Defence Questions House of Commons


Defence Questions

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Order, order! Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence. Mr

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Jonathan Reynolds. With permission, I should like to ask this question

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together with numbers five, eight and nine. -- to answer.

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President-elect Trump has confirmed the importance of Nato during

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telephone calls with the Prime Minister and with the Nato Secretary

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General. I have written to General James Mattis to congratulate him on

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his nomination as secretary of defence and I look forward to

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meeting him after his confirmation hearing. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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General James Mattis has himself warned against appeasing the Russian

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regime and it has been stated as President Putin's intention to break

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apart and it. Does the Minister agree we would do well to listen to

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this general? General matters is not only an experienced combatant in

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Iraq and Afghanistan but has since served as a Nato commander and is

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well aware of the importance of the Alliance, but also the importance of

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the Alliance to the United States itself, and it is the unity of the

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alliance that sends the most powerful message to President Putin.

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At the recent Warsaw Summit, Nato leaders made a commitment to step up

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collective action against Daesh. What assurances has he had from the

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incoming administration that it remains committed to that and to the

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principle of collective defence in the work with allies in the fight

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against Daesh? I shall be hosting the counter Daesh coalition, a

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meeting in London on Thursday, but I have seen nothing from the incoming

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administration's plans to indicate that they would take any different

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approach. The United States is leading the coalition work against

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Daesh, considerable progress has been made in Iraq, and starting to

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be made in Syria, and Nato also has now a contribution to make to that.

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given the US and Nato's precision air drop

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capability, can I ask what conversations he has had the

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incoming US administration and whether other allies on the

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feasibility of using this specific capability to alleviate the

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suffering in Aleppo? We have continually examined options for

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getting aid into Aleppo, which is now where people are in the most

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appalling situation. It is very, it is most impossible to get food or

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medicines in by air drop, and air defence is now controlled by Russia

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and the Syrian regime and no permissions are forthcoming. We have

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looked at other options such as using the airfield that is outside

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the control of the moderate opposition, and we will continue to

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look at all kinds of options, but it is already very, very late for

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people in eastern Aleppo. Thank you, Mr Speaker. When I was a young

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officer serving in the Rhine and in West Berlin, I made the assumption

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that article five was a trigger. If anyone attacked a Nato nation,

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automatically every state, member would go to war. I am wondering

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whether that is exactly right now and whether we just have a

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commitment to consult which will take much longer than an automatic

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reversion to war. Article five was last invoked after 9/11, when the

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rest of the Alliance pledged to do everything possible to help the

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United States, then under the most appalling attack on the Twin Towers.

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The answer to his question, of course, is that once article five is

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triggered, each member state has to examine its obligations to the

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Alliance as a whole. Before that stage, as tensions escalate, I would

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expect the deployments that we have prepared, including the high

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readiness task force, to be enacted. Would my right honourable friend

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agree that the new administration will be much more interested indeed

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-- in deeds than words when it comes to it and article five and the

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button is setting an example for the rest of Europe, not just for the 2%,

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but also by deployment of the troops we plan for both Poland and the

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Baltic states? On and on my friend and also

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president wrong's call for other European countries and do more. It

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is true the date of the 28 members have now set in place firm plans to

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reach the 2%. We reach the 2%, but some 19 members of Nato don't even

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do one and a half percent. Four or five of them don't even do 1%.

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European country members in particular of Nato have still a long

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way to go to fulfil the pledges on which we all agreed at the summit.

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Thank you Mr Speaker. A pleasant to read recently the work being done to

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secure maritime security of our allies. Is it vital that the US

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administration coming in in January that there is no such thing as a

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periphery state in attack on one as an attack on all? Absolutely. That

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is the principle of collective defence and that is the best

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possible message to any further aggression from Russia. We have seen

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a huge increase of Russian submarine activity in recent years. Indeed,

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the threat of terrorism. We stand together. The head of MI6 warned on

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Friday about Russian meddling on UK domestic politics. Given the

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revelations from the CIA about the Kremlin's involvement in influencing

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the US election, I wondered whether the Secretary of State Cattell is

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what discussion he has had to tackle this type of hybrid warfare

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interfering with other country's democratic processes? Yes, we have

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seen a disturbing pattern of these allegations now direct Russian

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interference in countries as far apart as Bulgaria, the referendum in

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the Netherlands, continuing pressure on the Baltic states. We agreed in

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Warsaw that both the European Union and Nato would come together to

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cooperate on hybrid warfare and look at the techniques necessary to help

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is all resist that pressure. From many years in this chamber people

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have been asking why European countries who are members of Nato

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are not spending 2% and we are always told that it is going to

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happen, it will happen. It just doesn't seem to happen. What

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pressure can be put on other members of Nato to fulfil their commitment?

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We agreed this commitment back in the Wales summit back in the autumn

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of 2014. That at least has halted the decline of defence spending

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across the Alliance. We now seek members of the member states

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committed to increasing it. As I said, age of the 28 actually firmly

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planning to get up to the 2%. The transparency involved in publishing

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the total every year in itself stiffens the arm of defence

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ministers when they are tackling their own finance ministers. It is

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certainly encouraging to see the increase in defence spending for the

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countries that feel the most vulnerable. Baltic states, Bulgaria,

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remain you. The question was what discussions has he had with

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President elect? His answer was that the importance of Nato. The question

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that the secretary is being asked is what does that mean? What does it

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mean to article five? What's it mean for the principles that resident

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ramp I going to pursue when he becomes president? -- President

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Trump. What is the Government actually seen to president elect

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Trump about what policies he should pursue and what are the answers that

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the secretary of the is getting? We need a bit more than confirming the

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importance of Nato. As a question, which I am sure a dextrous and pithy

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reply will trot forth from the tongue of the Secretary of State.

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Terrapin to phone calls. The president has not taken to office

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yet. -- there have been. There is a clear understanding between art and

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the United States administration of the importance of Nato and the

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here and the importance of it the here and the importance of it the

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United States itself. My colleagues and I on Labour's defence team

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recently returned from a briefing in Brussels. We were told about plans

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to ensure the security of the Baltic states and our Armed Forces role in

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helping to defend Estonia. Can I pressed him further in what

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assessment has been made of the impact of President elect Trump's

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policies may have on the ability to trigger Article five if necessary.

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The United States itself will be leading one of the four battalions.

