:17.Libyan government. Lang to focus on capacity building and security

:44:18. > :44:21.sector reform, but it's too early to say what form that support would

:44:22. > :44:26.take. Before taking any military action in Libya, we would seek an

:44:27. > :44:34.invitation on the new Libyan government. I thank him for that

:44:35. > :44:38.response. I've disappointed to read the comments in the media stating

:44:39. > :44:43.that he had authorised the use of UK bases for US air strikes. The matter

:44:44. > :44:46.has not brought to the server in advance. And yesterday of papers,

:44:47. > :44:51.the government is now also the point British advisers to Libya. Will he

:44:52. > :44:57.commit to stopping this mission, and making sure that no further such

:44:58. > :45:00.actions happen without comment to the house. And he explained whether

:45:01. > :45:07.the action than it was lawful under UK standards, the use of force, and

:45:08. > :45:11.human rights laws? The United States, follow standard procedures

:45:12. > :45:19.and medical request to use our basis was we had desk-bound about

:45:20. > :45:24.legality. I granted permission for them to use our basis to support.

:45:25. > :45:28.They are trying to prevent the Daesh from using with the a base from

:45:29. > :45:32.which to plan and carry out attacks that threaten the stability of Libya

:45:33. > :45:37.and the region and potentially the United Kingdom and our people, too.

:45:38. > :45:45.I was satisfied that the operation, which was a US operation, would be

:45:46. > :45:48.connected on that international law. Could he set out what level of

:45:49. > :45:52.military involvement in the government believes the British

:45:53. > :45:54.military has to engage in in Libya, is for the diamonds that would bring

:45:55. > :46:05.any decisions regarding military intervention to the house? Would

:46:06. > :46:12.deny intent deploy ground forces in any combat role. -- we do not plan

:46:13. > :46:19.to deploy. We would, of course, have to seek an invitation from the

:46:20. > :46:26.government and what also involved this problem. We have, as part of

:46:27. > :46:30.the international community, and we are ready to provide advice and

:46:31. > :46:36.training and support of the new Libyan government. I can also form

:46:37. > :46:40.the house that a shining team of some 20 troops on the fourth

:46:41. > :46:44.industry grade is now moving to Tunisia to help counter illegal

:46:45. > :46:51.cross-border movement from Libya and support of the Tunisian authorities.

:46:52. > :47:00.Go to bed. A very sad and miserable away. So the last question. Their

:47:01. > :47:05.words have been proactive in terms of submitting reports of civilian

:47:06. > :47:09.casualties. We are grateful for the efforts. -- air war. Each case has

:47:10. > :47:12.been reviewed, and has the demonstrated that visibly casualties

:47:13. > :47:18.were not caused by UK activities. Our process are robust in the

:47:19. > :47:25.respect than others. But I would welcome any other further ideas

:47:26. > :47:29.about how they can add value. The department is now suing people to

:47:30. > :47:34.discuss accurate civilian casualty numbers. I am most grateful to the

:47:35. > :47:39.department if that is accurate. But will there were four that has been

:47:40. > :47:43.in the department now, some about compensation for the families of

:47:44. > :47:55.innocent victims of our bombing, will that report now be serviced? I

:47:56. > :48:01.have committed to review any such reports of the visit that civilian

:48:02. > :48:05.casualties. I have oversight at the whole process, including

:48:06. > :48:14.compensation. If he has specific cases that he wishes to raise,

:48:15. > :48:18.please do so. It is our operation against Daesh, which I reviewed

:48:19. > :48:23.earlier this month. 40, international counterparts in

:48:24. > :48:26.delivering our review commitments. To increase the size and power of

:48:27. > :48:34.our Armed Forces, to keep this country safe. With the Russian

:48:35. > :48:38.aggression that doesn't Daesh and growing cyber attack, can my right

:48:39. > :48:42.honourable friend confirm that the government is committed to spending

:48:43. > :48:50.2% of GDP every year, for this Parliament understands? And doesn't

:48:51. > :48:54.the Honorable Lady data to match this commitment so that labor is a

:48:55. > :49:02.risk to our security? That staggered to match. Questions must be about, I

:49:03. > :49:06.appreciate the earnestness and commitment. Question must be about

:49:07. > :49:13.government policy for which ministers are responsible. Order! Be

:49:14. > :49:18.quiet. Ministers are responsible for government policy, not that of the

:49:19. > :49:25.opposition. On the government's policy, he will not.

