Live Defence Questions House of Commons


Live Defence Questions

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Live Defence Questions. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

benefits, is justified. Join me for a round-up of the day at 11pm. But

:00:00.:00:00.

first we have questions to Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary.

:00:00.:00:18.

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

:00:19.:00:34.

permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to answer this question with number

:00:35.:00:40.

five, eight and nine. President electron has confirmed the

:00:41.:00:43.

importance of Nato during telephone calls that the Prime Minister and

:00:44.:00:48.

with the Nato Secretary General. I've written to James matters to

:00:49.:00:51.

congratulate him on his nomination as secretary of defence and I look

:00:52.:00:56.

forward to meeting him after his confirmation. General James has

:00:57.:01:10.

warned against appeasing the Russian regime as President Putin intends to

:01:11.:01:15.

break Nato apart. Would he do well to listen to his general and to

:01:16.:01:23.

committing the US to Nato? The general is not only experienced in

:01:24.:01:28.

combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he is also served as a Nato

:01:29.:01:30.

commander and is aware of the importance of the alliance. Also the

:01:31.:01:38.

importance of the alliance to the United States itself. It is the

:01:39.:01:43.

unity of the alliance that sense the most powerful message to President

:01:44.:01:50.

Putin. At recent war Sol summit Nato leaders made a commitment to step up

:01:51.:02:00.

action against Isis. What a surety has he had that the US will continue

:02:01.:02:05.

in their fight against INS? I will be hosting the cancer INS meeting in

:02:06.:02:14.

London on Thursday but I have seen nothing from the incoming

:02:15.:02:18.

administration's plans to indicate they would take any different

:02:19.:02:25.

approach. The United States is taking the lead in the fight against

:02:26.:02:29.

Daesh and progress is being made anorak and starting to be made in

:02:30.:02:33.

Syria, and Nato has a contribution to to that. Given the US and Nato's

:02:34.:02:42.

precision air drop capability, what conversations as he had with the

:02:43.:02:46.

incoming US administration and with other allies on the feasibility of

:02:47.:02:50.

using this capability to alleviate the suffering in Aleppo? We have

:02:51.:03:03.

continually considered options to get aid into Aleppo. It is almost

:03:04.:03:10.

impossible to get food or medicine in by the air when a defence is

:03:11.:03:15.

controlled by Russia and the Syrian regime and permissions are not

:03:16.:03:19.

forthcoming. We have looked at other options, such as using an airfield

:03:20.:03:27.

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

:03:28.:03:31.

look at all kinds of options, but that is already very late or the

:03:32.:03:44.

people of eastern Aleppo. When I was a young officer serving in the

:03:45.:03:51.

British Army I made the assumption that article five was the trigger,

:03:52.:04:00.

if anyone attacked a Nato nations automatically every state, every

:04:01.:04:05.

member, would go to war. I am wondering whether that is right now

:04:06.:04:08.

or whether we just have a commitment to consult which will take much

:04:09.:04:16.

longer than an automatic movement for war? Article five was last

:04:17.:04:24.

invoked after 911 when the rest of the alliance pledged to do

:04:25.:04:27.

everything possible to help the United States, then under the most

:04:28.:04:35.

appalling attack on the Twin towers. The ants to the question, of course,

:04:36.:04:40.

is once article five is triggered each member state has to examine its

:04:41.:04:46.

obligations to the alliance as a whole. Before that stage, as tension

:04:47.:04:50.

escalates, I would expect the deployments that we have prepared,

:04:51.:04:58.

including task force, to be enacted. With my right honourable friend

:04:59.:05:02.

agree that the new administration will be much more interested in

:05:03.:05:06.

deeds than words when it comes to Nato and article five and that

:05:07.:05:10.

Britain is setting an example for the rest of Europe, not just with

:05:11.:05:15.

the 2% but also by the deployment of the troops that they plan for Poland

:05:16.:05:21.

and the Baltic states? I agree with my honourable friend and we agree

:05:22.:05:25.

with President elect Trump call for other European countries to do more.

:05:26.:05:31.

Eight of the 28 members have now set in place firm plans to reach the 2%.

:05:32.:05:39.

We reached the 2% the 19 members of Nato do not even do 1.5%. Some do

:05:40.:05:46.

less than 1%. European country members still have a long way to go

:05:47.:05:50.

to fulfil the pledges on which we all agreed at the summit. It was a

:05:51.:05:57.

pleasure to read recently about the work that HMS Torbay has been doing

:05:58.:06:02.

to secure maritime security for our allies. Would he agree that the US

:06:03.:06:07.

administration recognises there is no such thing as a peripheral

:06:08.:06:12.

needlestick and an attack on one is an attack on all of them? That is

:06:13.:06:15.

the principle of collective defence the principle of collective

:06:16.:06:17.

and the best possible message to any and the best possible message

:06:18.:06:39.

further aggression from Russia. We have seen a

:06:40.:06:55.

Interfering in other country's democratic lecture processes. We

:06:56.:07:05.

have seen a disturbing pattern of allegations now of direct Russian

:07:06.:07:07.

interference in countries as far apart as Bulgaria. Continuing

:07:08.:07:13.

pressure on the Baltic states. We agreed at Walsall book both the

:07:14.:07:19.

European Union and Nato would come together to cooperate on hybrid

:07:20.:07:23.

warfare in particular and look at the various techniques that were

:07:24.:07:26.

necessary to help us all this is that kind of pressure. For many

:07:27.:07:32.

years and this Chamber people have been asking why European countries

:07:33.:07:38.

who are members of Nato who are not spending 2% and were always told it

:07:39.:07:42.

was going to happen, it will happen, it doesn't seem to happen. What

:07:43.:07:45.

pressure can be put on What does it mean for Article five?

:07:46.:09:05.

Government actually saying about that. The Western security

:09:06.:09:18.

Government actually saying about what policies he should pursue and

:09:19.:09:22.

what are the answers he is getting. We need a bit more than conforming

:09:23.:09:33.

the importance of Nato. There have been to phone calls with the Prime

:09:34.:09:38.

Minister. The president has not taken office yet. And these offices

:09:39.:09:45.

are still to be confirmed, but there is a clear understanding between us

:09:46.:09:48.

and the United States administration of the importance of Nato and the

:09:49.:09:53.

importance not only to us here but to the United States in cell. We

:09:54.:10:05.

recently returned from a briefing in Brussels where we were told about

:10:06.:10:09.

plans to ensure the security of the Baltic states and off our Armed

:10:10.:10:18.

Forces. Can I prison further of what assessment he had his department

:10:19.:10:24.

have made of the impact that President elect a's policies may

:10:25.:10:27.

have on the ability of Nato to implement article five of it is ever

:10:28.:10:33.

necessary. The United States will be leading one of the four forward

:10:34.:10:36.

battalions next year. We will be leading the Battalion in Poland and

:10:37.:10:42.

we will be adding our own troops to that Battalion and we will be

:10:43.:10:47.

leading in Estonia and Germany will be leading in the other countries.