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Leaving the battalion in Poland and we will be adding a company of our

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own troops to that battalion. We will be leading in Estonia and

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Canada and Germany will be leading in the other two countries. We have

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absolutely no evidence that the United States is going to alter its

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position on that. On the contrary, in my discussions about have been

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over the Atlantic twice in the last three weeks, in my discussions with

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the US military and senators and congressmen who take an interest in

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defence, they have it every reason to believe that the United States

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will confirm its commitment to the Alliance. Question number two. We

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have made significant progress in recent months. We're now looking at

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the conventions of human rights. Hearts for injured and... So they do

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not have to spend years waiting to pursue claims. We will be unable to

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announce further measures shortly. My constituents and 87 Arnold

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horsewhipped, a former solder, will welcome that news. If it was not for

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the MoD submitting evidence of malpractice, and the ML today

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casting legal aid contract, this man will still be hounding our soldier?

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Mr Speaker, I was at the Ministry of Justice when we were revoked the

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legal aid. It was not for this... Rigoletto authority, Mr Shiner would

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still be probably pursuing soldiers still be probably pursuing soldiers

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and servicemen. Probably, Mr Shiner should probably do what the

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Secretary of State should said he should do before which was

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apologise. As someone who has served with distinction in Northern

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Ireland, the Secretary of State must be disgusted by the abuse of the

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legal process against former soldiers which has impugned the

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reputation of every single soldier that has served in Ulster over the

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last 40 years. Will he undertake and will his apartment undertake to be

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the person against that abuse and witchhunt and will he stand up and

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make sure that it is stopped forthwith? I had the honour of

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serving in the Providence and was part of the peace process that we

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have now. Fast majority supports please forth. That is what they said

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on the radio at the weekend. That is not new investigations, they are

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tribute to the honourable gentleman tribute to the honourable gentleman

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and wishing happy birthday today. I have thought that the honourable

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member was staring in his seat. If he is sorry I will call? He is not.

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In the last few years, some three and half soldiers have had their

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lives wrecked by the investigations of the Iraq historic team

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allegations team. This has been the cost of some 90 million pounds.

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Surely now is the time we have seen deep backlist of China. Surely we

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now bring it back? We are doing everything we can to get people to

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come to conclusions. The vast majority of those investigations

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will be concluded and we hope and expect the vast majority will feel

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that there is no action to be taken. We must make sure that the

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investigations are taking place quickly so it does not end up in

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some European court somewhere. It is not a stick question of the enquiry

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and the disgraceful behaviour that disreputable solicitor Phil Shiner,

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we now are faced with the prospect of hundreds of British soldiers who

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served in Northern Ireland again being brought before the court as

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the honourable member said. This is really wholly unacceptable. We're

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nearly half a century on. Men who have served their country to the

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best of their ability should still face possible prosecution. It is not

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good enough, it is a matter of public policy which ministers should

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be personally accountable. I think be personally accountable. I think

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we must make sure that the police, the police repeat, decide whether to

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investigate something. We will help the police. We will also protect

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them as much as possible. With a rising defence budget and an

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equipment landmark ?178 billion over the next ten years, we are renewing

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our capabilities. We spend up to 20% of our science and technology budget

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on research and we have launched an big fund. The Minister will be aware

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that the ministry had a reputation among some supplies is being

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challenging to work with. What has the Minister done to do with SMEs in

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Worcestershire? He is right that it can be challenging to work with the

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Ministry of Defence procurement processes and we are particularly

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medium-size businesses to apply for medium-size businesses to apply for

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business with us. We want is to procure an increase from 19% of our

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spending up to 25% of our spending from small businesses. Acting on

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direct feedback from small businesses we've introduced a

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network of supply chain advocates to help supply chains and their contact

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The Minister referred to renewing The Minister referred to renewing

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our capabilities. I asked previously about the programme to renew the

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type 245 purple than systems. Can she tell us is there actually a

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budget for the programme of improvement to the type 40 type

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systems and wind as she expect all six systems to be improved? I am

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pleased to be able to confirm that there is a budget and that there is

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progress and that these incredibly capable ships are performing a wide

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range of tasks and are seen to day for example, HMS daring, in the

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Gulf. Acting as part of our deployment out there. Small firms in

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my constituency like GSI, XO tech precision which specialise in

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producing brilliant based about have the technology and ideas that could

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maintain are defence advantage. When will the first competition stage

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start? I am delighted to tell my honourable friend that I was able to

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launch the first competition last Thursday at the University of

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Strathclyde in Glasgow. First competition for up to ?3 million, we

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are looking for new ways of exploring data to inform decisions.

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Does not sound like exactly this area of specialisation as that

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business, but there will of course be further competitions and of

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course open application for a wide range of different ideas to be fed

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indirectly. No one would neither does is vitally important that we do

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what we can encourage innovation in the defence sector, but in order to

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foster that environment, business and industry has two trust what it

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is told by the Government. Given that, would she take the opportunity

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to explain to the shipbuilding industry exactly why the copper

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bottom assurances that she gave on bottom assurances that she gave on

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four occasions that the national shipbuilding strategy will be

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published before the Autumn Statement, didn't deliver? Mr

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Speaker, did you pick up in that question any congratulations and a

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light from the fact that I was at the shipyards in on the Clyde last

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Thursday cutting steel for two new offshore patrol vessels? Mr Speaker,

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I remain astonished at the very grudging way in which the Scottish

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National Party fails to recognise the billions of pounds of work that

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is being sent to shipyards in the Clyde. For the record, I absolutely

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delighted that they are being built on the Clyde. Now, will she take

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this opportunity to apologise to the workers and management across the UK

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shipbuilding industry for the misleading and contradictory

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statement that have come from the Ministry of Defence over the last

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few months? And would she take this opportunity to explain why the ship

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building strategy did not appear when you promised it would appear?

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It is lucky he gets a supplementary, isn't it? Some very grudging words

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of welcome for the fact we have just announced two decades worth of work

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on the Type 26 frigates in Scotland and he is complaining about the lack

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of publication of a report which was published, Mr Speaker, and the

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Government is going to provide its respond next year. -- its response.