:49:26. > :49:30.Can I confirm, that this government is committed to spending 2% of GDP

:49:31. > :49:37.on defence every year of this Parliament. The defence budget will

:49:38. > :49:40.rise by North .5% above inflation every year this decade. The

:49:41. > :49:42.additional funding will be made available to the Armed Forces and

:49:43. > :49:50.intelligence agencies through the joint security funding. We have the

:49:51. > :49:52.largest defence budget and the European Union, and the

:49:53. > :49:58.second-largest in Nato. This keeps us safe. We circulated without

:49:59. > :50:05.delay, as all members of the Cabinet. I

:50:06. > :50:12.continues to create serious health risk, including leading to the loss

:50:13. > :50:15.of life in the Armed Forces. The Times higher in an civilian

:50:16. > :50:19.population. It is now a year since the defence select committee

:50:20. > :50:23.highlighted that the government strategy with the Armed Forces has

:50:24. > :50:27.not made any noticeable difference. What steps is the Minister now

:50:28. > :50:33.taking to set targets to manage alcohol consumption patterns and

:50:34. > :50:36.address this serious issue? In the Army, under the new Army leadership

:50:37. > :50:41.code, is taking steps to address this particular problem. I will

:50:42. > :50:51.write to the lady with further details. Clinical Lab government

:50:52. > :50:56.look at all the alternatives to our continuous. -- the old government.

:50:57. > :51:01.None are the operative protection. Does he agree with a two former

:51:02. > :51:05.lover defence secretaries, it is self-evident that a British nuclear

:51:06. > :51:13.deterrent will be essential to our security for decades to come. --

:51:14. > :51:17.former labor costs. In 2013, the alternative review concluded. That

:51:18. > :51:24.no system is a stable, or cost-effective at the current

:51:25. > :51:25.database deterrent. There is no alternative, the part-time

:51:26. > :51:29.deterrents are half-baked measures currently being suggested by some

:51:30. > :51:33.members of the body opposite, could be exploited by our adversaries. And

:51:34. > :51:40.to present a real danger to the safety and security the UK. Russian

:51:41. > :51:49.bomber targets, civilians, Sarah, driver refugee crisis to the shores

:51:50. > :51:55.of Europe. New -- Russia's Vegas to haul and short on the civilian

:51:56. > :51:59.population to design was established in for the second quarter. --

:52:00. > :52:06.Russia's failure. That is why important that the cease-fire holds

:52:07. > :52:09.and Russia returns to a more constructive part, and working with

:52:10. > :52:15.us to get this terrible civil war ended. With the body of the

:52:16. > :52:22.sophistication of cyber attacks gone so rapidly, and number of which are

:52:23. > :52:24.sorted by the GHQ, what that survey taken to assure our rotting defence

:52:25. > :52:32.budget actually translates to enhance sovereign capability in

:52:33. > :52:36.cyber? I patiently to all of his constituents that worked there

:52:37. > :52:44.protecting against cyber attacks. We have increased spending in this area

:52:45. > :52:51.to 2.5 billion, and 80% of cyber attacks are able to be prevented by

:52:52. > :52:53.answering the simple, straightforward to practice. A lot

:52:54. > :53:01.of that investment will be going to protect British businesses and

:53:02. > :53:11.private individuals in that respect. The SDSR in 2012,... 16 billion

:53:12. > :53:15.allocated for nuclear submarines, some that has been massive cuts

:53:16. > :53:21.elsewhere to support that. The that's a clever plan, which asked on

:53:22. > :53:25.the subject is. Can the Minister then commit to providing for the

:53:26. > :53:35.clarity of the changes that will affect... That is a bit of a

:53:36. > :53:41.subject. We will be publishing the next annual alliteration and an

:53:42. > :53:45.excellent with them straight there will be an addition of public and

:53:46. > :53:51.bounds committed to spending on military equipment over the next ten

:53:52. > :53:59.years. Cohabitation before he sees how that is allocated. It was in

:54:00. > :54:07.December 2014, will the Secretary of State told this house that the legal

:54:08. > :54:10.aid to Cave, should be reimbursed. Add this to do that it will be

