:00:00. > :00:00.benefits, is justified. Join me for a round-up of the day at 11pm. But
:00:00. > :00:18.first we have questions to Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary.
:00:19. > :00:34.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence. With
:00:35. > :00:40.permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to answer this question with number
:00:41. > :00:43.five, eight and nine. President electron has confirmed the
:00:44. > :00:48.importance of Nato during telephone calls that the Prime Minister and
:00:49. > :00:51.with the Nato Secretary General. I've written to James matters to
:00:52. > :00:56.congratulate him on his nomination as secretary of defence and I look
:00:57. > :01:10.forward to meeting him after his confirmation. General James has
:01:11. > :01:15.warned against appeasing the Russian regime as President Putin intends to
:01:16. > :01:23.break Nato apart. Would he do well to listen to his general and to
:01:24. > :01:28.committing the US to Nato? The general is not only experienced in
:01:29. > :01:30.combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he is also served as a Nato
:01:31. > :01:38.commander and is aware of the importance of the alliance. Also the
:01:39. > :01:43.importance of the alliance to the United States itself. It is the
:01:44. > :01:50.unity of the alliance that sense the most powerful message to President
:01:51. > :02:00.Putin. At recent war Sol summit Nato leaders made a commitment to step up
:02:01. > :02:05.action against Isis. What a surety has he had that the US will continue
:02:06. > :02:14.in their fight against INS? I will be hosting the cancer INS meeting in
:02:15. > :02:18.London on Thursday but I have seen nothing from the incoming
:02:19. > :02:25.administration's plans to indicate they would take any different
:02:26. > :02:29.approach. The United States is taking the lead in the fight against
:02:30. > :02:33.Daesh and progress is being made anorak and starting to be made in
:02:34. > :02:42.Syria, and Nato has a contribution to to that. Given the US and Nato's
:02:43. > :02:46.precision air drop capability, what conversations as he had with the
:02:47. > :02:50.incoming US administration and with other allies on the feasibility of
:02:51. > :03:03.using this capability to alleviate the suffering in Aleppo? We have
:03:04. > :03:10.continually considered options to get aid into Aleppo. It is almost
:03:11. > :03:15.impossible to get food or medicine in by the air when a defence is
:03:16. > :03:19.controlled by Russia and the Syrian regime and permissions are not
:03:20. > :03:27.forthcoming. We have looked at other options, such as using an airfield
:03:28. > :03:31.outside the control of the moderate opposition, and we will continue to
:03:32. > :03:44.look at all kinds of options, but that is already very late or the
:03:45. > :03:51.people of eastern Aleppo. When I was a young officer serving in the
:03:52. > :04:00.British Army I made the assumption that article five was the trigger,
:04:01. > :04:05.if anyone attacked a Nato nations automatically every state, every
:04:06. > :04:08.member, would go to war. I am wondering whether that is right now
:04:09. > :04:16.or whether we just have a commitment to consult which will take much
:04:17. > :04:24.longer than an automatic movement for war? Article five was last
:04:25. > :04:27.invoked after 911 when the rest of the alliance pledged to do
:04:28. > :04:35.everything possible to help the United States, then under the most
:04:36. > :04:40.appalling attack on the Twin towers. The ants to the question, of course,
:04:41. > :04:46.is once article five is triggered each member state has to examine its
:04:47. > :04:50.obligations to the alliance as a whole. Before that stage, as tension
:04:51. > :04:58.escalates, I would expect the deployments that we have prepared,
:04:59. > :05:02.including task force, to be enacted. With my right honourable friend
:05:03. > :05:06.agree that the new administration will be much more interested in
:05:07. > :05:10.deeds than words when it comes to Nato and article five and that
:05:11. > :05:15.Britain is setting an example for the rest of Europe, not just with
:05:16. > :05:21.the 2% but also by the deployment of the troops that they plan for Poland
:05:22. > :05:25.and the Baltic states? I agree with my honourable friend and we agree
:05:26. > :05:31.with President elect Trump call for other European countries to do more.
:05:32. > :05:39.Eight of the 28 members have now set in place firm plans to reach the 2%.
:05:40. > :05:46.We reached the 2% the 19 members of Nato do not even do 1.5%. Some do
:05:47. > :05:50.less than 1%. European country members still have a long way to go
:05:51. > :05:57.to fulfil the pledges on which we all agreed at the summit. It was a
:05:58. > :06:02.pleasure to read recently about the work that HMS Torbay has been doing
:06:03. > :06:07.to secure maritime security for our allies. Would he agree that the US
:06:08. > :06:12.administration recognises there is no such thing as a peripheral
:06:13. > :06:15.needlestick and an attack on one is an attack on all of them? That is
:06:16. > :06:17.the principle of collective defence the principle of collective
:06:18. > :06:39.and the best possible message to any and the best possible message
:06:40. > :06:55.further aggression from Russia. We have seen a
:06:56. > :07:05.Interfering in other country's democratic lecture processes. We
:07:06. > :07:07.have seen a disturbing pattern of allegations now of direct Russian
:07:08. > :07:13.interference in countries as far apart as Bulgaria. Continuing
:07:14. > :07:19.pressure on the Baltic states. We agreed at Walsall book both the
:07:20. > :07:23.European Union and Nato would come together to cooperate on hybrid
:07:24. > :07:26.warfare in particular and look at the various techniques that were
:07:27. > :07:32.necessary to help us all this is that kind of pressure. For many
:07:33. > :07:38.years and this Chamber people have been asking why European countries
:07:39. > :07:42.who are members of Nato who are not spending 2% and were always told it
:07:43. > :07:45.was going to happen, it will happen, it doesn't seem to happen. What
:07:46. > :09:05.pressure can be put on What does it mean for Article five?
:09:06. > :09:18.Government actually saying about that. The Western security
:09:19. > :09:22.Government actually saying about what policies he should pursue and
:09:23. > :09:33.what are the answers he is getting. We need a bit more than conforming
:09:34. > :09:38.the importance of Nato. There have been to phone calls with the Prime
:09:39. > :09:45.Minister. The president has not taken office yet. And these offices
:09:46. > :09:48.are still to be confirmed, but there is a clear understanding between us
:09:49. > :09:53.and the United States administration of the importance of Nato and the
:09:54. > :10:05.importance not only to us here but to the United States in cell. We
:10:06. > :10:09.recently returned from a briefing in Brussels where we were told about
:10:10. > :10:18.plans to ensure the security of the Baltic states and off our Armed
:10:19. > :10:24.Forces. Can I prison further of what assessment he had his department
:10:25. > :10:27.have made of the impact that President elect a's policies may
:10:28. > :10:33.have on the ability of Nato to implement article five of it is ever
:10:34. > :10:36.necessary. The United States will be leading one of the four forward
:10:37. > :10:42.battalions next year. We will be leading the Battalion in Poland and
:10:43. > :10:47.we will be adding our own troops to that Battalion and we will be
:10:48. > :10:52.leading in Estonia and Germany will be leading in the other countries.