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The report on Shipperley was published on the 29th of November. I

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shall send him a personally signed copy! He is a very excitable person

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in this hass-mac and I am not sure he has quite attained the apogee of

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statesmanship to which he aspires. -- in this House. Let us hear from a

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calm person. Maria Miller. The Minister's focus on innovation is

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absolutely right. Wilshere look at the excellent work of the National

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Aerospace Exploitation Programme, who are all ready running

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infrastructure projects and how she can help finish this work? You are

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right call the honourable member for Basingstoke, who is such -- who has

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asked such a calm and helpful question. She will also be familiar

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with the work done by the defence growth partnership at Farnborough,

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and a fantastic way in which they also work to promote the excellence

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of the UK aerospace industry to people all around the world. Number

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four Mac Mr Speaker. The Royal air made a vital contribution to counter

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Daesh coalition, carrying out 192 strikes in Iraq and 75 strikes in

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Syria and providing intelligence, surveillance and respondents. The

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RAF has helped Iraqi forces reclaimed significant territory,

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including British to liberate Mosul. In Syria, the RAF has already

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attacked Daesh's capitol in Raqqa while supporting opposition groups

:22:30.:22:34.

pushing back Daesh on the ground. The RAF is making real progress in

:22:35.:22:38.

tackling Daesh in Iraq and Syria and our thoughts at this time must be

:22:39.:22:43.

with our brave servicemen and women. Once Mosul has been liberated by the

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Iraqi Government, what role does the Secretary of State and dissipate for

:22:49.:22:53.

the RAF in Iraq? Well, we shall be reviewing that the military

:22:54.:22:57.

commanders progress in Iraq and Syria at the counter Daesh coalition

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meeting in London on Thursday. And mapping out a road to longer term

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peace in Iraq, including potential future deployments in different

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parts of Iraq that may help to continue the training that we have

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been offering Iraqi forces, and further work on counterterrorism. We

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will also be discussing the need to control the spread of the return of

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foreign fighters from Iraq and indeed from Syria to the different

:23:32.:23:39.

countries that they came from. At a time when the RAF is at full stretch

:23:40.:23:42.

on operations, the Secretary of State will be as concerned as I was

:23:43.:23:46.

to hear the announcement that RAF Halton is to be closed, because it

:23:47.:23:53.

seems to have been sprung on the civilian military personnel in order

:23:54.:23:59.

to meet the local council deadline. Can he reassure personnel on Tyne

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skill and staff support so this decision does not create a serious

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retention risk? At causing some of the bases in their fields we no

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longer need, they have been taken on the basis of military capability and

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on the advice of the service chiefs. I'm sure the whole House will join

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with my honourable friend and with the honourable lady in paying

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tribute to the work of the RAF, a sustained tempo of operations,

:24:33.:24:36.

probably at the highest for over 25 years and the enormous job they are

:24:37.:24:40.

doing to help keep our country safe. Can I not press the Defence

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Secretary on the level of defeatism in the statement that it is nearly

:24:48.:24:51.

impossible to bridges successful airdrops of Russia does not allow

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it? -- to envisage. Russia does not want to trigger a conflict with the

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UK and our Nato allies. The longer that this essentially Howedes goes

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on, in the face of the posturing, the more they will push --

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cowardice, and the harder it will be for any result to come to the

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dreadful tragedy that is happening in that country. We continue to look

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at every possibility of getting either food or medicine into Aleppo

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or into some of the other besieged areas. But it is not simply a

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question of Russian permission, we also have two make sure that any

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drops are feasible, considering the vulnerability of aircraft to ground

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to air defence systems as well. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary

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of State said it was very late for the people of eastern Aleppo, but it

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is not. Those RAF planes could be providing humanitarian airdrops.

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There are 200 members in this House who have signed a letter calling for

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this leading humanitarian organisations, will he look at it

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again? We have continued to look almost daily at the various ways in

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which we might be able to get food and aid in. It is not possible in a

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contested aerospace with ground to air missile systems and Russian

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aircraft flying overhead denying position -- promotion. It is not

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possible to fly coalition aircraft over Aleppo and without that

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security, we are unable to drop food where it is most needed, but we

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continue to look at all the options. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like

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to thank the Secretary of State or his answer on Aleppo to the member

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for Barnsley Central and reference the RF capabilities that my

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honourable friend mentioned, but I do share the concerns raised by my

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honourable friends from Barrow and Cardiff South, that we really do

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need to look at this one again. Can I ask the Secretary of State if he

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will continue and will not at any stage give up on looking at any way

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that we can alleviate the terrible suffering that is going on in East

:27:06.:27:11.

Aleppo? I can give her that assurance and we continue to look at

:27:12.:27:16.

these options, to talk to the NGOs who are willing to help us provide

:27:17.:27:21.

food and medicine, and some food and medicine is going into other cities

:27:22.:27:25.

in Syria, but not into Aleppo itself. Simply because of the

:27:26.:27:30.

impossibility of flying aircraft in that airspace over Aleppo and a very

:27:31.:27:35.

real risk of aircraft being shot down. Question number six. The Armed

:27:36.:27:46.

Forces are Britain's biggest provider of apprenticeships. We have

:27:47.:27:50.

around 20,000 apprentices on programmes at any one time ranging

:27:51.:27:53.

from engineering and IT to construction and driving. Defence

:27:54.:27:57.

has pledged to stop 50 dozen apprenticeships during this

:27:58.:28:01.

Parliament and will seize the new opportunity to work with the

:28:02.:28:03.

Department for Education, expanding and improving the current ranges of

:28:04.:28:08.

apprenticeships we offer. I think the Minister for his reply. What

:28:09.:28:18.

assurance can he give my residents who may want to take up the

:28:19.:28:22.

opportunity at the Minister defence that they offer a quality as well as

:28:23.:28:26.

quantity? She is right to focus on quality and I'm delighted to say

:28:27.:28:30.

that at the last Ofsted inspections, both the Army and the Naval Service

:28:31.:28:35.

were graded as being good with some individual programmes being

:28:36.:28:38.

outstanding and the Royal Forest's programme was graded as outstanding.

:28:39.:28:46.

Fashion at the force's. The Minister mentioned the Department for

:28:47.:28:49.

Education and if I look at the Government website, it refers to

:28:50.:28:52.

England. Could he ushered me that a printer ships are available

:28:53.:28:54.

throughout the United Kingdom for people who are in default

:28:55.:28:58.