:54:11. > :54:16.reimbursed and given the timescales that I pass so far, when has he

:54:17. > :54:20.think the money will be received? We are waiting the little ad agency

:54:21. > :54:25.response to our request to revoke the legal aid award on the grounds

:54:26. > :54:29.that it would not have been made in the first place, have the agency

:54:30. > :54:33.been made aware of all relevant document dictation in the case. We

:54:34. > :54:42.are waiting on that judgement but we believe it is imminent. Not content,

:54:43. > :54:46.with comparing himself to our country's wartime leader, a Sevilla

:54:47. > :54:50.the free world. This weekend, the Mayor of London compared his

:54:51. > :54:56.opposition to the EU, to James Bond, taking on a sinister, supernational

:54:57. > :55:02.organisation. Can ask the Secretary of State weather in all his dealings

:55:03. > :55:08.with intelligence and security services, such as similarity has

:55:09. > :55:12.ever occurred to him? I don't think it would be wise, and would not be

:55:13. > :55:14.proper to discuss in the conversations I have had it with the

:55:15. > :55:21.intelligence and security communities.

:55:22. > :55:30.Can my friend confirm that would have to spend hundred million

:55:31. > :55:36.pounds, and that the money is spent on iTunes and give give them the

:55:37. > :55:41.best support in the equipment? I think he read of a good point. The

:55:42. > :55:45.money that we are having to spend on a malicious allegations against him

:55:46. > :55:49.forces will be better spent on equipment and training for them. I

:55:50. > :55:51.can give some assurance that commercial, legal spending end of

:55:52. > :56:00.the department is down at third on last year. In specific relation, the

:56:01. > :56:04.amount spent, we are doing our what we can to assure that it works more

:56:05. > :56:09.effectively and efficiently. I've had good conversations with the

:56:10. > :56:14.Attorney General's Office. He'll be busy to them shortly. Given the

:56:15. > :56:18.increasing double counting of this expenditure to the ODA and Nato

:56:19. > :56:22.target, mechanisms such as the conflict security and stability

:56:23. > :56:27.fund, with discussion has they had with the Chancellor about the

:56:28. > :56:36.redefinition of always be? It is for the OED, development aid spending

:56:37. > :56:37.and for Nato to classify what is acceptable as defence spending,

:56:38. > :56:50.which will do Given the importance of our new

:56:51. > :56:53.Google national security, can my honourable friend tell the House

:56:54. > :57:01.would support the government has in this policy in this important area?

:57:02. > :57:05.I have so far received conflicting representations on the future of our

:57:06. > :57:08.nuclear deterrent. There are mainstream members of the party

:57:09. > :57:14.opposite as there are right across this house who support us -- support

:57:15. > :57:17.every previous government the nuclear church deterrent that has

:57:18. > :57:21.kept discovering -- government say. Other parts of the party seemed to

:57:22. > :57:29.think we can turn our nuclear sub greens into water taxis. Germany and

:57:30. > :57:34.Sweden have stopped selling weapons to Saudi Arabia as a result of

:57:35. > :57:39.concerns over Saudi Arabia and -- Saudi actions in Yemen. What about

:57:40. > :57:45.the ban of arms sales to Saudi Arabia? All of our defence exports

:57:46. > :57:48.to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or any country goes through the same

:57:49. > :57:52.rigorous export control system that we have in place which we are proud

:57:53. > :57:56.of. It is more rigorous we believe than any other country. That will be

:57:57. > :58:03.the case while this government is in power. I recently visited the

:58:04. > :58:11.Marines on Arctic warfare training in Norway, my honourable friend is

:58:12. > :58:15.and the honourable lady from their various constituencies. Will my

:58:16. > :58:22.honourable friend join me in applauding one group, one of the

:58:23. > :58:24.elite, forces in the world and explain how the strategic defence

:58:25. > :58:30.and security review will be supporting more Marines. My

:58:31. > :58:35.honourable friend is very brave to have joined the Royal Marines in the

:58:36. > :58:40.Arctic. I pay tribute to her and her colleagues for doing so. We are

:58:41. > :58:44.committed to maintaining fitness capability, we will be making

:58:45. > :58:47.modifications to one of the two Queen Elizabeth carriers to ensure

:58:48. > :58:56.that persists for the for suitable future and the life of that

:58:57. > :59:03.platform. Under this prime minister, police personnel has dropped 340