:10:48.:10:52.

We have absolutely no evidence at the moment that the United States is

:10:53.:10:58.

going to alter its position on that, on the contrary. In my discussions

:10:59.:11:03.

and I've been over the Atlantic twice in the recent weeks, in my

:11:04.:11:08.

discussions with the US military and senators and congressmen who take an

:11:09.:11:11.

interest in defence, they have every reason to believe that the United

:11:12.:11:15.

States will confirm its commitment to the alliance.

:11:16.:11:21.

We have made significant progress in recent months. We announce our

:11:22.:11:29.

intentions to derogate from the articles from the European

:11:30.:11:31.

Convention on Human Rights where appropriate. I have launched a

:11:32.:11:35.

compensation for injured and killed soldiers in combat so that members

:11:36.:11:39.

of the armed forces and their families do not have to spend years

:11:40.:11:43.

waiting to pursue claims against the MoD. We hope to announce further

:11:44.:11:51.

measures shortly. My constituent 87-year-old former soldier will

:11:52.:11:56.

welcome that news as he's expressed his outrage about some of these

:11:57.:12:03.

claims. If it weren't the MoD submitting evidence of malpractice

:12:04.:12:07.

and the MoD legal aid contract, this man would still be hounding our

:12:08.:12:11.

soldiers. Mr Speaker, I was at the Ministry of

:12:12.:12:14.

Justice when we revoked the legal aid. It wasn't for this Secretary of

:12:15.:12:22.

State to the complaints, the authority. Mr Shiner will probably

:12:23.:12:28.

still be pursuing soldiers and servicemen. Probably Mr Shiner

:12:29.:12:31.

should do what the Secretary of State called for him to do in

:12:32.:12:34.

December 2014 and apologise to our former serviceman.

:12:35.:12:39.

Thank you Mr Speaker. As someone who has served with distinction in

:12:40.:12:43.

Northern Ireland, the minister of state must be disgusted by the

:12:44.:12:49.

industrial scale abuse of the legal process against former soldiers,

:12:50.:12:53.

that has imPuned the reputation of every single soldier that has served

:12:54.:12:58.

in Ulster over the last 40 years. Will he undertake and will his

:12:59.:13:04.

department undertake to be the bulwark against that abuse, against

:13:05.:13:08.

that witch-hunt. Will he stand up and make Shh... Sure that it is

:13:09.:13:13.

stopped forth with? I had the honour of serving in the province and was

:13:14.:13:18.

part of the peace process that we have now. The vast majority of our

:13:19.:13:22.

servicemen and women served with distinction in Northern Ireland. The

:13:23.:13:26.

MoD will continue and I will support the police force in Northern Ireland

:13:27.:13:29.

with their ongoing inquiries. What's it they said on the radio at the

:13:30.:13:32.

weekend, it's not new investigations. Can I pay tribute to

:13:33.:13:36.

my honourable gentleman and the work he's done in the past and wish him

:13:37.:13:40.

happy birthday on his 50th today. THE SPEAKER: I had thought that the

:13:41.:13:45.

honourable member were stirring on his seat, if he isn't I won't. Mr

:13:46.:13:56.

Speaker, in the last few years, some 3,500 soldiers have had their lives

:13:57.:14:02.

wrecked by the investigations of the Iraq historic team, allegations

:14:03.:14:08.

team. This at cost of some ?90 million to Her Majesty's treasury.

:14:09.:14:12.

And one single prosecution has resulted from it. Surely now is the

:14:13.:14:16.

time when the Government must bring to an end the dreadful organisation?

:14:17.:14:21.

Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State and I are doing everything we can to

:14:22.:14:26.

get Hyatt to come to those conclusions. The vast majority of

:14:27.:14:30.

those investigations will be don colluded and we -- will be concluded

:14:31.:14:34.

and we hope and expect there will be no action to be taken. We must make

:14:35.:14:38.

sure that the investigations are taken place correctly so it doesn't

:14:39.:14:41.

end up in a European Court somewhere. Mr Speaker, it isn't just

:14:42.:14:50.

a question of the Ihat inquiry and the disgraceful behaviour of this

:14:51.:14:54.

disreputable solicitor Phil Shiner. Now we're faced with the prospect of

:14:55.:14:58.

hundreds of British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland again

:14:59.:15:02.

being brought before the court, as the honourable member has just said.

:15:03.:15:06.

This is really wholly unacceptable, that nearly half a century on,

:15:07.:15:10.

member who have served their country to the best of their ability should

:15:11.:15:15.

still face possible prosecution and will my right honourable friend

:15:16.:15:18.

accept this is not good enough to say it's a matter for the Police

:15:19.:15:24.

Service of Northern Ireland. This is a matter of public interest and

:15:25.:15:28.

ministers must be accountable. We must make sure that that the police,

:15:29.:15:31.

I repeat that the police decide whether they need to investigate

:15:32.:15:34.

something, we will do so. We will make sure as we bring forward

:15:35.:15:38.

proposals that we help the police, but protect those who have served

:15:39.:15:41.

their country alongside me and other colleagues to make sure we protect

:15:42.:15:46.

them as much as possible. Question number three. Thank you Mr Speaker.

:15:47.:15:53.

With the rising defence budget and an Equipment Plan worth ?178 billion

:15:54.:15:58.

over the next ten years, we are renewing our capabilities. We spend

:15:59.:16:02.

up to 20% of our science and technology budget on research and we

:16:03.:16:06.

have launched an ?800 million innovation fund. The minister will

:16:07.:16:14.

be aware that the ministry has a reputation amongst some suppliers of

:16:15.:16:17.

being challenging to work with. What is the minister dog time prove

:16:18.:16:20.

working relationships, particularly with SMEs, including many of the

:16:21.:16:25.

suppliers to the defence industry in Worcestershire? Well, my honourable

:16:26.:16:29.

friend and neighbour is absolutely right that it can be challenging to

:16:30.:16:34.

work with the Ministry of Defence procurement processes. We are

:16:35.:16:39.

particularly keen to encourage small and medium sized businesses to apply

:16:40.:16:44.

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

:16:45.:16:50.