Administration is worth apprenticeships are devolved to the

:28:59.:29:02.

Scottish Robert, the Northern Ireland Assembly, or the Welsh

:29:03.:29:06.

Assembly? We are always happy to work with double December I can

:29:07.:29:10.

reassure the honourable gentleman that apprenticeships are available

:29:11.:29:14.

to all Armed Forces personnel. Mr Speaker, can that can thank the

:29:15.:29:17.

Secretary of State for coming to my constituency on Friday to open the

:29:18.:29:24.

Type 26 facility, where he met and spoke to some of the many young

:29:25.:29:28.

apprentices at our working on that, and well he and his ministers

:29:29.:29:33.

continue to make sure that quality apprenticeships are a key part of

:29:34.:29:38.

the defence Supply chain? My honourable friend makes a very good

:29:39.:29:42.

point indeed, I understand the visit was a great success. Absolutely, as

:29:43.:29:47.

we begin to look forward, I think it is not just about having

:29:48.:29:50.

apprenticeships within the Armed Forces, but also part of that

:29:51.:29:53.

transition when our service personnel leave that we have a duty

:29:54.:29:56.

to prepare them for potentially going to work in the supply chain

:29:57.:30:01.

after the service, because this is a partnership with the industry. This

:30:02.:30:08.

time last week, our defence team were at BAE Systems on the Clyde and

:30:09.:30:11.

talking to apprentices on the future, what reassurances can he

:30:12.:30:15.

give to be skilled young men and women who are waiting to hear if the

:30:16.:30:20.

promised type 31s will be built on the Clyde in their entirety? I think

:30:21.:30:26.

it is worth remembering that probably be apprentices -- the

:30:27.:30:30.

apprentice who will work in the last 26 is yet to be born but we continue

:30:31.:30:33.

to work closely with the industry and I think as my honourable friend

:30:34.:30:39.

said a few months ago, investment has been made in Scotland over many

:30:40.:30:42.

years to come, and it should be celebrated. Number seven, Mr

:30:43.:30:51.

Speaker. The security review of 2015 committed to us -- committed us to

:30:52.:30:58.

the force meeting future threats. By having the best mix of challengers

:30:59.:31:01.

to tax and multipurpose armoured vehicles to deliver the army's

:31:02.:31:05.

contribution for future threats. We are planning to spend ?700 million

:31:06.:31:13.

to expand the capability to 2035. I thank him for that answer while we

:31:14.:31:19.

should warmly welcome the very large order for the Ajax fighting vehicles

:31:20.:31:22.

does he accept that these will be no match for the armour and the

:31:23.:31:27.

armament of enemy main battle tanks? Will he therefore confirm how many

:31:28.:31:35.

of our existing 227 tanks will go forward to the challenge to life

:31:36.:31:40.

extension programme, bearing in mind the need to have capacity for

:31:41.:31:44.

regeneration in the event of a crisis? My honourable friend knows

:31:45.:31:51.

very well, because he is chair for the Defence Select Committee, it

:31:52.:31:56.

would be for the military to decide exactly what the capabilities are in

:31:57.:32:02.

each way. By having ?700 million available going for a Challenger,

:32:03.:32:08.

that shows a clear commitment. While I support having a diversity of

:32:09.:32:14.

vehicles available, there are reports the Army planning to reduce

:32:15.:32:18.

the number of tanks by a third at a time when Russia has announced new

:32:19.:32:22.

generation of vehicles, and ours will reduce to 170. Does the

:32:23.:32:26.

Minister not agree that this is not the right time to be putting this

:32:27.:32:32.

announcement for it and it sends completely the wrong message? The

:32:33.:32:38.

interesting thing is, we should not believe everything we read in the

:32:39.:32:41.

press, not least as a former journalist. But what I would say is

:32:42.:32:48.

that we need to trust the Armed Forces in terms of what they want,

:32:49.:32:52.

and a Russian tank, which I think is what he is alluding too, is an

:32:53.:32:57.

unmanned vehicle. We need to make sure that the innovation adoption is

:32:58.:33:00.

there. I would have thought there would have been more cheer from the

:33:01.:33:05.

Labour benches because the Ajax vehicle is being built in Wales. The

:33:06.:33:16.

Minister has mentioned the Ajax vehicle. When he was a minister,

:33:17.:33:22.

David Cameron announced that the Ajax fighting vehicle would be a

:33:23.:33:26.

boost for British manufacturing. Many of the vehicles will be

:33:27.:33:31.

assembled in Merthyr Tydfil. The vehicles are being built using

:33:32.:33:38.

Swedish deal and will have the hull is built in Spain. Some will be

:33:39.:33:40.

completely built in Spain. Therefore, does he think that David

:33:41.:33:45.

Cameron was somewhat inaccurate in his statement? I do not think so, Mr

:33:46.:33:53.

Speaker. The issue here is about jobs in Wales, which are going to

:33:54.:33:57.

come to Merthyr Tydfil, and making sure the Army had the vehicle they

:33:58.:34:01.

wanted, that is what this government will guarantee. Unless the Liberal

:34:02.:34:07.

Party can committed 2% of GDP, they will never get that expenditure,

:34:08.:34:15.

ever. -- the Labour Party. Mr Speaker, next year we will be

:34:16.:34:21.

sending nearly 800 troops to list on, 150 personnel of the Light

:34:22.:34:26.

Dragoons to:, leading to the high readiness task force. -- to Poland.

:34:27.:34:30.

Undertaking air policing based in Romania with the typhoons we are

:34:31.:34:36.

committing to Nato. Can I welcome the Government's commitment in

:34:37.:34:39.

particular to the polished Prime Minister last month of additional UK

:34:40.:34:44.

troops and armoured vehicles -- Polish Prime Minister, in the face

:34:45.:34:46.

of concerns around the Russian threat and does he agree that we

:34:47.:34:49.

should stand shoulder to shoulder with our Polish friends and this

:34:50.:34:53.

shows how Britain can be even stronger European high irrespective

:34:54.:34:54.

of Brexit? I had extensive talks of the Polish

:34:55.:35:03.

defence Minister and its colleagues and they were absolutely thrilled

:35:04.:35:06.

that we were committed to being with which is what came out of the

:35:07.:35:13.

statement. I can say that many people are looking forward to it. On

:35:14.:35:22.

the day that we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ending of the

:35:23.:35:25.