:10:53. > :10:58.We have absolutely no evidence at the moment that the United States is
:10:59. > :11:03.going to alter its position on that, on the contrary. In my discussions
:11:04. > :11:08.and I've been over the Atlantic twice in the recent weeks, in my
:11:09. > :11:11.discussions with the US military and senators and congressmen who take an
:11:12. > :11:15.interest in defence, they have every reason to believe that the United
:11:16. > :11:21.States will confirm its commitment to the alliance.
:11:22. > :11:29.We have made significant progress in recent months. We announce our
:11:30. > :11:31.intentions to derogate from the articles from the European
:11:32. > :11:35.Convention on Human Rights where appropriate. I have launched a
:11:36. > :11:39.compensation for injured and killed soldiers in combat so that members
:11:40. > :11:43.of the armed forces and their families do not have to spend years
:11:44. > :11:51.waiting to pursue claims against the MoD. We hope to announce further
:11:52. > :11:56.measures shortly. My constituent 87-year-old former soldier will
:11:57. > :12:03.welcome that news as he's expressed his outrage about some of these
:12:04. > :12:07.claims. If it weren't the MoD submitting evidence of malpractice
:12:08. > :12:11.and the MoD legal aid contract, this man would still be hounding our
:12:12. > :12:14.soldiers. Mr Speaker, I was at the Ministry of
:12:15. > :12:22.Justice when we revoked the legal aid. It wasn't for this Secretary of
:12:23. > :12:28.State to the complaints, the authority. Mr Shiner will probably
:12:29. > :12:31.still be pursuing soldiers and servicemen. Probably Mr Shiner
:12:32. > :12:34.should do what the Secretary of State called for him to do in
:12:35. > :12:39.December 2014 and apologise to our former serviceman.
:12:40. > :12:43.Thank you Mr Speaker. As someone who has served with distinction in
:12:44. > :12:49.Northern Ireland, the minister of state must be disgusted by the
:12:50. > :12:53.industrial scale abuse of the legal process against former soldiers,
:12:54. > :12:58.that has imPuned the reputation of every single soldier that has served
:12:59. > :13:04.in Ulster over the last 40 years. Will he undertake and will his
:13:05. > :13:08.department undertake to be the bulwark against that abuse, against
:13:09. > :13:13.that witch-hunt. Will he stand up and make Shh... Sure that it is
:13:14. > :13:18.stopped forth with? I had the honour of serving in the province and was
:13:19. > :13:22.part of the peace process that we have now. The vast majority of our
:13:23. > :13:26.servicemen and women served with distinction in Northern Ireland. The
:13:27. > :13:29.MoD will continue and I will support the police force in Northern Ireland
:13:30. > :13:32.with their ongoing inquiries. What's it they said on the radio at the
:13:33. > :13:36.weekend, it's not new investigations. Can I pay tribute to
:13:37. > :13:40.my honourable gentleman and the work he's done in the past and wish him
:13:41. > :13:45.happy birthday on his 50th today. THE SPEAKER: I had thought that the
:13:46. > :13:56.honourable member were stirring on his seat, if he isn't I won't. Mr
:13:57. > :14:02.Speaker, in the last few years, some 3,500 soldiers have had their lives
:14:03. > :14:08.wrecked by the investigations of the Iraq historic team, allegations
:14:09. > :14:12.team. This at cost of some ?90 million to Her Majesty's treasury.
:14:13. > :14:16.And one single prosecution has resulted from it. Surely now is the
:14:17. > :14:21.time when the Government must bring to an end the dreadful organisation?
:14:22. > :14:26.Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State and I are doing everything we can to
:14:27. > :14:30.get Hyatt to come to those conclusions. The vast majority of
:14:31. > :14:34.those investigations will be don colluded and we -- will be concluded
:14:35. > :14:38.and we hope and expect there will be no action to be taken. We must make
:14:39. > :14:41.sure that the investigations are taken place correctly so it doesn't
:14:42. > :14:50.end up in a European Court somewhere. Mr Speaker, it isn't just
:14:51. > :14:54.a question of the Ihat inquiry and the disgraceful behaviour of this
:14:55. > :14:58.disreputable solicitor Phil Shiner. Now we're faced with the prospect of
:14:59. > :15:02.hundreds of British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland again
:15:03. > :15:06.being brought before the court, as the honourable member has just said.
:15:07. > :15:10.This is really wholly unacceptable, that nearly half a century on,
:15:11. > :15:15.member who have served their country to the best of their ability should
:15:16. > :15:18.still face possible prosecution and will my right honourable friend
:15:19. > :15:24.accept this is not good enough to say it's a matter for the Police
:15:25. > :15:28.Service of Northern Ireland. This is a matter of public interest and
:15:29. > :15:31.ministers must be accountable. We must make sure that that the police,
:15:32. > :15:34.I repeat that the police decide whether they need to investigate
:15:35. > :15:38.something, we will do so. We will make sure as we bring forward
:15:39. > :15:41.proposals that we help the police, but protect those who have served
:15:42. > :15:46.their country alongside me and other colleagues to make sure we protect
:15:47. > :15:53.them as much as possible. Question number three. Thank you Mr Speaker.
:15:54. > :15:58.With the rising defence budget and an Equipment Plan worth ?178 billion
:15:59. > :16:02.over the next ten years, we are renewing our capabilities. We spend
:16:03. > :16:06.up to 20% of our science and technology budget on research and we
:16:07. > :16:14.have launched an ?800 million innovation fund. The minister will
:16:15. > :16:17.be aware that the ministry has a reputation amongst some suppliers of
:16:18. > :16:20.being challenging to work with. What is the minister dog time prove
:16:21. > :16:25.working relationships, particularly with SMEs, including many of the
:16:26. > :16:29.suppliers to the defence industry in Worcestershire? Well, my honourable
:16:30. > :16:34.friend and neighbour is absolutely right that it can be challenging to
:16:35. > :16:39.work with the Ministry of Defence procurement processes. We are
:16:40. > :16:44.particularly keen to encourage small and medium sized businesses to apply
:16:45. > :16:50.for business with us. We want to procure an increase from 19% of our
:16:51. > :16:53.spending up to 25% of our spending from small businesses. Acting on
:16:54. > :16:57.direct feed back from small businesses, we've introduced a
:16:58. > :17:02.network of supply chain advocates to help smaller businesses through the
:17:03. > :17:05.maze of defence procurement. Their contact details are available on
:17:06. > :17:10.request from my honourable friend and other members. The minister
:17:11. > :17:16.referred there to renewing our capabilities. I asked her previously
:17:17. > :17:21.about the programme to renew the type 45 propulsion systems. Can she
:17:22. > :17:24.tell us, recognising there are sensitivities commercially, can she
:17:25. > :17:30.tell us, is there a budget for that programme of improvements to the
:17:31. > :17:34.type 45 systems and when does she expect all six vessels to be
:17:35. > :17:37.improved? I'm very pleased to be able to confirm to the honourable
:17:38. > :17:43.gentleman that there is a budget and also that there is progression and
:17:44. > :17:50.that these incredibly capable ships are performing a wide range of tasks
:17:51. > :17:57.and are seen today, for example, HMS Daring is in the Gulf, acting as
:17:58. > :18:06.part of our deployment out. There Thank you Mr Speaker. Small firms in
:18:07. > :18:13.my constituency, like GSI that specialise in producing b with
:18:14. > :18:17.arilli -- Barillium products. Can the minister confirm how the firms
:18:18. > :18:22.can access the ?800 million innovation fund and when the first
:18:23. > :18:25.competition stage might start? Well, I'm now delighted to tell my
:18:26. > :18:29.honourable friend that I was able to launch the first competition last
:18:30. > :18:33.Thursday at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. In that
:18:34. > :18:37.first competition for up to ?3 million we're looking for new ways
:18:38. > :18:41.of exploring data to inform decisions. It doesn't sound like
:18:42. > :18:44.exactly the area of specialisation that my honourable friend, the
:18:45. > :18:49.business that she mentions is engaged with, there will be further
:18:50. > :18:52.competitions and also of course an open application for a wide range of
:18:53. > :18:58.different ideas to be fed in directly.