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

:16:51.:16:53.

direct feed back from small businesses, we've introduced a

:16:54.:16:57.

network of supply chain advocates to help smaller businesses through the

:16:58.:17:02.

maze of defence procurement. Their contact details are available on

:17:03.:17:05.

request from my honourable friend and other members. The minister

:17:06.:17:10.

referred there to renewing our capabilities. I asked her previously

:17:11.:17:16.

about the programme to renew the type 45 propulsion systems. Can she

:17:17.:17:21.

tell us, recognising there are sensitivities commercially, can she

:17:22.:17:24.

tell us, is there a budget for that programme of improvements to the

:17:25.:17:30.

type 45 systems and when does she expect all six vessels to be

:17:31.:17:34.

improved? I'm very pleased to be able to confirm to the honourable

:17:35.:17:37.

gentleman that there is a budget and also that there is progression and

:17:38.:17:43.

that these incredibly capable ships are performing a wide range of tasks

:17:44.:17:50.

and are seen today, for example, HMS Daring is in the Gulf, acting as

:17:51.:17:57.

part of our deployment out. There Thank you Mr Speaker. Small firms in

:17:58.:18:06.

my constituency, like GSI that specialise in producing b with

:18:07.:18:13.

arilli -- Barillium products. Can the minister confirm how the firms

:18:14.:18:17.

can access the ?800 million innovation fund and when the first

:18:18.:18:22.

competition stage might start? Well, I'm now delighted to tell my

:18:23.:18:25.

honourable friend that I was able to launch the first competition last

:18:26.:18:29.

Thursday at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. In that

:18:30.:18:33.

first competition for up to ?3 million we're looking for new ways

:18:34.:18:37.

of exploring data to inform decisions. It doesn't sound like

:18:38.:18:41.

exactly the area of specialisation that my honourable friend, the

:18:42.:18:44.

business that she mentions is engaged with, there will be further

:18:45.:18:49.

competitions and also of course an open application for a wide range of

:18:50.:18:52.

different ideas to be fed in directly.

:18:53.:18:58.

No-one would deny it's vitally important we do everything we can to

:18:59.:19:03.

encourage innovation in the defence sector. Would she agree with me in

:19:04.:19:07.

order to foster an environment in which innovation can flourish,

:19:08.:19:10.

business and industry has to trust what it's told by the Government.

:19:11.:19:13.

Given, that would she take this opportunity to explain to the ship

:19:14.:19:18.

building industry exactly why the copper bottom assurance that's she

:19:19.:19:21.

gave on at least four occasions that the national ship building strategy

:19:22.:19:25.

would be published before the Autumn Statement didn't deliver? Mr

:19:26.:19:34.

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

:19:35.:19:37.

delight from the fact that I was at the shipyards on the Clyde last

:19:38.:19:43.

Thursday cutting steel for two new off-shore patrol vessels. Mr

:19:44.:19:48.

Speaker, I remain astonished at the very grudging way in which the

:19:49.:19:52.

Scottish National Party fails to recognise the billions of pounds of

:19:53.:19:57.

work that are being sent to shipyards in the Clyde.

:19:58.:20:04.

For the record, I am absolutely delighted that the OPV are being

:20:05.:20:08.

built on the Clyde. Now will she take this opportunity to apologise

:20:09.:20:13.

to the workers and the management across the UK ship building industry

:20:14.:20:17.

for the misleading and the contradict wear statements that have

:20:18.:20:20.

come from the Ministry of Defence over the last few months and would

:20:21.:20:24.

she take this opportunity to explain why the ship building strategy did

:20:25.:20:30.

not appear when you, it was promise today would appear.

:20:31.:20:35.

-- promise today would appear? It's lucky he gets a supplementary, so he

:20:36.:20:42.

can extend grudging words of welcome, for the fact we've just

:20:43.:20:46.

announced two decades worth of work in Scotland. He's complaining about

:20:47.:20:51.

the lack of publication of a report which was published, Mr Speaker. The

:20:52.:20:54.

Government is going to provide its response next year. Sir John

:20:55.:20:59.

Parker's report on ship building was published on November 29. I'm sorry

:21:00.:21:03.

he hasn't had a chance to read it. I shall send him a personally signed

:21:04.:21:05.

copy. THE SPEAKER: The honourable

:21:06.:21:11.

gentleman is a very excitableberger in this House. I've not sure he's

:21:12.:21:21.

attained the aperge of statesmanship he should acquire. Let's hear from a

:21:22.:21:28.

calm person, Maria Miller. The minister's focus on innovation

:21:29.:21:31.

is absolutely right. Will she look at the excellent work of national

:21:32.:21:39.

aerospace exploitation programme are already running more than 100

:21:40.:21:43.

innovation projects and establish how she can help continue this work?

:21:44.:21:49.

You're absolutely right to call the honourable member for Basingstoke,

:21:50.:21:52.

who has asked such a calm and helpful question about the excellent

:21:53.:21:55.

work provided by this organisation. She will be familiar with the work

:21:56.:22:00.

done by the defence growth partnership at Farnborough and the

:22:01.:22:03.

fantastic way in which they also work to promote the excellence of

:22:04.:22:07.

the UK aerospace industry to people all around the world. Number four Mr

:22:08.:22:14.

Speaker. The Royal Air Force has made a vital contribution to the

:22:15.:22:19.

counter-Daesh coalition, carrying out 1092 strikes in Iraq and 75

:22:20.:22:26.

strikes in Syria and providing essential intelligence, surveillance

:22:27.:22:29.

and reconnaissance. In Iraq, the RAF has accepted Iraqi security forces

:22:30.:22:35.

regain significant territory including supporting operations to

:22:36.:22:39.

liberate mos uling. In Syria, the RAF has attacked Daesh's capital in

:22:40.:22:45.

Raqqa, while supporting opposition groupeds pushing back dire on the

:22:46.:22:49.

ground. The RAF is making real progress in Iraq and Syria. At this

:22:50.:22:54.

time of year, our thoughts must be with our brave servicemen and women.

:22:55.:22:59.

Once Mosul is liberated, what role does the Secretary of State

:23:00.:23:03.

anticipate for the RAF in Iraq? We shall be reviewing with the military

:23:04.:23:08.

commanders progress in Iraq and Syria at the coalition, counterdire

:23:09.:23:14.

coalition meeting in -- counter-Daesh coalition meeting in

:23:15.:23:18.

London. And mapping out a road to longer term peace in Iraq, including

:23:19.:23:22.

potential future deployments in different parts of Iraq that may

:23:23.:23:26.

help to continue the training that we've been offering Iraqi forces and

:23:27.:23:33.

further work on counter-terrorism. We will be discussing the need to

:23:34.:23:41.

control the spread of the return of foreign fighters from Iraq and

:23:42.:23:45.

indeed from Syria to the different countries that they came from.

:23:46.:23:52.

At a time when our RAF is at full stretch on operations, the Secretary

:23:53.:23:57.

of State will be as concerned as I was that RAF haul ton is to close.

:23:58.:24:02.

Not because the consolidation is not the right direction of travel, but

:24:03.:24:05.

because it seems to have been sprung on the civilian military personnel

:24:06.:24:10.

in order to meet the local council land bank deadline. Can he reassure

:24:11.:24:16.

personnel on time scale and support. THE SPEAKER: Notally to operations

:24:17.:24:24.

in Iraq and Syria, but which the honourable lady didn't quite intend

:24:25.:24:30.

to do. The closures have been taken on the basis of military capability

:24:31.:24:33.