USSR, and we do more to educate our USSR, and we do more to educate

:35:26.:35:28.

people about the importance of people about the importance of

:35:29.:35:32.

defending the security of those states that reading their

:35:33.:35:39.

independence, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and were able to make a

:35:40.:35:45.

free democratic decision to join with Nato. In end the nonsense that

:35:46.:36:01.

it prevails that Nato was not bad. He is as keen to listen to other

:36:02.:36:10.

people as themselves. The whole success of Nato is it is free for

:36:11.:36:12.

countries to join. He is right to countries to join. He is right to

:36:13.:36:16.

say that the countries that he alluded to, particularly Latvia and

:36:17.:36:19.

Estonia are particularly worried about their protection. It is not

:36:20.:36:22.

like the British Army in the Rhine which I have the privilege of

:36:23.:36:25.

serving with Bowie sat very static over long periods of time. We're.

:36:26.:36:36.

Delete Mac... -- serving with who are very static. With other members

:36:37.:36:44.

of the alliance. Will the Minister on the half of the Secretary of

:36:45.:36:47.

State assure me that the next time that usually to the fruit next

:36:48.:36:53.

leader of the free world that they might start reading their briefings

:36:54.:37:01.

daily and do us all a favour? I am sure that the future president of

:37:02.:37:04.

the United States will read this CIA briefings when he becomes the

:37:05.:37:10.

president of the United States. I am sure you have seen the press

:37:11.:37:13.

future President of the United future President of the United

:37:14.:37:16.

States doesn't necessarily believe everything that he has been told in

:37:17.:37:23.

the press. The additional support is very welcome, but for our land

:37:24.:37:30.

forces this requires more money. Will it be made available to train

:37:31.:37:38.

with the capability? They have the money required. Take a leap when I

:37:39.:37:43.

visited them and the Rifleman that we will to be deploying to Poland.

:37:44.:37:51.

We will review the equivalent that they have particularly with the

:37:52.:37:55.

clement weather in Poland that that is fit for purpose. I am proud to

:37:56.:38:06.

say the first time in a generation that Royal Navy is growing and this

:38:07.:38:14.

Government is going to promote our prosperity around the world. It can

:38:15.:38:19.

be seen for the personnel numbers. Elizabeth aircraft carriers and

:38:20.:38:29.

freedom destroyers and new ships by 2030. Do you agree that to fulfil

:38:30.:38:35.

the Government's commitment to increase the size of the fleet 's

:38:36.:38:47.

persistent elite Mac -- won the year do you agree to the? Having been on

:38:48.:38:53.

a type 23 only in the last couple of weeks when we were shadowing a

:38:54.:38:57.

Russian aircraft character in the channel, it is hard to underestimate

:38:58.:39:09.

the abilities of the ships. We'll make sure the new frigates do just

:39:10.:39:17.

as well. Can the Minister say if the new R F a ships will be built in the

:39:18.:39:23.

UK and if so, will he give a further commitment to buying British and

:39:24.:39:29.

guarantee the use of British steel to build these ships? In a report

:39:30.:39:34.

last week, it is importantly stated that the best value for the Navy is

:39:35.:39:37.

what we need to do. Also that the best shipyards bid for the work and

:39:38.:39:44.

bidded. Let's see who wins. Will you bidded. Let's see who wins. Will you

:39:45.:39:53.

expect to be able to publish the maintenance options for these ships?

:39:54.:39:57.

Also is Portsmouth being considered some of these welcome new ships? We

:39:58.:40:02.

welcome the bids and the bids that are coming forward. As soon as we

:40:03.:40:08.

can announce it short we will. We are looking forward to the new

:40:09.:40:13.

frigates. Other countries what are old ones. Today I received my first

:40:14.:40:20.

camera. January featured HMS Ocean. camera. January featured HMS Ocean.

:40:21.:40:29.

-- calendar. After years of -- calendar. After years of

:40:30.:40:36.

impressive service over the last 18 months, how does add to the strength

:40:37.:40:47.

to our Navy? Document is not my area, I am reliably informed that

:40:48.:40:50.

she was always due to go out of service. She has done fantastic

:40:51.:40:56.

work, she has done great work and so has the crew. Her time will come to

:40:57.:41:01.

an end and she will go into thousand and 18. -- 2018. The publication of

:41:02.:41:16.

the National ship building strategy answer was simply not good enough.

:41:17.:41:20.

Not good enough for our Royal Navy or workers in the shipbuilding area.

:41:21.:41:25.

The fact is that on the 29th of November Government only published

:41:26.:41:31.

John Parker's independent review to inform the strategy. When just last

:41:32.:41:35.

year, the Government promised to publish a new shipbuilding strategy

:41:36.:41:41.

in 2016. With just six Parliamentary days to go to the end of the year,

:41:42.:41:44.

can the Minister explain exactly can the Minister explain exactly

:41:45.:41:51.

when we going to see that strategy? I do find it slightly difficult

:41:52.:41:54.

being lectured on defence procurement by a party that won't

:41:55.:41:59.

even commit themselves to 2% GDP. The key to this is making sure we've

:42:00.:42:04.

got these ships built in the shipyards, the present is we need

:42:05.:42:07.

and that the whole community benefits from it. I don't know where

:42:08.:42:11.

the minister gets his information from. I don't know if he reads the

:42:12.:42:15.

whole debate or listens to what we have been saying very clearly from

:42:16.:42:18.

the dispatch box that we are fully committed to a 2% spend on GDP to

:42:19.:42:24.

meet our Nato commitments and spend it on defence as is required. Can we

:42:25.:42:30.

now perhaps turn to add more specific issue about the naval fleet

:42:31.:42:36.

and the particular those type 26 frigates which have faced very long

:42:37.:42:41.

delays and with all the attendant risks and capabilities. Our defence

:42:42.:42:47.

recently said that our ship building strategy must include strict

:42:48.:42:50.

timelines for the delivery of the new frigates and the general-purpose

:42:51.:42:55.

frigates. Can the Minister confirm that it really will include those

:42:56.:43:02.

details? I did some research and it appears the Labour Government

:43:03.:43:10.

started looking at type 26 ships in 19 97. The seniors in Government and

:43:11.:43:18.

Speaker, with increasing demands for Speaker, with increasing demands for

:43:19.:43:21.

frigates worldwide, does my honourable friend agree with Sir

:43:22.:43:27.