:18:59. > :19:03.No-one would deny it's vitally important we do everything we can to
:19:04. > :19:07.encourage innovation in the defence sector. Would she agree with me in
:19:08. > :19:10.order to foster an environment in which innovation can flourish,
:19:11. > :19:13.business and industry has to trust what it's told by the Government.
:19:14. > :19:18.Given, that would she take this opportunity to explain to the ship
:19:19. > :19:21.building industry exactly why the copper bottom assurance that's she
:19:22. > :19:25.gave on at least four occasions that the national ship building strategy
:19:26. > :19:34.would be published before the Autumn Statement didn't deliver? Mr
:19:35. > :19:37.Speaker, did you pick up in that question any congratulations and
:19:38. > :19:43.delight from the fact that I was at the shipyards on the Clyde last
:19:44. > :19:48.Thursday cutting steel for two new off-shore patrol vessels. Mr
:19:49. > :19:52.Speaker, I remain astonished at the very grudging way in which the
:19:53. > :19:57.Scottish National Party fails to recognise the billions of pounds of
:19:58. > :20:04.work that are being sent to shipyards in the Clyde.
:20:05. > :20:08.For the record, I am absolutely delighted that the OPV are being
:20:09. > :20:13.built on the Clyde. Now will she take this opportunity to apologise
:20:14. > :20:17.to the workers and the management across the UK ship building industry
:20:18. > :20:20.for the misleading and the contradict wear statements that have
:20:21. > :20:24.come from the Ministry of Defence over the last few months and would
:20:25. > :20:30.she take this opportunity to explain why the ship building strategy did
:20:31. > :20:35.not appear when you, it was promise today would appear.
:20:36. > :20:42.-- promise today would appear? It's lucky he gets a supplementary, so he
:20:43. > :20:46.can extend grudging words of welcome, for the fact we've just
:20:47. > :20:51.announced two decades worth of work in Scotland. He's complaining about
:20:52. > :20:54.the lack of publication of a report which was published, Mr Speaker. The
:20:55. > :20:59.Government is going to provide its response next year. Sir John
:21:00. > :21:03.Parker's report on ship building was published on November 29. I'm sorry
:21:04. > :21:05.he hasn't had a chance to read it. I shall send him a personally signed
:21:06. > :21:11.copy. THE SPEAKER: The honourable
:21:12. > :21:21.gentleman is a very excitableberger in this House. I've not sure he's
:21:22. > :21:28.attained the aperge of statesmanship he should acquire. Let's hear from a
:21:29. > :21:31.calm person, Maria Miller. The minister's focus on innovation
:21:32. > :21:39.is absolutely right. Will she look at the excellent work of national
:21:40. > :21:43.aerospace exploitation programme are already running more than 100
:21:44. > :21:49.innovation projects and establish how she can help continue this work?
:21:50. > :21:52.You're absolutely right to call the honourable member for Basingstoke,
:21:53. > :21:55.who has asked such a calm and helpful question about the excellent
:21:56. > :22:00.work provided by this organisation. She will be familiar with the work
:22:01. > :22:03.done by the defence growth partnership at Farnborough and the
:22:04. > :22:07.fantastic way in which they also work to promote the excellence of
:22:08. > :22:14.the UK aerospace industry to people all around the world. Number four Mr
:22:15. > :22:19.Speaker. The Royal Air Force has made a vital contribution to the
:22:20. > :22:26.counter-Daesh coalition, carrying out 1092 strikes in Iraq and 75
:22:27. > :22:29.strikes in Syria and providing essential intelligence, surveillance
:22:30. > :22:35.and reconnaissance. In Iraq, the RAF has accepted Iraqi security forces
:22:36. > :22:39.regain significant territory including supporting operations to
:22:40. > :22:45.liberate mos uling. In Syria, the RAF has attacked Daesh's capital in
:22:46. > :22:49.Raqqa, while supporting opposition groupeds pushing back dire on the
:22:50. > :22:54.ground. The RAF is making real progress in Iraq and Syria. At this
:22:55. > :22:59.time of year, our thoughts must be with our brave servicemen and women.
:23:00. > :23:03.Once Mosul is liberated, what role does the Secretary of State
:23:04. > :23:08.anticipate for the RAF in Iraq? We shall be reviewing with the military
:23:09. > :23:14.commanders progress in Iraq and Syria at the coalition, counterdire
:23:15. > :23:18.coalition meeting in -- counter-Daesh coalition meeting in
:23:19. > :23:22.London. And mapping out a road to longer term peace in Iraq, including
:23:23. > :23:26.potential future deployments in different parts of Iraq that may
:23:27. > :23:33.help to continue the training that we've been offering Iraqi forces and
:23:34. > :23:41.further work on counter-terrorism. We will be discussing the need to
:23:42. > :23:45.control the spread of the return of foreign fighters from Iraq and
:23:46. > :23:52.indeed from Syria to the different countries that they came from.
:23:53. > :23:57.At a time when our RAF is at full stretch on operations, the Secretary
:23:58. > :24:02.of State will be as concerned as I was that RAF haul ton is to close.
:24:03. > :24:05.Not because the consolidation is not the right direction of travel, but
:24:06. > :24:10.because it seems to have been sprung on the civilian military personnel
:24:11. > :24:16.in order to meet the local council land bank deadline. Can he reassure
:24:17. > :24:24.personnel on time scale and support. THE SPEAKER: Notally to operations
:24:25. > :24:30.in Iraq and Syria, but which the honourable lady didn't quite intend
:24:31. > :24:33.to do. The closures have been taken on the basis of military capability
:24:34. > :24:37.and on the advice of the service chiefs. I'm sure the whole House
:24:38. > :24:41.will join with my honourable friend and indeed the honourable lady in
:24:42. > :24:45.paying tribute to the work of the RAF, the sustained tempo of
:24:46. > :24:49.operations there, probably at their highest for over 25 years and the
:24:50. > :24:56.enormous job they're doing to help keep our country safe.