:59:04. > :59:08.from 1482 1140. Police numbers have dropped 80 from 1700 to 1620 and

:59:09. > :59:14.Royal Navy police numbers have dropped 40 from 342 300. Does the

:59:15. > :59:20.Secretary of State think these cuts under the Prime Minister are

:59:21. > :59:25.acceptable? The task that we allocate our personnel are there for

:59:26. > :59:30.operational reasons. That is how we allocate, not only the liability of

:59:31. > :59:37.each of our services but also the trades that sit within them. Along

:59:38. > :59:41.with many of my colleagues I also talked during recess and had the

:59:42. > :59:46.pleasure of visiting the fourth. They were concerned about the

:59:47. > :59:50.economic point of view. From a national security point of view will

:59:51. > :59:54.my right honourable friend confirm if government will always defend the

:59:55. > :00:01.right to the Islanders to defend them I could determine their own

:00:02. > :00:04.future? As I said earlier it was a pleasure to be the first defence

:00:05. > :00:08.secretary to visit the island for over a decade to meet over the 1200

:00:09. > :00:14.service personnel who are based there and to confirm our investment

:00:15. > :00:19.programme of 180 million over the next ten years. Unlike the Labour

:00:20. > :00:23.Party, there is nobody who can be in any doubt about our commitment to

:00:24. > :00:29.the right of the Islanders to determine their own future and not

:00:30. > :00:36.have it bargained away by a possible labour government reaching some

:00:37. > :00:40.accommodation with Argentina. My constituent Chris Hartley was

:00:41. > :00:45.wounded while serving our arm versus in Syria by a rocket to know --

:00:46. > :00:49.rocket propelled grenade. He lost his right leg above the knee. He is

:00:50. > :00:52.unable to get funding or in HS support for a life-changing

:00:53. > :00:56.operation that would allow him to work and restore some of the pride

:00:57. > :01:00.he had before his injury. Will you meet with the Department of health

:01:01. > :01:04.and myself to discuss what can be done to help my constituency who

:01:05. > :01:10.gave so much to this country? I would be delighted. Is it not the

:01:11. > :01:13.case of the United Kingdom left European Union and it is more

:01:14. > :01:18.rightly that France and Germany would dominate Europe's defence

:01:19. > :01:23.structures. Meaning the median term over the horizon that we are more

:01:24. > :01:28.likely to see European defence structures compete rather than

:01:29. > :01:33.complement Nato? My honourable friend has made his views in this

:01:34. > :01:39.great debate very clear. As I said to the House earlier, Nato is the

:01:40. > :01:44.cornerstone of our security, the European Union compliments that with

:01:45. > :01:48.a number of other levers and weapons at its disposal. Humanitarian,

:01:49. > :01:54.diplomatic, and economic and there is no doubt in my mind that the

:01:55. > :01:58.fracturing of either the alliance or the union would not aid the

:01:59. > :02:03.collective security of the West. Have any embedded British pilots

:02:04. > :02:17.flown in emissions at all into Libya? -- missions. No. Since the

:02:18. > :02:22.parliamentary vote on Syria at the beginning of December, there have

:02:23. > :02:28.been 319 RAF air strikes against Daesh in Iraq and 43 RAF air strikes

:02:29. > :02:31.against Daesh and Syria. Since we have been targeting the head of the

:02:32. > :02:38.snake, why have the bed and seven and a half times more air strikes in

:02:39. > :02:42.Iraq? There are more I struck -- air strikes in Iraq and then Syria in

:02:43. > :02:47.December and indeed January because we were engaged in assisting the

:02:48. > :02:52.Iraqi forces liberate Ramani which is where most of the military action

:02:53. > :02:59.was and assisting the Kurdish forces in the liberation of a city further

:03:00. > :03:04.north. But as I discussed with my fellow ministers in Brussels, it is

:03:05. > :03:09.also important to continue to attack the infrastructure that supports the

:03:10. > :03:13.Daesh, including the oil wellheads from which it derives its revenue

:03:14. > :03:21.and some of our strikes have been on those oil fields in eastern Syria.

:03:22. > :03:23.Urgent question, Eva Cooper. To ask the home Secretary to make a

:03:24. > :03:24.statement on child refugees in