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

:24:34.:24:37.

will join with my honourable friend and indeed the honourable lady in

:24:38.:24:41.

paying tribute to the work of the RAF, the sustained tempo of

:24:42.:24:45.

operations there, probably at their highest for over 25 years and the

:24:46.:24:49.

enormous job they're doing to help keep our country safe.

:24:50.:24:56.

Can I not press the Defence Secretary on the level of defeatism

:24:57.:25:02.

in his statement that it is nearly impossible to envisage successful

:25:03.:25:06.

air drops if Russia does not allow it? Russia for all its beladies and

:25:07.:25:13.

gentleman rans does not -- belligerence does not want to trig

:25:14.:25:18.

air confly with Nato allies. The loaninger that -- longer that this

:25:19.:25:23.

cowardice goes on in the face of their posturing, the more they will

:25:24.:25:27.

push and the harder it will be for any resolve to come to the dreadful

:25:28.:25:31.

tragedy happening in that country. We continue to look for any

:25:32.:25:34.

possibility of getting either food or medicine into Aleppo or indeed

:25:35.:25:38.

into some of the other besieged areas. But it isn't simply a

:25:39.:25:42.

question of Russian permission. We also have to make sure that any

:25:43.:25:49.

drops are feasible considering the vulnerability of aircraft to ground

:25:50.:25:55.

to air defence systems as well. The Secretary of State said it was very

:25:56.:25:59.

late for the people of Eastern Aleppo, but it isn't too late. I

:26:00.:26:05.

would second the calls, the RAF planes could be providing

:26:06.:26:10.

humanitarian air drops. There are frontbenchers and backbenchers

:26:11.:26:13.

signing a letter to call for this. Will he look at it again? We have

:26:14.:26:17.

continued to look, almost daily at the various ways in which we might

:26:18.:26:21.

be able to get food aid in. It is not possible in a contested airspace

:26:22.:26:26.

with ground to air missile systems and Russian aircraft flying overhead

:26:27.:26:31.

denying permission, it is not possible to fly coalition aircraft

:26:32.:26:37.

over Aleppo. Without that security, we are unable to drop food where it

:26:38.:26:41.

is most needed. We continue to look at all the options.

:26:42.:26:47.

I would like to thank the Secretary of State for his answer on Aleppo to

:26:48.:26:54.

my honourable friend the member for Barnsley Central and reference the

:26:55.:26:58.

RAF capabilities that my honourable friend mentioned, but I share the

:26:59.:27:06.

concerns raised that they really do need to look at this again. Can I

:27:07.:27:09.

ask the Secretary of State Vicky will continue and will not at any

:27:10.:27:18.

stage give up looking at how we can alleviate the terrible suffering

:27:19.:27:23.

that is going on in East Aleppo. I can give her that assurance. We

:27:24.:27:29.

continue to talk to the NGOs who are willing to help us provide food and

:27:30.:27:34.

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

:27:35.:27:41.

but not into Aleppo in cell. That is because of the impossibility of

:27:42.:27:46.

flying aircraft in that airspace and the very real risk of aircraft being

:27:47.:27:57.

shot down. The Armed Forces are Britain's biggest provider of

:27:58.:28:05.

apprenticeships. Ranging from engineering and IT to construction

:28:06.:28:13.

and driving, defence will start 50,000 apprenticeships this

:28:14.:28:16.

Parliament and will work with the Department for Education to expand

:28:17.:28:18.

the current range of apprenticeships that we offer. That is impressive. I

:28:19.:28:27.

did not expect to hear David be the largest provider in the country.

:28:28.:28:33.

What assurances can he give my constituents that they will offer

:28:34.:28:40.

quality as well as quantity? She is right to focus on quality and at the

:28:41.:28:47.

last Ofsted inspections we were graded as good with some being

:28:48.:28:53.

outstanding and the Royal Air Force programme was rated as outstanding.

:28:54.:29:00.

The Minister mentioned the Department for Education and if I

:29:01.:29:04.

look at the Government website it refers to England. Can he assure me

:29:05.:29:08.

that apprenticeships and available across the United Kingdom in

:29:09.:29:17.

devolved administrations? We are always happy to work with the

:29:18.:29:21.

devolved assemblies and we can assure the gentleman that

:29:22.:29:25.

apprenticeships are available to all of our Armed Forces personnel full.

:29:26.:29:34.

Could I thank him for opening the type 26 facility, where he spoke to

:29:35.:29:42.

many of the young apprentices that are working on that. But he and his

:29:43.:29:50.

ministers continue to make sure that apprentices are a key part of the

:29:51.:29:57.

supply chain? He makes a good point. Absolutely. As we begin to look

:29:58.:30:02.

forward it is not just about having apprenticeships in the Armed Forces

:30:03.:30:05.

themselves, but it is part of the transition when our service

:30:06.:30:10.

personnel leave that they are able to work in the supply chain. This is

:30:11.:30:20.

a partnership with industry. Last week we were talking to

:30:21.:30:26.

apprenticeships about the future. What reassurances can the Government

:30:27.:30:34.

give to these skilled men and women that they Thai party ones will be

:30:35.:30:38.

built on the Clyde? It is worth remembering that the apprentices

:30:39.:30:45.

that will work on the last type 26 has not yet been born. We continue

:30:46.:30:50.

to work closely with industry. As my honourable friend said, the

:30:51.:30:52.

investment that is being made in Scotland over many years should be

:30:53.:31:02.

celebrated. The Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2015

:31:03.:31:08.

committed us to a force that can meet a range of threats, having a

:31:09.:31:14.

mix of armoured vehicles and tanks to do the liver -- to deliver. We

:31:15.:31:24.

are spending ?7 million through to 2035. While we should welcome the

:31:25.:31:32.

very large order for fighting vehicles, does he accept that these

:31:33.:31:40.

will be no match for the armament of enemy battle tanks? Will he confirm

:31:41.:31:47.

how many of our existing 227 tanks will go forward to the challenge

:31:48.:31:52.

life extension programme, bearing in mind the needs to have capacity for

:31:53.:31:57.

regeneration in the event of the crisis. My honourable friend knows

:31:58.:32:05.

very well because he is taking a keen interest for so many years that

:32:06.:32:10.

it is for the military to decide what the capabilities are. Having

:32:11.:32:15.

?700 million available for challenger to shows a clear

:32:16.:32:23.

commitment to it. While I support the diversity of the available

:32:24.:32:28.

vehicles, the Army are planning to reduce the number of tanks by a

:32:29.:32:33.

third at a time when Russia has announced a new generation of

:32:34.:32:38.

vehicles, ours will be reduced to 170. Does the Minister not agree

:32:39.:32:44.

that this is not the right time to be bringing this announcement

:32:45.:32:46.

forward and it sends the wrong message? Per8-mac we should not

:32:47.:32:52.

believe everything that you read in the press. What I would say is that

:32:53.:33:00.

we need to trust the Armed Forces to tell us what they want and the

:33:01.:33:06.