:24:57. > :25:02.Can I not press the Defence Secretary on the level of defeatism
:25:03. > :25:06.in his statement that it is nearly impossible to envisage successful
:25:07. > :25:13.air drops if Russia does not allow it? Russia for all its beladies and
:25:14. > :25:18.gentleman rans does not -- belligerence does not want to trig
:25:19. > :25:23.air confly with Nato allies. The loaninger that -- longer that this
:25:24. > :25:27.cowardice goes on in the face of their posturing, the more they will
:25:28. > :25:31.push and the harder it will be for any resolve to come to the dreadful
:25:32. > :25:34.tragedy happening in that country. We continue to look for any
:25:35. > :25:38.possibility of getting either food or medicine into Aleppo or indeed
:25:39. > :25:42.into some of the other besieged areas. But it isn't simply a
:25:43. > :25:49.question of Russian permission. We also have to make sure that any
:25:50. > :25:55.drops are feasible considering the vulnerability of aircraft to ground
:25:56. > :25:59.to air defence systems as well. The Secretary of State said it was very
:26:00. > :26:05.late for the people of Eastern Aleppo, but it isn't too late. I
:26:06. > :26:10.would second the calls, the RAF planes could be providing
:26:11. > :26:13.humanitarian air drops. There are frontbenchers and backbenchers
:26:14. > :26:17.signing a letter to call for this. Will he look at it again? We have
:26:18. > :26:21.continued to look, almost daily at the various ways in which we might
:26:22. > :26:26.be able to get food aid in. It is not possible in a contested airspace
:26:27. > :26:31.with ground to air missile systems and Russian aircraft flying overhead
:26:32. > :26:37.denying permission, it is not possible to fly coalition aircraft
:26:38. > :26:41.over Aleppo. Without that security, we are unable to drop food where it
:26:42. > :26:47.is most needed. We continue to look at all the options.
:26:48. > :26:54.I would like to thank the Secretary of State for his answer on Aleppo to
:26:55. > :26:58.my honourable friend the member for Barnsley Central and reference the
:26:59. > :27:06.RAF capabilities that my honourable friend mentioned, but I share the
:27:07. > :27:09.concerns raised that they really do need to look at this again. Can I
:27:10. > :27:18.ask the Secretary of State Vicky will continue and will not at any
:27:19. > :27:23.stage give up looking at how we can alleviate the terrible suffering
:27:24. > :27:29.that is going on in East Aleppo. I can give her that assurance. We
:27:30. > :27:34.continue to talk to the NGOs who are willing to help us provide food and
:27:35. > :27:41.medicine and some food and medicine is going into other cities in Syria,
:27:42. > :27:46.but not into Aleppo in cell. That is because of the impossibility of
:27:47. > :27:57.flying aircraft in that airspace and the very real risk of aircraft being
:27:58. > :28:05.shot down. The Armed Forces are Britain's biggest provider of
:28:06. > :28:13.apprenticeships. Ranging from engineering and IT to construction
:28:14. > :28:16.and driving, defence will start 50,000 apprenticeships this
:28:17. > :28:18.Parliament and will work with the Department for Education to expand
:28:19. > :28:27.the current range of apprenticeships that we offer. That is impressive. I
:28:28. > :28:33.did not expect to hear David be the largest provider in the country.
:28:34. > :28:40.What assurances can he give my constituents that they will offer
:28:41. > :28:47.quality as well as quantity? She is right to focus on quality and at the
:28:48. > :28:53.last Ofsted inspections we were graded as good with some being
:28:54. > :29:00.outstanding and the Royal Air Force programme was rated as outstanding.
:29:01. > :29:04.The Minister mentioned the Department for Education and if I
:29:05. > :29:08.look at the Government website it refers to England. Can he assure me
:29:09. > :29:17.that apprenticeships and available across the United Kingdom in
:29:18. > :29:21.devolved administrations? We are always happy to work with the
:29:22. > :29:25.devolved assemblies and we can assure the gentleman that
:29:26. > :29:34.apprenticeships are available to all of our Armed Forces personnel full.
:29:35. > :29:42.Could I thank him for opening the type 26 facility, where he spoke to
:29:43. > :29:50.many of the young apprentices that are working on that. But he and his
:29:51. > :29:57.ministers continue to make sure that apprentices are a key part of the
:29:58. > :30:02.supply chain? He makes a good point. Absolutely. As we begin to look
:30:03. > :30:05.forward it is not just about having apprenticeships in the Armed Forces
:30:06. > :30:10.themselves, but it is part of the transition when our service
:30:11. > :30:20.personnel leave that they are able to work in the supply chain. This is
:30:21. > :30:26.a partnership with industry. Last week we were talking to
:30:27. > :30:34.apprenticeships about the future. What reassurances can the Government
:30:35. > :30:38.give to these skilled men and women that they Thai party ones will be
:30:39. > :30:45.built on the Clyde? It is worth remembering that the apprentices
:30:46. > :30:50.that will work on the last type 26 has not yet been born. We continue
:30:51. > :30:52.to work closely with industry. As my honourable friend said, the
:30:53. > :31:02.investment that is being made in Scotland over many years should be
:31:03. > :31:08.celebrated. The Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2015
:31:09. > :31:14.committed us to a force that can meet a range of threats, having a
:31:15. > :31:24.mix of armoured vehicles and tanks to do the liver -- to deliver. We
:31:25. > :31:32.are spending ?7 million through to 2035. While we should welcome the
:31:33. > :31:40.very large order for fighting vehicles, does he accept that these
:31:41. > :31:47.will be no match for the armament of enemy battle tanks? Will he confirm
:31:48. > :31:52.how many of our existing 227 tanks will go forward to the challenge
:31:53. > :31:57.life extension programme, bearing in mind the needs to have capacity for
:31:58. > :32:05.regeneration in the event of the crisis. My honourable friend knows
:32:06. > :32:10.very well because he is taking a keen interest for so many years that
:32:11. > :32:15.it is for the military to decide what the capabilities are. Having
:32:16. > :32:23.?700 million available for challenger to shows a clear
:32:24. > :32:28.commitment to it. While I support the diversity of the available
:32:29. > :32:33.vehicles, the Army are planning to reduce the number of tanks by a
:32:34. > :32:38.third at a time when Russia has announced a new generation of
:32:39. > :32:44.vehicles, ours will be reduced to 170. Does the Minister not agree
:32:45. > :32:46.that this is not the right time to be bringing this announcement
:32:47. > :32:52.forward and it sends the wrong message? Per8-mac we should not
:32:53. > :33:00.believe everything that you read in the press. What I would say is that
:33:01. > :33:06.we need to trust the Armed Forces to tell us what they want and the
:33:07. > :33:13.Russian tank, which I think is what the gentleman is alluding to, is and
:33:14. > :33:24.unmanned vehicle. I thought that there would be a great cheer because
:33:25. > :33:30.the vehicle is being built in Wales. The Minister has mentioned the Ajax
:33:31. > :33:35.vehicle. David Cameron announced that the new Ajax fighting vehicle
:33:36. > :33:44.would be a boost for British manufacturer. I welcome that many of
:33:45. > :33:48.the vehicles will be assembled here, but they are being built using
:33:49. > :33:55.Swedish steel and will have their hols built in Spain. Some are being
:33:56. > :34:00.completely built instead. Does he think that Mr David Cameron was
:34:01. > :34:12.inaccurate in his statement? I don't think this. The issue here is about
:34:13. > :34:19.jobs in Wales, and making sure the Army get the vehicles that they
:34:20. > :34:31.want. Unless the Labour Party commits to 2% GDP they will never
:34:32. > :34:38.get to that level. Next year we will be sending a hundred trips to
:34:39. > :34:45.Estonia, 150 personnel to Poland, leading to a readiness task force
:34:46. > :34:51.based in Romania with the four typhoons were committing to Nato.