John Parker that we should focus on building ships that other countries

:43:28.:43:33.

likely want to buy, something that the Royal Navy has refused to do in

:43:34.:43:41.

the past. Yes. Type 26 is not just for our Navy, but for one around the

:43:42.:43:43.

world. It will be exactly the kind world. It will be exactly the kind

:43:44.:43:47.

of chip that will replace the 26 around the world we get the build

:43:48.:43:51.

right and get out there. Which is right and get out there. Which is

:43:52.:43:56.

In a in a rather -- Iraq, more than In a in a rather -- Iraq, more than

:43:57.:44:14.

31,000 Iraqi troops trained by the UK encounter IDE engineering and

:44:15.:44:20.

medical skills. Interior, coalition security helped push Daesh back and

:44:21.:44:24.

is now taking the fight to Daesh's heartland. When my right honourable

:44:25.:44:29.

friend meets many of his friend meets many of his

:44:30.:44:33.

counterparts later this week, these confirmed that he will focus this

:44:34.:44:36.

discussion on how the threat of Daesh can be defeated in Iraq. Yes.

:44:37.:44:43.

We will be reviewing the military progress which is being made which

:44:44.:44:48.

is substantial in a ruck. Daesh have less than 10% of right now. We will

:44:49.:44:53.

also be mapping out the long-term plan to bring decent stability to

:44:54.:44:58.

western Iraq and we will also be working as a coalition to monitor

:44:59.:45:04.

the dispersal of Daesh fighters from Iraq who may be moving to other

:45:05.:45:13.

theatres. We have seen Daesh move into Palmyra this week. Does that

:45:14.:45:19.

show a lack of a cohesive strategy? We had a debate about air strikes

:45:20.:45:23.

and more boots on the ground. The Secretary of State 's and the

:45:24.:45:27.

Minister were arguing strongly filler. We will see the countless

:45:28.:45:33.

slaughter of individuals carry on, otherwise. There is not any support

:45:34.:45:38.

at the United Nations for the deployment of UN troops in Syria.

:45:39.:45:42.

There may not be support in this house for the deployment of British

:45:43.:45:47.

troops on the ground in combat in Syria. Our onus is to provide

:45:48.:45:50.

intelligence gathering from the air and the air strikes on the ground. I

:45:51.:45:55.

can tell that the second front has begun to be opened up now with a

:45:56.:46:02.

move by the Syrian democratic forces onto the city which is in effect the

:46:03.:46:09.

capital which began last week. How many fighters have originated from

:46:10.:46:16.

the United Kingdom been killed in the various regions? Hammer your

:46:17.:46:18.

main? And how many have returned to the United Kingdom? -- how many

:46:19.:46:28.

British fighters still remain in British fighters still remain in

:46:29.:46:35.

either Iraq or Syria. There are many thousand foreign fighters altogether

:46:36.:46:37.

from Western Europe and further afield. One of the issues we will be

:46:38.:46:41.

considering this week is how we properly monitor their dispersal

:46:42.:46:48.

either to other theatres or back to our respective countries. Those who

:46:49.:46:50.

have fought for a prescribed have fought for a prescribed

:46:51.:46:54.

organisation like Daesh can be finally brought to justice.

:46:55.:47:06.

This Government is committed to increasing the defence budget by

:47:07.:47:12.

0.5% a year in real terms as well as increasing our equipment budget by

:47:13.:47:20.

1% above 2020. This means more ships, planes and cutting edge

:47:21.:47:27.

clerk is I'm on the receiving end of clerk is I'm on the receiving end of

:47:28.:47:37.

his advice. Can I just say that the letter to which reference was made

:47:38.:47:42.

is strictly speaking a letter to the house and for its benefit. So,

:47:43.:47:46.

notwithstanding the motivation of the right honourable gentleman

:47:47.:47:51.

saying you needn't write, if I may say with a very greatest of respect

:47:52.:47:57.

that is not for the right honourable member to judge. The letter is for

:47:58.:48:02.

the house's anything. If the right honourable gentleman is

:48:03.:48:06.

disinterested, others might be interested. We will leave it there.

:48:07.:48:20.

The Oracle member says where will we find it. Go along to the library,

:48:21.:48:27.

man! We will be providing the best possible equipment and that standard

:48:28.:48:31.

will net that will be equipment developed and manufactured in the

:48:32.:48:36.

United Kingdom? My honourable friend is right that we do need to focus on

:48:37.:48:43.

the best equipment. Getting the best capability for our Armed Forces. We

:48:44.:48:45.

will also seek the best value for money for the taxpayer. We will also

:48:46.:48:52.

seek to get the UK content as strong as possible. For example, with the

:48:53.:48:55.

35, 15% of the 3000 planes in the 35, 15% of the 3000 planes in the

:48:56.:49:02.

global programme I made in the north-west and the UK has been

:49:03.:49:06.

selected as the global repair hub for a large number of elements for

:49:07.:49:08.

the maintenance repair overhaul and upgrade for these fantastic

:49:09.:49:22.

vehicles. There is an success in our operations against Daesh. As I told

:49:23.:49:28.

the house on Thursday, I will chair the house from across the coalition

:49:29.:49:37.

against Daesh. In Iraq, Syria, and mapping out plans for peace and

:49:38.:49:42.

stability in the region. On Saturday, I visited my constituent,

:49:43.:49:46.

27-year-old father of two, a brave RAF serviceman who is -- who has

:49:47.:49:56.

given service but now was dying of bowel cancer. He has now taken on

:49:57.:49:59.

another challenge, taking on this team doesn't pound is for the

:50:00.:50:03.

hospice. Will the Secretary of State join with me to paying tribute to

:50:04.:50:09.

him for pain service for us and raises much money?

:50:10.:50:15.

He is an airman of the highest calibre who has supported our

:50:16.:50:20.

operations in Afghanistan and indeed in Libya. His wife and young

:50:21.:50:24.

daughter should be in no doubt about the highest regard that the Royal

:50:25.:50:28.