Russian tank, which I think is what the gentleman is alluding to, is and

:33:07.:33:13.

unmanned vehicle. I thought that there would be a great cheer because

:33:14.:33:24.

the vehicle is being built in Wales. The Minister has mentioned the Ajax

:33:25.:33:30.

vehicle. David Cameron announced that the new Ajax fighting vehicle

:33:31.:33:35.

would be a boost for British manufacturer. I welcome that many of

:33:36.:33:44.

the vehicles will be assembled here, but they are being built using

:33:45.:33:48.

Swedish steel and will have their hols built in Spain. Some are being

:33:49.:33:55.

completely built instead. Does he think that Mr David Cameron was

:33:56.:34:00.

inaccurate in his statement? I don't think this. The issue here is about

:34:01.:34:12.

jobs in Wales, and making sure the Army get the vehicles that they

:34:13.:34:19.

want. Unless the Labour Party commits to 2% GDP they will never

:34:20.:34:31.

get to that level. Next year we will be sending a hundred trips to

:34:32.:34:38.

Estonia, 150 personnel to Poland, leading to a readiness task force

:34:39.:34:45.

based in Romania with the four typhoons were committing to Nato.

:34:46.:34:51.

Can I welcome the Government's commitment to the Polish Prime

:34:52.:34:54.

Minister of additional UK troops and armoured vehicles in the face of the

:34:55.:34:58.

concerns surrounding the Russian threat. Does he agree that we should

:34:59.:35:02.

stand shoulder to shoulder with our Polish friends and it shows how

:35:03.:35:08.

Britain can be an even stronger European Ali respective Brexit. --

:35:09.:35:17.

European ally. They were absolutely thrilled that we committed to being

:35:18.:35:21.

with them, which is what came out in the statement afterwards, and the

:35:22.:35:26.

chips are looking forward to this one. On the day that we celebrate

:35:27.:35:36.

the 25th anniversary of the ending of the USSR, can we do more to

:35:37.:35:43.

educate our people about the importance of defending the security

:35:44.:35:49.

of those states that regain their independence, Estonia, Latvia, and

:35:50.:35:55.

were able to make a free democratic decision to associate with battle

:35:56.:35:58.

and then the nonsense we hear from some quarters on both sides of the

:35:59.:36:02.

Atlantic that Nato is not a voluntary alliance? He is as

:36:03.:36:10.

interested in hearing other contributions as two years on

:36:11.:36:16.

hearing his own views. It is customary for the colleague to stay

:36:17.:36:19.

until the end of the exchanges under own question. The success of Nato is

:36:20.:36:24.

that it is free for countries to join and he is right to say that the

:36:25.:36:30.

countries he alluded to are particularly worried about their

:36:31.:36:34.

protection. It is not like the British Army where we sat there very

:36:35.:36:40.

static over a long period of time, what we are sending is a significant

:36:41.:36:45.

force along with our other allies in Nato to make sure the Russian knows

:36:46.:36:52.

we're serious. Part of any alliance is to be a critical friend with

:36:53.:36:56.

other members of that alliance. But the Minister half of the Secretary

:36:57.:36:59.

of State should read the next and disputed the future leader of the

:37:00.:37:04.

free world that they might request that they start reading their CIA

:37:05.:37:08.

briefings dearly and do us all a favour. -- briefings dearly. And

:37:09.:37:17.

sure of the future president of the United States will reap the

:37:18.:37:20.

briefings when he becomes the president. And sure you saw the

:37:21.:37:26.

coverage this morning where the future president of the United

:37:27.:37:29.

States does not necessarily believe everything he has been told in the

:37:30.:37:37.

press. The additional support to Nato is welcome, but for our land

:37:38.:37:43.

forces this requires high-end armoured enforcements. Will money be

:37:44.:37:45.

made available to train with that capability? The Armed Forces in

:37:46.:37:49.

particular have the money they require and when I visited recently

:37:50.:37:57.

the trips that will be going to Poland the equipment that I saw was

:37:58.:38:02.

next to none. But we will keep under review what they have, especially

:38:03.:38:12.

considering the weather in Poland. What a busy time. I am proud to say

:38:13.:38:19.

for the first time in a generation that the Royal Navy is growing at

:38:20.:38:24.

this Government is committed in increasing our maritime power across

:38:25.:38:29.

the world. This can be seen by the numbers we are aiming to get, the

:38:30.:38:36.

aircraft 's, the frigates and destroyers, and further offshore

:38:37.:38:41.

patrol vessels that will appear by 2030. Does he agree that to fulfil

:38:42.:38:48.

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

:38:49.:38:53.

particularly frigates and destroyers, we need to replace the

:38:54.:38:55.

type 23 every year. Will he committed this? We will commit to

:38:56.:39:01.

the new frigates that will replace the type 23. I was on one recently

:39:02.:39:10.

when we were shadowing a Russian aircraft, we must not underestimate

:39:11.:39:14.

the capabilities of the type 23s, because other countries are looking

:39:15.:39:19.

to buy them when we sell them. They are doing a fantastic job and we

:39:20.:39:22.

will make sure that the new frigates to just as well. Will the new ships

:39:23.:39:34.

be built in the UK and will he give a further commitment to buying

:39:35.:39:40.

British defence and using British Steel to build the ships? And a

:39:41.:39:47.

report last week it stated that the best value for the Navy is what we

:39:48.:39:51.

need to do and we need to make sure that shipyards bid for the work and

:39:52.:39:54.

in previous times they have not been. We can see what bits come

:39:55.:40:00.

forward and who wins. When does he expect to announce the options for

:40:01.:40:06.

the type 26 and type 23 figures and Willie confirmed that Portsmouth is

:40:07.:40:09.

being considered for some of these welcome new ships. We recognise the

:40:10.:40:17.

beds that are coming forward. As soon as we can announce that we will

:40:18.:40:22.

do so. We're looking forward to the new frigates because then we can

:40:23.:40:25.

sell of the type 23s to other countries. Today I received my first

:40:26.:40:33.

Christmas present, a Royal Navy Callander. January features HMS

:40:34.:40:48.

Ocean. Kiki Telus how is decommissioning after years of

:40:49.:40:50.

service adds to the strength and power of the Royal Navy? Royal

:40:51.:40:59.

procurement is not my area and I was told that she was always due to go

:41:00.:41:05.

out of service in 2018. She has done fantastic work and we must praise

:41:06.:41:10.

the work she and her crew have done, but her time is coming towards the

:41:11.:41:28.