:34:52. > :34:54.Can I welcome the Government's commitment to the Polish Prime
:34:55. > :34:58.Minister of additional UK troops and armoured vehicles in the face of the
:34:59. > :35:02.concerns surrounding the Russian threat. Does he agree that we should
:35:03. > :35:08.stand shoulder to shoulder with our Polish friends and it shows how
:35:09. > :35:17.Britain can be an even stronger European Ali respective Brexit. --
:35:18. > :35:21.European ally. They were absolutely thrilled that we committed to being
:35:22. > :35:26.with them, which is what came out in the statement afterwards, and the
:35:27. > :35:36.chips are looking forward to this one. On the day that we celebrate
:35:37. > :35:43.the 25th anniversary of the ending of the USSR, can we do more to
:35:44. > :35:49.educate our people about the importance of defending the security
:35:50. > :35:55.of those states that regain their independence, Estonia, Latvia, and
:35:56. > :35:58.were able to make a free democratic decision to associate with battle
:35:59. > :36:02.and then the nonsense we hear from some quarters on both sides of the
:36:03. > :36:10.Atlantic that Nato is not a voluntary alliance? He is as
:36:11. > :36:16.interested in hearing other contributions as two years on
:36:17. > :36:19.hearing his own views. It is customary for the colleague to stay
:36:20. > :36:24.until the end of the exchanges under own question. The success of Nato is
:36:25. > :36:30.that it is free for countries to join and he is right to say that the
:36:31. > :36:34.countries he alluded to are particularly worried about their
:36:35. > :36:40.protection. It is not like the British Army where we sat there very
:36:41. > :36:45.static over a long period of time, what we are sending is a significant
:36:46. > :36:52.force along with our other allies in Nato to make sure the Russian knows
:36:53. > :36:56.we're serious. Part of any alliance is to be a critical friend with
:36:57. > :36:59.other members of that alliance. But the Minister half of the Secretary
:37:00. > :37:04.of State should read the next and disputed the future leader of the
:37:05. > :37:08.free world that they might request that they start reading their CIA
:37:09. > :37:17.briefings dearly and do us all a favour. -- briefings dearly. And
:37:18. > :37:20.sure of the future president of the United States will reap the
:37:21. > :37:26.briefings when he becomes the president. And sure you saw the
:37:27. > :37:29.coverage this morning where the future president of the United
:37:30. > :37:37.States does not necessarily believe everything he has been told in the
:37:38. > :37:43.press. The additional support to Nato is welcome, but for our land
:37:44. > :37:45.forces this requires high-end armoured enforcements. Will money be
:37:46. > :37:49.made available to train with that capability? The Armed Forces in
:37:50. > :37:57.particular have the money they require and when I visited recently
:37:58. > :38:02.the trips that will be going to Poland the equipment that I saw was
:38:03. > :38:12.next to none. But we will keep under review what they have, especially
:38:13. > :38:19.considering the weather in Poland. What a busy time. I am proud to say
:38:20. > :38:24.for the first time in a generation that the Royal Navy is growing at
:38:25. > :38:29.this Government is committed in increasing our maritime power across
:38:30. > :38:36.the world. This can be seen by the numbers we are aiming to get, the
:38:37. > :38:41.aircraft 's, the frigates and destroyers, and further offshore
:38:42. > :38:48.patrol vessels that will appear by 2030. Does he agree that to fulfil
:38:49. > :38:53.the Government's commitment to increase the size of the fleet,
:38:54. > :38:55.particularly frigates and destroyers, we need to replace the
:38:56. > :39:01.type 23 every year. Will he committed this? We will commit to
:39:02. > :39:10.the new frigates that will replace the type 23. I was on one recently
:39:11. > :39:14.when we were shadowing a Russian aircraft, we must not underestimate
:39:15. > :39:19.the capabilities of the type 23s, because other countries are looking
:39:20. > :39:22.to buy them when we sell them. They are doing a fantastic job and we
:39:23. > :39:34.will make sure that the new frigates to just as well. Will the new ships
:39:35. > :39:40.be built in the UK and will he give a further commitment to buying
:39:41. > :39:47.British defence and using British Steel to build the ships? And a
:39:48. > :39:51.report last week it stated that the best value for the Navy is what we
:39:52. > :39:54.need to do and we need to make sure that shipyards bid for the work and
:39:55. > :40:00.in previous times they have not been. We can see what bits come
:40:01. > :40:06.forward and who wins. When does he expect to announce the options for
:40:07. > :40:09.the type 26 and type 23 figures and Willie confirmed that Portsmouth is
:40:10. > :40:17.being considered for some of these welcome new ships. We recognise the
:40:18. > :40:22.beds that are coming forward. As soon as we can announce that we will
:40:23. > :40:25.do so. We're looking forward to the new frigates because then we can
:40:26. > :40:33.sell of the type 23s to other countries. Today I received my first
:40:34. > :40:48.Christmas present, a Royal Navy Callander. January features HMS
:40:49. > :40:50.Ocean. Kiki Telus how is decommissioning after years of
:40:51. > :40:59.service adds to the strength and power of the Royal Navy? Royal
:41:00. > :41:05.procurement is not my area and I was told that she was always due to go
:41:06. > :41:10.out of service in 2018. She has done fantastic work and we must praise
:41:11. > :41:28.the work she and her crew have done, but her time is coming towards the
:41:29. > :41:33.The additional support to Nato is welcome. For our land forces, this
:41:34. > :41:36.requires high end armoured formations. Will the MoD be making
:41:37. > :41:43.new money available to properly regrow and train with that
:41:44. > :41:48.capability? The armed forces and particularly the Army have the money
:41:49. > :41:52.they require. When I visited the light dra goons and rifles, which
:41:53. > :41:57.will deploy to Poland, the equipment they have is second to none. We keep
:41:58. > :42:03.under review the equipment they have, particularly with the
:42:04. > :42:10.inclement weather in Poland that is fit for purpose. Number 11. What a
:42:11. > :42:15.busy time, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I'm proud to say for the first time
:42:16. > :42:19.in a generation the Royal Navy is growing and this Government is
:42:20. > :42:22.committed to increase the maritime power across the world and promote
:42:23. > :42:29.prosperity. That can be seen by the personnel numbers that we're aiming
:42:30. > :42:39.for 30,600. The Elizabeth aircraft carrier took 19 greyingates and
:42:40. > :42:42.destroyers. -- frigates. To fulfil the Government's commitment to
:42:43. > :42:46.increase the size of the fleet, specifically in relation to frigates
:42:47. > :42:51.and destroyers, we have to replace a type 23 at a race of one a year?