Air Force holds him and I think we all impressed and inspired by the

:50:29.:50:31.

courage he has shown from his sick in losing so much money for the

:50:32.:50:40.

hospice. Following the Government's announcement of base closures, what

:50:41.:50:45.

guarantees does the Ministry of Defence give to civilian staff

:50:46.:50:50.

regarding their future employment? As he knows, and I think supported

:50:51.:50:55.

at the time, we have had to reduce the number of bases to ensure that

:50:56.:51:00.

our service men and women are in better accommodation, in fewer

:51:01.:51:04.

remote areas and in places where they have more chance of their

:51:05.:51:12.

spouses getting into, or partners getting into employment. Obviously

:51:13.:51:16.

the civilian jobs that may be affected, we have set out the quite

:51:17.:51:20.

generous timescales for discussion and these moves are not immediate

:51:21.:51:24.

and we will certainly do everything we can to ensure those civilians are

:51:25.:51:31.

properly looked after. What steps is he taking to increase Britain's

:51:32.:51:35.

defence representation around the world, to promote our security and

:51:36.:51:39.

prosperity? I can tell him that we have this yet established regional

:51:40.:51:45.

defence staff in the Gulf, based in Dubai, in Asia Pacific based in

:51:46.:51:50.

Singapore, and in Africa based in Abuja. That fulfils the defence

:51:51.:51:54.

engagement commitment we made in the Strategic Defence Review last year

:51:55.:51:58.

and these new regional defence staffs will work with our

:51:59.:52:02.

international partners to protect and advance our interests by

:52:03.:52:05.

reinforcing bilateral and multilateral defence relationships.

:52:06.:52:11.

I welcome the role that UK forces will play in Estonia as part of

:52:12.:52:14.

Nato's forward presence. It is vitally important we provide

:52:15.:52:18.

reassurance in facing the threat from Russia. Can the Minister

:52:19.:52:21.

outline further what more steps we will be taking to bulls to security

:52:22.:52:25.

in the Baltic states and in Poland? -- to bolster. Our allies in Nato

:52:26.:52:31.

look very carefully at what we can do and where we can do it. Other

:52:32.:52:35.

nations are also guiding us, the French are coming with us to

:52:36.:52:40.

Estonia, 200 troops in the first six months, but as I said earlier, we

:52:41.:52:47.

will look carefully as a coalition, as to what capabilities we need and

:52:48.:52:51.

where we need them and we will step up to the mark, like we always do.

:52:52.:52:58.

Is he able to offer any hope that 2017 will be a better year for

:52:59.:53:02.

soldiers who either have been or are being investigated for decisions

:53:03.:53:06.

taken in the heat of battle, particularly Marine Sergeant

:53:07.:53:08.

Blackman, who faces another Christmas in jail? The MoD has and

:53:09.:53:12.

will continue to cooperate with the legal process now this case has

:53:13.:53:16.

moved to the court Martial appeal Court. I think it would be

:53:17.:53:22.

inappropriate to comment. What assessment has the Government made

:53:23.:53:25.

to the threat of the use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia, and what

:53:26.:53:30.

action is Britain taking with Nato allies to resist this? Russia has

:53:31.:53:39.

chosen to deploy missiles in the Kaliningrad area that it controls.

:53:40.:53:45.

Part of the purpose of our deployment next year of troops in

:53:46.:53:49.

Estonia and in Poland and our deployment of the REF Typhoons down

:53:50.:53:57.

to Romania is to reassure our allies -- Rafah, that we all in Nato

:53:58.:54:01.

absolutely stand by the right to collective defence and we will

:54:02.:54:05.

continue, it only to reassure but also make it very clear to Russia

:54:06.:54:10.

that we will come to the end of any -- to the aid of any member state

:54:11.:54:14.

who is attacked. As we approach Christmas, a time which many members

:54:15.:54:17.

of our Armed Forces will spend away from their families, will he join

:54:18.:54:23.

with me in thanking them and their families all they do to protect us

:54:24.:54:27.

in this country and for the sacrifices they all make? It is very

:54:28.:54:34.

appropriate as the Armed Forces Minister to ask the House to join me

:54:35.:54:39.

in wishing all of our Armed Forces a very Merry Christmas, and their

:54:40.:54:42.

families and loved ones as well, and that they all come home safe. This

:54:43.:54:49.

is what all our intentions must be. Does the Minister support the

:54:50.:54:52.

recommendation that the construction of the type 31 frigate being opened

:54:53.:54:57.

up to a much wider range of defence contractors, rather than just BAA

:54:58.:55:01.

systems and that in doing so we can and the defence cartel and raise

:55:02.:55:06.

more competition? I would like to thank the honourable member for

:55:07.:55:12.

having read that report, I think it is an excellent report, with thanks

:55:13.:55:16.

John Parker for that report and his 34 recommendations the government

:55:17.:55:20.

will be replying to those in the spring of 2017. In my constituency,

:55:21.:55:29.

97% of the outdated junior rank accommodation has the worst grading

:55:30.:55:34.

has been condemned. Will my honourable friend meet me to discuss

:55:35.:55:38.

meeting the approved requirement as has already been determined? I will

:55:39.:55:43.

be delighted to meet, I can however tell my honourable friend I am

:55:44.:55:47.

pleased to report that a funded programme to rebuild and repair the

:55:48.:55:52.

five worst accommodation blocks will start next year and be completed by

:55:53.:55:59.

2023. We have already heard how a Russian military activity in support

:56:00.:56:03.

of the Assad regime is preventing aid getting into Aleppo, but it is

:56:04.:56:08.

also preventing civilians who wish to leave and medics getting out

:56:09.:56:13.

safely. What steps are we taking with our allies and what discussions

:56:14.:56:18.

are we having to ensure safe passage in this intolerable situation? It is

:56:19.:56:23.

an intolerable situation for hospitals are being bombed,

:56:24.:56:26.

humanitarian aid convoys are being attacked and it is very clear that

:56:27.:56:32.

Russia and the Syrian regime are not prepared to allow the aid that

:56:33.:56:39.

should get in to get in. Further discussions about this have been

:56:40.:56:42.

taking this in Paris and the Foreign Ministers met on Saturday and there

:56:43.:56:45.

will be further discussions in the days ahead, but until Russia lifts

:56:46.:56:51.

its bar on getting aid into those parts of eastern Aleppo, my fear is

:56:52.:56:57.

that a large number of people are going to die. Will the Secretary of

:56:58.:57:14.

State join me... Will the Secretary of State join me in condemning those

:57:15.:57:20.

people who have condemned, in our time, our deployment of troops in

:57:21.:57:24.