The additional support to Nato is welcome. For our land forces, this

:41:29.:41:33.

requires high end armoured formations. Will the MoD be making

:41:34.:41:36.

new money available to properly regrow and train with that

:41:37.:41:43.

capability? The armed forces and particularly the Army have the money

:41:44.:41:48.

they require. When I visited the light dra goons and rifles, which

:41:49.:41:52.

will deploy to Poland, the equipment they have is second to none. We keep

:41:53.:41:57.

under review the equipment they have, particularly with the

:41:58.:42:03.

inclement weather in Poland that is fit for purpose. Number 11. What a

:42:04.:42:10.

busy time, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I'm proud to say for the first time

:42:11.:42:15.

in a generation the Royal Navy is growing and this Government is

:42:16.:42:19.

committed to increase the maritime power across the world and promote

:42:20.:42:22.

prosperity. That can be seen by the personnel numbers that we're aiming

:42:23.:42:29.

for 30,600. The Elizabeth aircraft carrier took 19 greyingates and

:42:30.:42:39.

destroyers. -- frigates. To fulfil the Government's commitment to

:42:40.:42:42.

increase the size of the fleet, specifically in relation to frigates

:42:43.:42:46.

and destroyers, we have to replace a type 23 at a race of one a year?

:42:47.:42:51.

Will he commit to this? We will commit to the new frigates that will

:42:52.:42:57.

replace the type 23s, having been on a type 23 in the last couple of

:42:58.:43:01.

weeks, shadowing the Russian aircraft carrier in the English

:43:02.:43:04.

Channel we, mustn't underestimate the capabilities of the 23s, not

:43:05.:43:08.

least because many other countries are looking to purchase them when we

:43:09.:43:12.

can sell them off. At the end of the day, the 23s are doing a fantastic

:43:13.:43:15.

job and we'll make sure that the new frigates do just as well. Account

:43:16.:43:23.

minister say if the new RFA ships will be built in the UK and if so,

:43:24.:43:29.

will he give a further commitment to buying British in defence

:43:30.:43:33.

procurement and guarantee the use of British Steel to build these ships?

:43:34.:43:38.

In the report last week, it was most important stated that the best value

:43:39.:43:42.

for the navy is what we need to do. We must make sure that shipyards bid

:43:43.:43:45.

for the work and in previous times they haven't bid. Let's see what the

:43:46.:43:49.

bids are that comes forward and see who wins. When does my honourable

:43:50.:43:57.

friend expect to announce the basing for the maintenance options for the

:43:58.:44:00.

type 23 figures and will he confirm that Portsmouth is considered for

:44:01.:44:05.

some of these welcome new ships? Of course we recognise the bid and the

:44:06.:44:10.

bids coming forward. As soon as we have the ability to announce, I'm

:44:11.:44:13.

sure she will. We are looking forward to the new frigates. We can

:44:14.:44:17.

then sell off the 23s to countries that particularly want them as well

:44:18.:44:23.

Today I received my first Christmas present, a Royal Navy calendar.

:44:24.:44:35.

January - of platforms obviously. January features HMS Oceans. How are

:44:36.:44:41.

we decommissioning after years of impressive service adding to the

:44:42.:44:49.

strength and power of our Royal Navy While procurement, I'm reliably

:44:50.:44:53.

informed she was due to go out of service in 2018 and the new

:44:54.:44:56.

Elizabeth class carriers will come into force. She has done fantastic

:44:57.:45:00.

work and we must praise the work that the ship and her crew has done.

:45:01.:45:04.

But her time is coming towards its end. She will go in 20le. . -- 2018.

:45:05.:45:15.

I have to say that the minister for defence procurement's answer to the

:45:16.:45:17.

honourable member for Argyll and Bute on the publication on the

:45:18.:45:21.

national ship building strategy is not good enough, not good enough for

:45:22.:45:26.

our Royal Navy, not good enough for workers in the ship building

:45:27.:45:29.

industries nor for international allies. On November 29 the

:45:30.:45:34.

Government only published Sir John Parker's independent review to

:45:35.:45:38.

inform the strategy. When just last year the Government promised to

:45:39.:45:44.

publish a new national ship building strategy in 2016. With just six

:45:45.:45:48.

Parliamentary days to go till the end of the year, account minister

:45:49.:45:52.

explain exactly when we're going to see that strategy? We're seeing it

:45:53.:45:57.

in spring 2017. I find it slightly difficult being lectured on defence

:45:58.:46:01.

procurement by a party that won't even commit themselves to 2% of GDP.

:46:02.:46:06.

The key to this is making sure we get the ships built, get apprentices

:46:07.:46:11.

we need and mark sure that the whole communities benefit from it.

:46:12.:46:14.

I don't know where the minister gets his information from. I don't know

:46:15.:46:17.

whether he reads Westminster Hall debates, I don't know if he's been

:46:18.:46:21.

listening to what we've don saying from the dispatch box that we are

:46:22.:46:26.

fully committed to a 2% spend of GDP to meet our Nato commitments. And

:46:27.:46:32.

spend it on defence as is required. Can we now perhaps turn to more

:46:33.:46:38.

specific issue about the naval fleet and in particular, those type 26

:46:39.:46:43.

frigates, which have faced very long delays and with all the attendant

:46:44.:46:49.

risks to our naval capabilities. The Defence Select Committee recently

:46:50.:46:53.

said the national ship building strategy must include strict time

:46:54.:46:57.

lines for the delivery of the 26 class of frigates and a time frame

:46:58.:47:02.

for the general purpose frigate. Can he confirm that in the spring it

:47:03.:47:06.

will include those details? I did a bit of research. It appears that the

:47:07.:47:11.

Labour Government started look at type 26s in '97, 13 years in

:47:12.:47:14.

Government and it will be us that will be cutting steel in spring next

:47:15.:47:17.

year. THE SPEAKER: We will hear the voice

:47:18.:47:23.

of Gainsborough on this matter. Mr Speaker, with increasing demands for

:47:24.:47:28.

frigates worldwide, does my honourable friend agree with Sir

:47:29.:47:33.

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

:47:34.:47:37.

actually want to buy, something the Royal Navy has signally failed to do

:47:38.:47:40.

in the past. I think my honourable friend has hit the nail absolutely

:47:41.:47:44.

on the head. The type 26 is not just for our navy, but for our allies

:47:45.:47:48.

around the world as well. Because it will be exactly the type of ship

:47:49.:47:52.

that will replace the 26 around the world if we get the build right and

:47:53.:47:56.

we actually get it out there, which is something the previous

:47:57.:47:59.

administration forgot to do. Number 12, Sir. In Iraq, operations to

:48:00.:48:07.

liberate Mosul are progressing with Iraqi security forces reclaiming

:48:08.:48:10.

increasing areas of Eastern Mosul. Many of those involved in the

:48:11.:48:16.

operation are amongst more than 31,000 Iraqi troops trained by the

:48:17.:48:22.

UK in engineering and medical skills. In Syria, coalition support

:48:23.:48:30.

has pushed Daesh back to the border. Now there's a move on Raqqa.

:48:31.:48:35.

When my right honourable friend meets many counterparts later this

:48:36.:48:39.

week, can he confirm that he'll focus the discussion on how the

:48:40.:48:42.

threat of Daesh can be defeated, particularly in Iraq? Well, yes. We

:48:43.:48:49.

will be reviewing the military progress that's been made, which is

:48:50.:48:53.

substantial in Iraq. Daesh have less than 10% of Iraq now. We will also

:48:54.:48:58.

be mapping out the long-term plan to bring peace and stability, in

:48:59.:49:02.