:42:52. > :42:57.Will he commit to this? We will commit to the new frigates that will
:42:58. > :43:01.replace the type 23s, having been on a type 23 in the last couple of
:43:02. > :43:04.weeks, shadowing the Russian aircraft carrier in the English
:43:05. > :43:08.Channel we, mustn't underestimate the capabilities of the 23s, not
:43:09. > :43:12.least because many other countries are looking to purchase them when we
:43:13. > :43:15.can sell them off. At the end of the day, the 23s are doing a fantastic
:43:16. > :43:23.job and we'll make sure that the new frigates do just as well. Account
:43:24. > :43:29.minister say if the new RFA ships will be built in the UK and if so,
:43:30. > :43:33.will he give a further commitment to buying British in defence
:43:34. > :43:38.procurement and guarantee the use of British Steel to build these ships?
:43:39. > :43:42.In the report last week, it was most important stated that the best value
:43:43. > :43:45.for the navy is what we need to do. We must make sure that shipyards bid
:43:46. > :43:49.for the work and in previous times they haven't bid. Let's see what the
:43:50. > :43:57.bids are that comes forward and see who wins. When does my honourable
:43:58. > :44:00.friend expect to announce the basing for the maintenance options for the
:44:01. > :44:05.type 23 figures and will he confirm that Portsmouth is considered for
:44:06. > :44:10.some of these welcome new ships? Of course we recognise the bid and the
:44:11. > :44:13.bids coming forward. As soon as we have the ability to announce, I'm
:44:14. > :44:17.sure she will. We are looking forward to the new frigates. We can
:44:18. > :44:23.then sell off the 23s to countries that particularly want them as well
:44:24. > :44:35.Today I received my first Christmas present, a Royal Navy calendar.
:44:36. > :44:41.January - of platforms obviously. January features HMS Oceans. How are
:44:42. > :44:49.we decommissioning after years of impressive service adding to the
:44:50. > :44:53.strength and power of our Royal Navy While procurement, I'm reliably
:44:54. > :44:56.informed she was due to go out of service in 2018 and the new
:44:57. > :45:00.Elizabeth class carriers will come into force. She has done fantastic
:45:01. > :45:04.work and we must praise the work that the ship and her crew has done.
:45:05. > :45:15.But her time is coming towards its end. She will go in 20le. . -- 2018.
:45:16. > :45:17.I have to say that the minister for defence procurement's answer to the
:45:18. > :45:21.honourable member for Argyll and Bute on the publication on the
:45:22. > :45:26.national ship building strategy is not good enough, not good enough for
:45:27. > :45:29.our Royal Navy, not good enough for workers in the ship building
:45:30. > :45:34.industries nor for international allies. On November 29 the
:45:35. > :45:38.Government only published Sir John Parker's independent review to
:45:39. > :45:44.inform the strategy. When just last year the Government promised to
:45:45. > :45:48.publish a new national ship building strategy in 2016. With just six
:45:49. > :45:52.Parliamentary days to go till the end of the year, account minister
:45:53. > :45:57.explain exactly when we're going to see that strategy? We're seeing it
:45:58. > :46:01.in spring 2017. I find it slightly difficult being lectured on defence
:46:02. > :46:06.procurement by a party that won't even commit themselves to 2% of GDP.
:46:07. > :46:11.The key to this is making sure we get the ships built, get apprentices
:46:12. > :46:14.we need and mark sure that the whole communities benefit from it.
:46:15. > :46:17.I don't know where the minister gets his information from. I don't know
:46:18. > :46:21.whether he reads Westminster Hall debates, I don't know if he's been
:46:22. > :46:26.listening to what we've don saying from the dispatch box that we are
:46:27. > :46:32.fully committed to a 2% spend of GDP to meet our Nato commitments. And
:46:33. > :46:38.spend it on defence as is required. Can we now perhaps turn to more
:46:39. > :46:43.specific issue about the naval fleet and in particular, those type 26
:46:44. > :46:49.frigates, which have faced very long delays and with all the attendant
:46:50. > :46:53.risks to our naval capabilities. The Defence Select Committee recently
:46:54. > :46:57.said the national ship building strategy must include strict time
:46:58. > :47:02.lines for the delivery of the 26 class of frigates and a time frame
:47:03. > :47:06.for the general purpose frigate. Can he confirm that in the spring it
:47:07. > :47:11.will include those details? I did a bit of research. It appears that the
:47:12. > :47:14.Labour Government started look at type 26s in '97, 13 years in
:47:15. > :47:17.Government and it will be us that will be cutting steel in spring next
:47:18. > :47:23.year. THE SPEAKER: We will hear the voice
:47:24. > :47:28.of Gainsborough on this matter. Mr Speaker, with increasing demands for
:47:29. > :47:33.frigates worldwide, does my honourable friend agree with Sir
:47:34. > :47:37.John Parker that we should focus on bidding ships that other countries
:47:38. > :47:40.actually want to buy, something the Royal Navy has signally failed to do
:47:41. > :47:44.in the past. I think my honourable friend has hit the nail absolutely
:47:45. > :47:48.on the head. The type 26 is not just for our navy, but for our allies
:47:49. > :47:52.around the world as well. Because it will be exactly the type of ship
:47:53. > :47:56.that will replace the 26 around the world if we get the build right and
:47:57. > :47:59.we actually get it out there, which is something the previous
:48:00. > :48:07.administration forgot to do. Number 12, Sir. In Iraq, operations to
:48:08. > :48:10.liberate Mosul are progressing with Iraqi security forces reclaiming
:48:11. > :48:16.increasing areas of Eastern Mosul. Many of those involved in the
:48:17. > :48:22.operation are amongst more than 31,000 Iraqi troops trained by the
:48:23. > :48:30.UK in engineering and medical skills. In Syria, coalition support
:48:31. > :48:35.has pushed Daesh back to the border. Now there's a move on Raqqa.