Estonia as being provocative, and agree with me that the Baltic states

:57:25.:57:29.

themselves and welcomed it in the face of aggression from Russia? A

:57:30.:57:35.

very good crook indeed in the circumstances. You will have noticed

:57:36.:57:41.

the leader of the Labour Party's for a demilitarised zone. It would be

:57:42.:57:47.

interesting to see whether the rest of the Labour Party agrees with that

:57:48.:57:49.

because certainly President Putin would. The unit cost of the aircraft

:57:50.:58:00.

Norway is buying including the data uplink is $300 million. The unit

:58:01.:58:09.

cost of the 98 is the UK is mine is nearer to $400 million. Thus the

:58:10.:58:16.

Secretary of State, value for money? -- does the. I'm not sure at the

:58:17.:58:21.

exact point he is making because if it were up to him and his party, we

:58:22.:58:25.

would not be buying these or placing them in Scotland. Will my right

:58:26.:58:35.

honourable friend support me in obtaining sponsorship for the lions

:58:36.:58:38.

share of funding to bring the innovation hub for in Yeovil that

:58:39.:58:44.

can help with rapid innovation and unmanned aerial, which can help the

:58:45.:58:47.

MoD deliver aid and support our military? Well, I would like to

:58:48.:58:53.

thank him for his tireless campaigning on behalf of the

:58:54.:58:58.

excellent work done in his constituency on interesting and

:58:59.:59:01.

innovative projects, for example the unmanned helicopter system, and as

:59:02.:59:06.

he knows, we have committed over the next ten years to be spending

:59:07.:59:11.

something like ?3 billion with Leonardo as part of our long-term

:59:12.:59:17.

partnering arrangement. The Israeli and US Navy have recently been

:59:18.:59:21.

attacked by anti-ship missiles by Hezbollah. Is it not time that we

:59:22.:59:26.

looked again at the river class OPV at the type 31 frigate and made sure

:59:27.:59:35.

they have the right capability? In terms of the important question that

:59:36.:59:40.

she asks, of course, it is very important that the Royal Navy

:59:41.:59:43.

continually assesses the capabilities with which ships are

:59:44.:59:47.

fitted, and of course, there will be details that I cannot go into detail

:59:48.:59:53.

on at the dispatch box, because they are sensitive, due to operational

:59:54.:59:59.

requirements. The UK's frigates and destroyers are currently protected

:00:00.:00:01.

with heart pump -- harpoon missiles. Those are coming out of service in

:00:02.:00:07.

2018, weaving frigates and destroyers -- weaving frigates and

:00:08.:00:11.

destroyers defended with missiles with only a range of 11 miles. Will

:00:12.:00:15.

the Minister consider looking again at extending the service life of the

:00:16.:00:18.

harpoon missiles to properly defend our ships? Of course, the Royal Navy

:00:19.:00:25.

is continuously assessing the capabilities that it requires an

:00:26.:00:28.

work is ongoing across the MoD to consider the options for the harpoon

:00:29.:00:35.

replacement. Thanks to the act brought in by the Labour Government

:00:36.:00:39.

in 2010, we do not use or sell cluster munitions any more but the

:00:40.:00:43.

Government has also been required under the act to persuade its allies

:00:44.:00:47.

not to use cluster munitions either. So, what is the Government doing to

:00:48.:00:52.

try and stop the Saudis from using cluster munitions -- cluster

:00:53.:00:57.

munitions? In line with our obligations under the Convention of

:00:58.:01:01.

cluster munitions, we continue to actively discouraged all states who

:01:02.:01:06.

are not party to the Convention from using cluster munitions, and we

:01:07.:01:10.

encourage them to accede to it without delay. We have raised the

:01:11.:01:13.

ratification of the convention at ministerial level with Saudi Arabia.

:01:14.:01:22.

I was disappointed alone of staff reductions at BAE Systems, including

:01:23.:01:25.

at the sight of my constituency in Rochester and Skype. Could he

:01:26.:01:30.

underwent what support he could offer to a local suppliers to ensure

:01:31.:01:34.

that skills behind the innovation are gets cheered in my constituency?

:01:35.:01:41.

Bashar are secure. I share her disappointment in the news that they

:01:42.:01:44.

are reducing employment at the site in Rochester because after all, I

:01:45.:01:48.

feel we are spending quite a lot of money with them at the moment. But

:01:49.:01:52.

I'm sure that the people that she mentions have exemplary skills and I

:01:53.:01:56.

can certainly say on behalf of the Government we will do everything we

:01:57.:01:59.

can to make sure those valuable skills are redeployed in other areas

:02:00.:02:02.

of this particular avionic specialty. Further to the honourable

:02:03.:02:10.

Lady's answer to me earlier, when she confirmed about the budget, can

:02:11.:02:14.

she tell us when will the last of the six type 45 destroyers at the

:02:15.:02:21.

new propulsion system fitted? I cannot give you an exact timetable

:02:22.:02:24.

because that has not been finalised, but I can tell him that the budget

:02:25.:02:31.

is in place and the contract will be completed in the normal way, and

:02:32.:02:34.

that ongoing improvements are being made actually all the time and have

:02:35.:02:37.

been made to that power and propulsion system. The chair of the

:02:38.:02:42.

Select Committee, Doctor Julie Lewis. Do ministers accept --

:02:43.:02:50.

Julian. That the type 31 general-purpose frigates are the

:02:51.:02:53.

only chance we will have for a generation to raise up the total of

:02:54.:02:58.

escorts from the pathetic total of 19 back to the sort of figures we

:02:59.:03:03.

used to have when we really had an oceangoing Navy with enough escorts

:03:04.:03:07.

to protect it, and will she therefore ensure that the design of

:03:08.:03:12.

these frigates is chosen to be of the most economical nature and that

:03:13.:03:16.

all the bells and whistles can be added on later, but the maximum

:03:17.:03:19.

number of holes must be commissioned? We have some 29 ships

:03:20.:03:29.

serving on the seven seas around the world at the moment and I am sure

:03:30.:03:35.

that he makes a good point about the export ability of the type 31

:03:36.:03:39.

frigate and our ambition to raise the number of frigates and

:03:40.:03:43.

destroyers beyond and above the current 19.

:03:44.:03:48.

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