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

:49:03.:49:10.

to monitor the dispersal of Daesh fighters from Iraq, who may be

:49:11.:49:18.

moving to other theatres. Doesn't the - we've seen Daesh move into pal

:49:19.:49:23.

mira this week, doesn't this show a lack of coherent strategy. With had

:49:24.:49:28.

a debate 12 months ago about boots on the ground. Shouldn't Secretary

:49:29.:49:33.

of State be calling for that in the United Nationses? Otherwise we will

:49:34.:49:38.

see the slaughter of innocents, it will go on and on. There isn't any

:49:39.:49:44.

support at the United Nations for the deployment of troops in Syria

:49:45.:49:49.

and there may not be support in this House for the deployment of British

:49:50.:49:54.

troops on the ground. Our role has been to provide the intelligence

:49:55.:49:58.

gathering from the air and air strikes on the ground. The second

:49:59.:50:02.

front has begun to be opened up now with a move by the Syrian democratic

:50:03.:50:08.

forces on towards Raqqa, which is in effect the capital of the caliphate,

:50:09.:50:13.

that began at ebbed of last week -- end. How many fighters have

:50:14.:50:20.

originating from the United Kingdom have been killed in the various

:50:21.:50:24.

regions, how many remain and how many have returned to the UK? I can

:50:25.:50:29.

write to my honourable friend with the exact numbers involved, but we

:50:30.:50:33.

believe several hundred British fighters still remain in either Iraq

:50:34.:50:39.

or Syria. There are many thousands foreign fighters all together from

:50:40.:50:42.

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

:50:43.:50:48.

considering this week is now we properly monitor their dispersal,

:50:49.:50:52.

either to other theatres or back to our respective countries and how

:50:53.:50:56.

those who have fought for a prescribed organisation like Daesh

:50:57.:51:01.

can be properly brought to justice. There's no need to write.

:51:02.:51:04.

THE SPEAKER: Very generous spirited of the right honourable gentleman.

:51:05.:51:10.

Number 14, Sir. Thank you Mr Speaker. This Government is

:51:11.:51:13.

committed to increasing the defence budget by 0. 5% a glory real terms

:51:14.:51:22.

as well as increasing our budget 1% above inflation each year until

:51:23.:51:26.

2020. This means more ships, more planes and an increase in cutting

:51:27.:51:29.

edge equipment for our Special Forces.

:51:30.:51:31.

THE SPEAKER: One of the great merits of the clerk in front of me, is I'm

:51:32.:51:38.

on the end of his special advice. For the member of New Forest west

:51:39.:51:42.

and of the House, that the letter to which reference was made is strictly

:51:43.:51:48.

speaking a letter to the House and for its benefit, so notwithstanding

:51:49.:51:52.

the motivation of the right honourable friend in saying, you

:51:53.:51:57.

needn't write. If I may with the greatest of respect say to a

:51:58.:52:01.

distinguished former minister, that's not for a right honourable

:52:02.:52:07.

gentleman is to judge. If the right honourable gentleman is

:52:08.:52:08.

disinterested in it, others might be. We'll leave it. There -- it

:52:09.:52:18.

there. The honourable gentleman championeders from a sedentary

:52:19.:52:23.

position, how will we find it. Ed tole along to the library. Can my

:52:24.:52:29.

honourable friend reassure me we will continue to provide the best

:52:30.:52:32.

possible equipment to the armed forces and where appropriate and

:52:33.:52:35.

where that standard is met that will be equipment developed and

:52:36.:52:40.

manufactured in the United Kingdom? Well, my honourable friend is right

:52:41.:52:45.

that we do need to focus on the best equipment getting the right

:52:46.:52:50.

capability for our armed forces. We will seek the best value for money

:52:51.:52:55.

for the taxpayer. We will seek to get that UK content as strong as

:52:56.:52:59.

possible. For example, with the F35, 15% of each of the 3,000 planes in

:53:00.:53:05.

the global programme are made at Walton in the North West. The UK has

:53:06.:53:09.

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

:53:10.:53:14.

for the maintenance repair overhaul and upgrade

:53:15.:53:18.

-- these fantastic aircraft. THE SPEAKER: We must move on.

:53:19.:53:24.

Topical number one, Mr Speaker. ... Remain success in our operations

:53:25.:53:29.

against Daesh and implementing our Strategic Defence and Security

:53:30.:53:32.

Review. As I told the House on Thursday I chair the next meeting of

:53:33.:53:36.

defence ministers from across the coalition against Daesh, reviewing

:53:37.:53:40.

progress in Iraq and now in Syria and mapping out longer term plans

:53:41.:53:43.

for peace and stability in the region. On Saturday, I visited a

:53:44.:53:53.

27-year-old father of two, a brave RAF serviceman who's dedicated the

:53:54.:53:57.

past ten years of his life to the RAF. Now he's dying of terminal

:53:58.:54:05.

bowel cancer. Despite this devastating diagnosis now he's

:54:06.:54:11.

raised money for the hospice. Will the Secretary of State pay tribute

:54:12.:54:18.

to -- tribute to him. I'm happy to pay that tribute. The senior air

:54:19.:54:26.

craftsman was a man of the highest calibre, who was in Afghanistan and

:54:27.:54:29.

Libya. His wife and young daughter should be in no doubt of the highest

:54:30.:54:34.

regard which the Royal Air Force holds him. We are all impressed and

:54:35.:54:39.

inspired by the courage shown from his sick bed in raising so much

:54:40.:54:45.

money for the hospice. Following the Government's announcement of base

:54:46.:54:48.

closures, what guarantees has the Ministry of Defence given to

:54:49.:54:52.

civilian staff regarding their future employment? As the honourable

:54:53.:54:57.

gentleman knows, I think supported at the time, we've had to reduce the

:54:58.:55:03.

number of bases to ensure that our servicemen and women are in better

:55:04.:55:08.

accommodation, in fewer remote areas and in places where they have more

:55:09.:55:14.

chance of their spouses getting into, or partners getting into

:55:15.:55:18.

employment. Obviously, the civilian jobs that may be affected will be

:55:19.:55:24.

with plenty of time. We have set out generous time scales for discussion

:55:25.:55:27.

and these moves are not immediate. We will certainly do everything we

:55:28.:55:31.

can to ensure those civilians are properly looked after. What steps is

:55:32.:55:37.

my honourable friend taking to increase Britain's defence

:55:38.:55:39.

representation around the world to promote our security and prosperity?

:55:40.:55:44.

I can tell my honourable friend that we have this year established

:55:45.:55:49.

regional defence staffs in the Gulf, based in Dubai, in Asia Pacific,

:55:50.:55:53.