:48:36. > :48:39.When my right honourable friend meets many counterparts later this
:48:40. > :48:42.week, can he confirm that he'll focus the discussion on how the
:48:43. > :48:49.threat of Daesh can be defeated, particularly in Iraq? Well, yes. We
:48:50. > :48:53.will be reviewing the military progress that's been made, which is
:48:54. > :48:58.substantial in Iraq. Daesh have less than 10% of Iraq now. We will also
:48:59. > :49:02.be mapping out the long-term plan to bring peace and stability, in
:49:03. > :49:10.particular, to western Iraq and we will also be working as a coalition
:49:11. > :49:18.to monitor the dispersal of Daesh fighters from Iraq, who may be
:49:19. > :49:23.moving to other theatres. Doesn't the - we've seen Daesh move into pal
:49:24. > :49:28.mira this week, doesn't this show a lack of coherent strategy. With had
:49:29. > :49:33.a debate 12 months ago about boots on the ground. Shouldn't Secretary
:49:34. > :49:38.of State be calling for that in the United Nationses? Otherwise we will
:49:39. > :49:44.see the slaughter of innocents, it will go on and on. There isn't any
:49:45. > :49:49.support at the United Nations for the deployment of troops in Syria
:49:50. > :49:54.and there may not be support in this House for the deployment of British
:49:55. > :49:58.troops on the ground. Our role has been to provide the intelligence
:49:59. > :50:02.gathering from the air and air strikes on the ground. The second
:50:03. > :50:08.front has begun to be opened up now with a move by the Syrian democratic
:50:09. > :50:13.forces on towards Raqqa, which is in effect the capital of the caliphate,
:50:14. > :50:20.that began at ebbed of last week -- end. How many fighters have
:50:21. > :50:24.originating from the United Kingdom have been killed in the various
:50:25. > :50:29.regions, how many remain and how many have returned to the UK? I can
:50:30. > :50:33.write to my honourable friend with the exact numbers involved, but we
:50:34. > :50:39.believe several hundred British fighters still remain in either Iraq
:50:40. > :50:42.or Syria. There are many thousands foreign fighters all together from
:50:43. > :50:48.Western Europe and further afield. One of the issues we will be
:50:49. > :50:52.considering this week is now we properly monitor their dispersal,
:50:53. > :50:56.either to other theatres or back to our respective countries and how
:50:57. > :51:01.those who have fought for a prescribed organisation like Daesh
:51:02. > :51:04.can be properly brought to justice. There's no need to write.
:51:05. > :51:10.THE SPEAKER: Very generous spirited of the right honourable gentleman.
:51:11. > :51:13.Number 14, Sir. Thank you Mr Speaker. This Government is
:51:14. > :51:22.committed to increasing the defence budget by 0. 5% a glory real terms
:51:23. > :51:26.as well as increasing our budget 1% above inflation each year until
:51:27. > :51:29.2020. This means more ships, more planes and an increase in cutting
:51:30. > :51:31.edge equipment for our Special Forces.
:51:32. > :51:38.THE SPEAKER: One of the great merits of the clerk in front of me, is I'm
:51:39. > :51:42.on the end of his special advice. For the member of New Forest west
:51:43. > :51:48.and of the House, that the letter to which reference was made is strictly
:51:49. > :51:52.speaking a letter to the House and for its benefit, so notwithstanding
:51:53. > :51:57.the motivation of the right honourable friend in saying, you
:51:58. > :52:01.needn't write. If I may with the greatest of respect say to a
:52:02. > :52:07.distinguished former minister, that's not for a right honourable
:52:08. > :52:08.gentleman is to judge. If the right honourable gentleman is
:52:09. > :52:18.disinterested in it, others might be. We'll leave it. There -- it
:52:19. > :52:23.there. The honourable gentleman championeders from a sedentary
:52:24. > :52:29.position, how will we find it. Ed tole along to the library. Can my
:52:30. > :52:32.honourable friend reassure me we will continue to provide the best
:52:33. > :52:35.possible equipment to the armed forces and where appropriate and
:52:36. > :52:40.where that standard is met that will be equipment developed and
:52:41. > :52:45.manufactured in the United Kingdom? Well, my honourable friend is right
:52:46. > :52:50.that we do need to focus on the best equipment getting the right
:52:51. > :52:55.capability for our armed forces. We will seek the best value for money
:52:56. > :52:59.for the taxpayer. We will seek to get that UK content as strong as
:53:00. > :53:05.possible. For example, with the F35, 15% of each of the 3,000 planes in
:53:06. > :53:09.the global programme are made at Walton in the North West. The UK has
:53:10. > :53:14.been selected as the global repair hub for a large number of elements
:53:15. > :53:18.for the maintenance repair overhaul and upgrade
:53:19. > :53:24.-- these fantastic aircraft. THE SPEAKER: We must move on.
:53:25. > :53:29.Topical number one, Mr Speaker. ... Remain success in our operations
:53:30. > :53:32.against Daesh and implementing our Strategic Defence and Security
:53:33. > :53:36.Review. As I told the House on Thursday I chair the next meeting of
:53:37. > :53:40.defence ministers from across the coalition against Daesh, reviewing
:53:41. > :53:43.progress in Iraq and now in Syria and mapping out longer term plans
:53:44. > :53:53.for peace and stability in the region. On Saturday, I visited a
:53:54. > :53:57.27-year-old father of two, a brave RAF serviceman who's dedicated the
:53:58. > :54:05.past ten years of his life to the RAF. Now he's dying of terminal
:54:06. > :54:11.bowel cancer. Despite this devastating diagnosis now he's
:54:12. > :54:18.raised money for the hospice. Will the Secretary of State pay tribute
:54:19. > :54:26.to -- tribute to him. I'm happy to pay that tribute. The senior air
:54:27. > :54:29.craftsman was a man of the highest calibre, who was in Afghanistan and
:54:30. > :54:34.Libya. His wife and young daughter should be in no doubt of the highest
:54:35. > :54:39.regard which the Royal Air Force holds him. We are all impressed and
:54:40. > :54:45.inspired by the courage shown from his sick bed in raising so much
:54:46. > :54:48.money for the hospice. Following the Government's announcement of base
:54:49. > :54:52.closures, what guarantees has the Ministry of Defence given to
:54:53. > :54:57.civilian staff regarding their future employment? As the honourable
:54:58. > :55:03.gentleman knows, I think supported at the time, we've had to reduce the
:55:04. > :55:08.number of bases to ensure that our servicemen and women are in better
:55:09. > :55:14.accommodation, in fewer remote areas and in places where they have more
:55:15. > :55:18.chance of their spouses getting into, or partners getting into
:55:19. > :55:24.employment. Obviously, the civilian jobs that may be affected will be
:55:25. > :55:27.with plenty of time. We have set out generous time scales for discussion
:55:28. > :55:31.and these moves are not immediate. We will certainly do everything we
:55:32. > :55:37.can to ensure those civilians are properly looked after. What steps is
:55:38. > :55:39.my honourable friend taking to increase Britain's defence
:55:40. > :55:44.representation around the world to promote our security and prosperity?
:55:45. > :55:49.I can tell my honourable friend that we have this year established
:55:50. > :55:53.regional defence staffs in the Gulf, based in Dubai, in Asia Pacific,
:55:54. > :55:58.based in Singapore and in Africa based in Abuja. That fulfils the
:55:59. > :56:02.defence engagement commitment we made in the Strategic Defence Review
:56:03. > :56:06.last year. These new regional defence staffs will work with our
:56:07. > :56:12.international partners to protect and advance our interests by
:56:13. > :56:16.reinforcing bilateral and multi-lateral defence relationships.
:56:17. > :56:23.end. We have heard about how aid is not getting into Aleppo, but it is
:56:24. > :56:28.also stopping civilians leaving and medics getting out safely. What
:56:29. > :56:32.steps I be taking and what discussions are we having to ensure
:56:33. > :56:39.safe passage in this intolerable situation? Hospitals are being
:56:40. > :56:44.bombed and humanitarian aid convoys are being attacked and it is very
:56:45. > :56:52.clear that the Russian and Syrian regimes are not prepared to allow
:56:53. > :56:56.the aid should get in to get in. Further discussions about this in
:56:57. > :57:01.Paris on Saturday and there will be further discussions in the days
:57:02. > :57:08.ahead, but until Russia lifts its bar on getting aid into those parts
:57:09. > :57:19.of eastern Aleppo, my fear is that a large number of people are going to
:57:20. > :57:25.die. Will the Secretary of State join me, I have lost my voice which
:57:26. > :57:32.will please many people... Will be Secretary of State join me in
:57:33. > :57:37.condemning those people who have condensed our deployment of troops
:57:38. > :57:41.in Estonia is being provocative and agree with me that the Baltic states
:57:42. > :57:53.themselves have welcomed it in the face of aggression from Russia?
:57:54. > :57:59.The leader of the Labour Party is called for a demilitarised zone
:58:00. > :58:02.between Nato and Russia. It would be interesting to hear if the rest of
:58:03. > :58:13.the Labour Party agrees with that, because President Putin would. The
:58:14. > :58:23.cost of the Poseidon vessels that are being bought is $300 million.
:58:24. > :58:31.Our cost is the two $400 million. Does the Secretary of State value
:58:32. > :58:34.for money? I am not sure the exact point that the Honourable Gentleman
:58:35. > :58:39.is making, because if it was up to him and his party we would not be
:58:40. > :58:47.buying these vehicles or basing them on Scotland. When my right
:58:48. > :58:53.honourable friend -- will my right honourable friend support me for
:58:54. > :59:00.bringing the innovation hub for words that can help with the rapid
:59:01. > :59:08.innovation of on a -- innovation of unmanned vehicles? I thank him for
:59:09. > :59:14.his campaigning by half of the work done it in his constituency on
:59:15. > :59:23.interesting and innovative projects, like an unmanned helicopter system.
:59:24. > :59:30.We're committed over ten years to spend ?3 billion as part of our
:59:31. > :59:35.partner arrangement. The Israeli and US Navy have been attacked by
:59:36. > :59:43.anti-ship missiles. Is it not time that we look again at the type 31
:59:44. > :59:51.frigate and make sure they have the right capabilities? In terms of the
:59:52. > :59:57.important question that she and asks, it is very important that the
:59:58. > :00:00.Royal Naval continually assesses the capabilities with which ships are
:00:01. > :00:06.affected and there will be details I cannot go into at the dispatch box
:00:07. > :00:13.because they are sensitive due to operational requirements. Frigates
:00:14. > :00:18.and destroyers are currently protected they are harpoons, but
:00:19. > :00:25.they are coming out of service in 2008 team leaving them defended by
:00:26. > :00:30.Mark eight guns of the range of 17 miles, will the Minister consider
:00:31. > :00:37.looking again at extending the service life of the harpoon missile
:00:38. > :00:39.to defend our ships? The Royal Navy is continually assessing the
:00:40. > :00:43.capabilities it requires and work are going across the MOD to consider
:00:44. > :00:49.the options for the harpoon replacement. Thanks to the custom
:00:50. > :00:55.commissions act brought in by the Labour Government, we do not sell
:00:56. > :00:59.custom permissions any more, but the Government is also required to
:01:00. > :01:05.persuade its allies not to use cluster munitions either. What is
:01:06. > :01:12.the Government doing to try to stop the Saudis using cluster ammunition
:01:13. > :01:18.in Yemen? In line with our obligations under the Convention, we
:01:19. > :01:23.continue to actively discourage all states from using cluster munitions
:01:24. > :01:28.and we encourage them to do so without delay. We have raised the
:01:29. > :01:35.ratification of this with ministers in Saudi Arabia. I was disappointed
:01:36. > :01:42.to learn staff reductions at EAE, including in Rochester. Kid my right
:01:43. > :01:45.honourable friend outlined what support his department can offer to
:01:46. > :01:52.local suppliers to make sure that the skills behind the innovation are
:01:53. > :01:55.secure my constituency? I share my honourable friend's disappointment
:01:56. > :02:01.at the news that BAE Systems juicing employment in Rochester because I
:02:02. > :02:05.think we're spending a lot of money with them at the moment, but I'm
:02:06. > :02:09.sure that the people she mentions have exemplary skills and I can
:02:10. > :02:11.certainly see a part of the Government that we will do
:02:12. > :02:20.everything we can to make sure that those skills are redeployed in other
:02:21. > :02:25.areas of the specialty. Further to her answer to the earlier question
:02:26. > :02:30.that she confirmed about the budget, that should tell us when the last of
:02:31. > :02:38.the six type 45 destroyers will have the harpoon system? I cannot give
:02:39. > :02:41.him an exact timetable because it has not been finalised, but I can
:02:42. > :02:45.tell him that the budget is in place and the contract will be competed in
:02:46. > :02:49.the normal way and that ongoing improvements are being made all the
:02:50. > :03:02.time and have been made to that propulsion system. Do ministers
:03:03. > :03:06.accept that the type 31 general-purpose frigates are the
:03:07. > :03:12.only chance we will have for a generation to raise up the total of
:03:13. > :03:17.Escort is from 19 back to the sort of figures that we used to have when
:03:18. > :03:22.we had an oceangoing Navy with another vessel to protect it. Will
:03:23. > :03:27.she ensure that the design of these frigates is chosen to be of the most
:03:28. > :03:30.economical nature and that all the bells and whistles can be added on
:03:31. > :03:41.later but the maximum number of holes must be commissioned. We have
:03:42. > :03:47.some 29 ships serving on the seven seas around the world at the moment
:03:48. > :03:51.and I'm sure that as his point is good about the export ability of the
:03:52. > :04:04.type 31 frigate and our ambition to raise the number of frigates and
:04:05. > :04:08.destroyers above the current 19. Exceptionally, I understand that it
:04:09. > :04:12.flows from what has taken place, I will hear a point of order now. But
:04:13. > :04:19.I'm sure the Honourable Gentleman will not abuse his privilege. During
:04:20. > :04:23.defence questions it was raised that the shipbuilding strategy had been
:04:24. > :04:26.published and that he would send a signed copy to my honourable friend.
:04:27. > :04:32.But when cross