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

:55:54.:55:58.

defence engagement commitment we made in the Strategic Defence Review

:55:59.:56:02.

last year. These new regional defence staffs will work with our

:56:03.:56:06.

international partners to protect and advance our interests by

:56:07.:56:12.

reinforcing bilateral and multi-lateral defence relationships.

:56:13.:56:16.

end. We have heard about how aid is not getting into Aleppo, but it is

:56:17.:56:23.

also stopping civilians leaving and medics getting out safely. What

:56:24.:56:28.

steps I be taking and what discussions are we having to ensure

:56:29.:56:32.

safe passage in this intolerable situation? Hospitals are being

:56:33.:56:39.

bombed and humanitarian aid convoys are being attacked and it is very

:56:40.:56:44.

clear that the Russian and Syrian regimes are not prepared to allow

:56:45.:56:52.

the aid should get in to get in. Further discussions about this in

:56:53.:56:56.

Paris on Saturday and there will be further discussions in the days

:56:57.:57:01.

ahead, but until Russia lifts its bar on getting aid into those parts

:57:02.:57:08.

of eastern Aleppo, my fear is that a large number of people are going to

:57:09.:57:19.

die. Will the Secretary of State join me, I have lost my voice which

:57:20.:57:25.

will please many people... Will be Secretary of State join me in

:57:26.:57:32.

condemning those people who have condensed our deployment of troops

:57:33.:57:37.

in Estonia is being provocative and agree with me that the Baltic states

:57:38.:57:41.

themselves have welcomed it in the face of aggression from Russia?

:57:42.:57:53.

The leader of the Labour Party is called for a demilitarised zone

:57:54.:57:59.

between Nato and Russia. It would be interesting to hear if the rest of

:58:00.:58:02.

the Labour Party agrees with that, because President Putin would. The

:58:03.:58:13.

cost of the Poseidon vessels that are being bought is $300 million.

:58:14.:58:23.

Our cost is the two $400 million. Does the Secretary of State value

:58:24.:58:31.

for money? I am not sure the exact point that the Honourable Gentleman

:58:32.:58:34.

is making, because if it was up to him and his party we would not be

:58:35.:58:39.

buying these vehicles or basing them on Scotland. When my right

:58:40.:58:47.

honourable friend -- will my right honourable friend support me for

:58:48.:58:53.

bringing the innovation hub for words that can help with the rapid

:58:54.:59:00.

innovation of on a -- innovation of unmanned vehicles? I thank him for

:59:01.:59:08.

his campaigning by half of the work done it in his constituency on

:59:09.:59:14.

interesting and innovative projects, like an unmanned helicopter system.

:59:15.:59:23.

We're committed over ten years to spend ?3 billion as part of our

:59:24.:59:30.

partner arrangement. The Israeli and US Navy have been attacked by

:59:31.:59:35.

anti-ship missiles. Is it not time that we look again at the type 31

:59:36.:59:43.

frigate and make sure they have the right capabilities? In terms of the

:59:44.:59:51.

important question that she and asks, it is very important that the

:59:52.:59:57.

Royal Naval continually assesses the capabilities with which ships are

:59:58.:00:00.

affected and there will be details I cannot go into at the dispatch box

:00:01.:00:06.

because they are sensitive due to operational requirements. Frigates

:00:07.:00:13.

and destroyers are currently protected they are harpoons, but

:00:14.:00:18.

they are coming out of service in 2008 team leaving them defended by

:00:19.:00:25.

Mark eight guns of the range of 17 miles, will the Minister consider

:00:26.:00:30.

looking again at extending the service life of the harpoon missile

:00:31.:00:37.

to defend our ships? The Royal Navy is continually assessing the

:00:38.:00:39.

capabilities it requires and work are going across the MOD to consider

:00:40.:00:43.

the options for the harpoon replacement. Thanks to the custom

:00:44.:00:49.

commissions act brought in by the Labour Government, we do not sell

:00:50.:00:55.

custom permissions any more, but the Government is also required to

:00:56.:00:59.

persuade its allies not to use cluster munitions either. What is

:01:00.:01:05.

the Government doing to try to stop the Saudis using cluster ammunition

:01:06.:01:12.

in Yemen? In line with our obligations under the Convention, we

:01:13.:01:18.

continue to actively discourage all states from using cluster munitions

:01:19.:01:23.

and we encourage them to do so without delay. We have raised the

:01:24.:01:28.

ratification of this with ministers in Saudi Arabia. I was disappointed

:01:29.:01:35.

to learn staff reductions at EAE, including in Rochester. Kid my right

:01:36.:01:42.

honourable friend outlined what support his department can offer to

:01:43.:01:45.

local suppliers to make sure that the skills behind the innovation are

:01:46.:01:52.

secure my constituency? I share my honourable friend's disappointment

:01:53.:01:55.

at the news that BAE Systems juicing employment in Rochester because I

:01:56.:02:01.

think we're spending a lot of money with them at the moment, but I'm

:02:02.:02:05.

sure that the people she mentions have exemplary skills and I can

:02:06.:02:09.

certainly see a part of the Government that we will do

:02:10.:02:11.

everything we can to make sure that those skills are redeployed in other

:02:12.:02:20.

areas of the specialty. Further to her answer to the earlier question

:02:21.:02:25.

that she confirmed about the budget, that should tell us when the last of

:02:26.:02:30.

the six type 45 destroyers will have the harpoon system? I cannot give

:02:31.:02:38.

him an exact timetable because it has not been finalised, but I can

:02:39.:02:41.

tell him that the budget is in place and the contract will be competed in

:02:42.:02:45.

the normal way and that ongoing improvements are being made all the

:02:46.:02:49.

time and have been made to that propulsion system. Do ministers

:02:50.:03:02.

accept that the type 31 general-purpose frigates are the

:03:03.:03:06.

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

:03:07.:03:12.

Escort is from 19 back to the sort of figures that we used to have when

:03:13.:03:17.

we had an oceangoing Navy with another vessel to protect it. Will

:03:18.:03:22.

she ensure that the design of these frigates is chosen to be of the most

:03:23.:03:27.

economical nature and that all the bells and whistles can be added on

:03:28.:03:30.

later but the maximum number of holes must be commissioned. We have

:03:31.:03:41.

some 29 ships serving on the seven seas around the world at the moment

:03:42.:03:47.

and I'm sure that as his point is good about the export ability of the

:03:48.:03:51.

type 31 frigate and our ambition to raise the number of frigates and

:03:52.:04:04.

destroyers above the current 19. Exceptionally, I understand that it

:04:05.:04:08.

flows from what has taken place, I will hear a point of order now. But

:04:09.:04:12.

I'm sure the Honourable Gentleman will not abuse his privilege. During

:04:13.:04:19.

defence questions it was raised that the shipbuilding strategy had been

:04:20.:04:23.

published and that he would send a signed copy to my honourable friend.

:04:24.:04:26.

But when cross

:04:27.:04:32.

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS