:00:00. > :00:11.Good afternoon. Welcome to BBC parliament's live coverage of the
:00:12. > :00:15.Commons. Theresa May will be updating MPs on the outcome of last
:00:16. > :00:20.week's European Council summit meeting. The statement follows a row
:00:21. > :00:23.over alleged leaked accounts of a dinner involving Jean-Claude
:00:24. > :00:29.Juncker, the European Commission President, who was reported to have
:00:30. > :00:35.said Theresa May begged for help to push forward the Brexit talks. There
:00:36. > :00:39.is go be an emergency debate on the response of ministers in favour of a
:00:40. > :00:44.pause on the rollout of universal credit. First debate today is on the
:00:45. > :00:46.Government's automated and electrical vehicles bill. First it's
:00:47. > :00:57.questions to the Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.
:00:58. > :01:02.We are unconditionally committed to European security and we will work
:01:03. > :01:06.closely with our European partners to defend our shared values and to
:01:07. > :01:12.confront shared threats. Our longstanding commitment to Nato
:01:13. > :01:16.nuclear deterrents remains the ultimate guarantee of our security.
:01:17. > :01:19.Thank you. I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. The UK is
:01:20. > :01:24.leaving the EU and single market just when the EU is providing large
:01:25. > :01:28.funds for corporation in procurement and RND. Will the Secretary of State
:01:29. > :01:33.ensure that the UK defence industry will have continued access to EU
:01:34. > :01:38.projects and to co-operation with European defence sector? That is
:01:39. > :01:43.exactly what we will try to ensure as we subject out in that paper
:01:44. > :01:47.published a few weeks ago. We want our defence companies to stay close
:01:48. > :01:51.to the European defence agency and other collaborative programmes on
:01:52. > :02:01.the continent and a number of them of course are in shared ownership
:02:02. > :02:03.with other companies in Europe. My neighbouring constituency played a
:02:04. > :02:08.key role in defence co-operation with the EU and non-EU allies.
:02:09. > :02:11.However, in recent months there's been real concern with cuts creating
:02:12. > :02:15.uncertainty of the future of the base and it's caused great concern
:02:16. > :02:18.for many of my constituents and families who work and serve there.
:02:19. > :02:22.Does the Secretary of State agree that this is not only sending
:02:23. > :02:26.entirely the wrong message of our commitment to our allies, including
:02:27. > :02:29.the European Union, will but will also strike at the heart of the
:02:30. > :02:35.community who have a long history with this base. I visited the base
:02:36. > :02:39.that he refers to and I want to reassure him that although we are
:02:40. > :02:43.looking hard at the future use of the airfield there, the base will
:02:44. > :02:47.not be affected by that and my honourable friend who has a direct
:02:48. > :02:53.responsibility for basing matters is happy to talk to him in more detail.
:02:54. > :02:57.Whether or not Britain is part of the European Union bilateral defence
:02:58. > :02:59.co-operation with our allies is really important at any time. Would
:03:00. > :03:03.the Secretary of State like to comment on the progress the
:03:04. > :03:08.Lancaster House agreement which seems such a sensible arrangement to
:03:09. > :03:11.have with the country with similar defence forces and similar world
:03:12. > :03:15.view? I am grateful to my honourable friend. In the last few months I
:03:16. > :03:19.have had meetings with my counterparts in Belgium, Cyprus and
:03:20. > :03:24.Estonia, in France, Italy and Romania and I have received inward
:03:25. > :03:28.visits from my counterparts from Croatia, Netherlands and Poland. The
:03:29. > :03:31.Lang caster House framework is the most important of all our
:03:32. > :03:38.relationships with other members of the European Union -- Lancaster. I
:03:39. > :03:42.can assure my honourable friend that when the French Minister and I next
:03:43. > :03:49.meet next month we will be looking to see how we take work under that
:03:50. > :03:52.agreement further forward. Britain's had close working defence
:03:53. > :03:56.relationships with all the European countries for decades before the EU
:03:57. > :03:59.was even invented, for centuries before that with many of them. Will
:04:00. > :04:01.the Secretary of State not agree with me that while of course we will
:04:02. > :04:04.maintain close defence relationships with France and Germany and other
:04:05. > :04:07.European countries, Brexit actually gives an opportunity to redevelop
:04:08. > :04:12.some of our defence relationships around the world with the old
:04:13. > :04:17.Commonwealth, United States of America and of course Nato. Brexit
:04:18. > :04:21.of course gives us that opportunity to look again at our global role.
:04:22. > :04:26.But I do have to say to my honourable friend that we currently
:04:27. > :04:30.contribute to over a dozen common security and defence policy missions
:04:31. > :04:33.and operations organised by the European Union and it's important
:04:34. > :04:37.that where we can we continue to look from outside the European
:04:38. > :04:42.Union, we continue to look and see how we can further contribute to
:04:43. > :04:49.European security as well as to the global role that he and I agree. Our
:04:50. > :04:53.defence industry needs certainty and stability from the Government so
:04:54. > :04:55.that they can plan their operations appropriately. I am sure the
:04:56. > :05:00.Secretary of State will agree with that. But the Government's dogged
:05:01. > :05:03.insistence and dragging us out of the customs union and the single
:05:04. > :05:07.market during the transition period I believe, and we believe, is having
:05:08. > :05:11.the opposite effect. Is it not time that we put the interests of our
:05:12. > :05:15.economy first including the defence sector, rather than the interests of
:05:16. > :05:19.a minority of Tory backbenchers and retained our membership of the
:05:20. > :05:25.single market and customs union for a time limited period as we leave
:05:26. > :05:31.the EU? As we leave the European Union we have to leave the single
:05:32. > :05:35.market and the customs union but the paper that we have published on
:05:36. > :05:38.foreign policy and the foreign policy and defence partnership that
:05:39. > :05:43.we seek after we have left the European Union makes it very clear
:05:44. > :05:47.that we continue to seek the closest possible co-operation between our
:05:48. > :05:51.defence industry and the defence industries of the continent. My
:05:52. > :05:56.right honourable friend has already referred to global reach and given
:05:57. > :06:01.that the United Kingdom probably has a greater capability there than any
:06:02. > :06:05.other Armed Forces in Europe, is there not a sort of common
:06:06. > :06:09.mutuality, a common feeling both with the Europeans and indeed with
:06:10. > :06:17.the United Kingdom that we could co-operate in the future for our
:06:18. > :06:23.mutual defence? Well, yes. Our 2015 strategic defence and security
:06:24. > :06:26.review made it very clear that in future our defence posture is going
:06:27. > :06:31.to be international by design, that we will increasingly be working more
:06:32. > :06:36.closely with our friends and allies around the world and we saw evidence
:06:37. > :06:43.of that co-operation in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, for
:06:44. > :06:47.example. The relationship with EU and non-EU allies is the work
:06:48. > :06:52.carried out by the Royal Marines in northern Europe. The fears we have
:06:53. > :06:57.heard elsewhere around the future of HMS Albion and B, lwark, key
:06:58. > :07:01.components in the force are being felt not only on these shores just
:07:02. > :07:05.as the decision was earlier this summer to cancel the vital winter
:07:06. > :07:10.training in Norway. What assurances does he have today for allies in
:07:11. > :07:15.northern Europe that these programmes are not in danger? We
:07:16. > :07:19.work very closely with our northern European allies, not least through
:07:20. > :07:21.the northern group and the joint expeditionary force that many of the
:07:22. > :07:29.other northern countries are members of and the Royal Marines are a key
:07:30. > :07:33.part of that co-operation. I am very grateful for what he said to my
:07:34. > :07:37.honourable friend from Dundee in relation to the base. Can he perhaps
:07:38. > :07:41.tell us more about the plans that he has for the airfield so that those
:07:42. > :07:45.crucial partners in Europe know more about it as well as his
:07:46. > :07:50.constituents? We are looking again at a large number of the airfields
:07:51. > :07:54.that we have. We are not making full use of at the moment and seeing
:07:55. > :07:58.whether those airfields can be released in a number of parts of
:07:59. > :08:04.this country which would give us the opportunity for the new housing that
:08:05. > :08:07.we need. The Royal Marine base at Condor is part of that review and I
:08:08. > :08:11.have said that my honourable friend is responsible for basing is happy
:08:12. > :08:18.to talk to him and to his colleague about the future development of that
:08:19. > :08:21.airfield. My right honourable friend agree that members of this House we
:08:22. > :08:24.all have a responsibility when it comes to speculation, we can
:08:25. > :08:27.essentially speculate about anything but these are people's lives, these
:08:28. > :08:36.are people's jobs and we should base our debate around facts and not a
:08:37. > :08:42.political agenda? Well, I do agree with my honourable friend. There has
:08:43. > :08:47.been - there has been quite enough speculation and scaremongering, not
:08:48. > :08:51.least by members opposite. The national security advisor, because
:08:52. > :08:55.the threats to our country have intensified since the 2015 review,
:08:56. > :08:58.is conducting a specific capabilities review to make sure we
:08:59. > :09:04.are implementing that review in the best possible way to give us the
:09:05. > :09:09.impact that we need from our reequipment programme. Number two,
:09:10. > :09:14.Mr Speaker. I have regular discussions with the Chancellor,
:09:15. > :09:19.this Government is committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on
:09:20. > :09:23.defence and committed to growing the defence budget by at least half a
:09:24. > :09:31.percent above inflation every year of this parliament. The defence
:09:32. > :09:37.budget will therefore rise from ?36 billion this year, to almost ?40
:09:38. > :09:42.billion by 2020-21. Thank you. Would the Secretary of State agree that in
:09:43. > :09:45.fact the inadequacy of current level of funding and uncertainty around
:09:46. > :09:51.long-term investments that this generates has impacted the security
:09:52. > :09:59.of jobs at BAE, including in my own constituency of Portsmouth South. If
:10:00. > :10:02.members opposite were really concerned about BAE Systems jobs
:10:03. > :10:08.they should get behind our export campaigns for typhoon and hawk
:10:09. > :10:12.aircraft and not undermine them by criticising potential customs. I saw
:10:13. > :10:18.the chairman of BA systems last week. I reassured him we want to
:10:19. > :10:21.continue towork work with the company, I have emphasised the
:10:22. > :10:27.importance of keeping production lines open should new orders
:10:28. > :10:33.materialise. And to stay on track in developing for the arrival of F-35.
:10:34. > :10:38.Does the Secretary of State recall that several years after we took the
:10:39. > :10:44.peace dividend we were still spending 3% of GDP on defence in the
:10:45. > :10:50.mid-1990s and can he assure us that no inadequacy in the defence budget
:10:51. > :10:55.will lead to the loss of Her Majesty's ships Albion and Bulwark
:10:56. > :11:01.which are scheduled to leave service in 2033 and 2034 as the defence
:11:02. > :11:06.procurement Minister wrote to the defence committee only in January.
:11:07. > :11:11.Well, on the latter point I referred to the purpose of the capabilities
:11:12. > :11:16.review which is simply to make sure that the equipment programme we set
:11:17. > :11:21.out in 2015 is on track and is spending our money in the best
:11:22. > :11:25.possible way to deal with the threat that is have intensified since 2015.
:11:26. > :11:29.On the first point so far as finance is concerned, the defence budget was
:11:30. > :11:36.?34 billion when I became Defence Secretary. It's ?36 billion today.
:11:37. > :11:45.It's going to reach ?40 billion by 2020. We have heard there's a
:11:46. > :11:47.growing Tory rebellion over next month's budget with half the Cabinet
:11:48. > :11:53.determined to sack the Chancellor because they're convinced they could
:11:54. > :11:57.do a better job themselves. There is even speculation about the loyal
:11:58. > :12:07.Defence Secretary, he may be about to launch his own offensive on
:12:08. > :12:13.number 11. On a serious matter, we do know... We do know that most of
:12:14. > :12:19.the Tory manifesto has already bitten the dust and so I was pleased
:12:20. > :12:25.to note that he seemed to be very confident about a commitment to a 0.
:12:26. > :12:29.5% year on year increase. Can he give us categoric assurances there
:12:30. > :12:33.will be no fiddling the figures as we have seen with the 2% commitment
:12:34. > :12:44.on GDP. On her first point I am not sure if
:12:45. > :12:49.that was speculation for scaremongering but it is good indeed
:12:50. > :12:53.to hear from her after she was gagged at the Labour Party
:12:54. > :12:59.conference and not given any kind of slot. Let me reassure her that our
:13:00. > :13:02.manifesto commitment to increasing the budget by at least nor Budvar
:13:03. > :13:11.percent ahead of inflation is an absolute commitment -- 0.5%. As as
:13:12. > :13:21.what is classified as 2% spending for the purposes of the Nato but
:13:22. > :13:24.that is a matter for Nato to decide. The reality is that this
:13:25. > :13:29.government's chaotic mismanagement had led to gaping holes in the MoD
:13:30. > :13:36.budget and there is a real concern about cuts to our amphibious
:13:37. > :13:38.capability as we have already heard. Can the Defence Secretary say
:13:39. > :13:43.categorically there will be absolutely no cuts to the Royal
:13:44. > :13:52.Marines? The Royal Marines are part of the Royal Navy. With the latest
:13:53. > :13:57.submarine Audacious launched in the spring and the steel cut on our
:13:58. > :14:03.latest frigate in July and the sailing at Queen Elizabeth and the
:14:04. > :14:07.naming of Prince of Wales and HMS Medway and HMS fourth, nobody should
:14:08. > :14:15.be in any doubt that this year has seen the Royal Navy growing in power
:14:16. > :14:19.and in numbers. Thank you for the opportunity to ask the secretary of
:14:20. > :14:22.state a brief question, as we hear about defence budget being discussed
:14:23. > :14:26.would it not be worth focusing also on what the Armed Forces achieved
:14:27. > :14:30.for the United Kingdom? Through their soft influence to that ship
:14:31. > :14:34.with it and training establishment, are they not fundamentally part of a
:14:35. > :14:41.foreign honesty and integrated defence? Absolutely and smart and
:14:42. > :14:44.soft power is important to us as hard power which is why it is our
:14:45. > :14:49.ambition on this side of the house to continue to grow the defence
:14:50. > :14:55.budget and the power and impact of our forces. I note that the
:14:56. > :14:59.honourable gentleman appears to be powered by wires. If he is subject
:15:00. > :15:06.to some sort of exterior propulsion might be setting a precedent for
:15:07. > :15:09.chairs of select committees. His attire will be closely followed in
:15:10. > :15:16.the future! Number three, Mr Speaker. Minister. With permission I
:15:17. > :15:21.would like to answer questions three and 17 together. Since Saints are 15
:15:22. > :15:27.we have cut still on the first type 26 and signed a contract by new
:15:28. > :15:31.Apache helicopters. We are on track to deliver by the end of 2020
:15:32. > :15:36.initial operating capability for carrier strike, maritime patrol
:15:37. > :15:39.aircraft and Ajax. We launched our innovation initiative and published
:15:40. > :15:45.our shipbuilding and international brand engagement strategies. HMS
:15:46. > :15:52.bulwark helped evacuate 3000 British citizens from Lebanon in the 2006
:15:53. > :15:58.crisis. Given the recent problems the Foreign Office had evacuating
:15:59. > :16:00.citizens from Hurricane Irma, with the argue for his department to lead
:16:01. > :16:06.on future evacuations and the warranty to maintain the capacity of
:16:07. > :16:12.the fleet provided by HMS Bulwark and Albion? I think one of the
:16:13. > :16:16.strengths of this government is how we successfully work together
:16:17. > :16:21.between departments and we saw the Conran to approach working
:16:22. > :16:26.effectively in recent weeks that matter the comprehensive approach.
:16:27. > :16:37.That is the post we should be taking. SDSR aim for at least 10% of
:16:38. > :16:43.Armed Forces personnel to come from IBM BMA -- BME background and are
:16:44. > :16:49.currently none into stomach or above. When will ministers publish a
:16:50. > :16:54.new diversity strategy to get to grips with this? The honourable
:16:55. > :16:57.gentleman is right that Britain is changing and it is important that
:16:58. > :17:01.our Armed Forces represent modern Britain. There is an impressive
:17:02. > :17:08.strategy in place at the moment and the target is for 10% of the BAME
:17:09. > :17:12.divinity to beat recruit an equally 15% women. We have had varying
:17:13. > :17:16.success on the fourth of the oil ever was doing the best by far the
:17:17. > :17:24.year on year we are seeing improvements -- the Royal Air Force.
:17:25. > :17:29.By 2020 the commitments set out in SDSR 2015 will be funded by a
:17:30. > :17:33.defence budget totalling a record ?40 million. The government's
:17:34. > :17:38.welcome commitment to spending 2% of our economy on defence is the
:17:39. > :17:43.minimum Nato requirement. The commitment, is it rubbing off on our
:17:44. > :17:48.fellow Nato counterparts? My honourable friend makes a powerful
:17:49. > :17:52.point and we are committed to spending at least 2% and I'm
:17:53. > :17:55.delighted we continue to do that. Slowly but surely we are getting the
:17:56. > :18:01.message across to our allies and whilst only a minority of them do
:18:02. > :18:07.spend 2% we are conscious that the direction of travel is positive.
:18:08. > :18:13.Number four, Mr Speaker. With permission Mrs B Dyer would like to
:18:14. > :18:18.answer a question for together with question 16. -- Mr Speaker. We
:18:19. > :18:23.published our shipbuilding strategy in September and then launched a
:18:24. > :18:26.strategy for new guide 31 frigate and we are proposing at least 20
:18:27. > :18:32.different proposal from industry across the UK. It is fantastic news
:18:33. > :18:37.that the national shipbuilding strategy can benefit the whole UK.
:18:38. > :18:42.Cornwall has a proud history with the sea and HMS Corbel was
:18:43. > :18:45.decommissioned in 2011 so, urge my right honourable friend to dig a bid
:18:46. > :18:52.from Cornwall to put Cornwall back on the waves? My honourable friend
:18:53. > :18:58.is a champion for his county and he will be aware that in the type 26
:18:59. > :19:06.frigates we have started announcing the names HMS Glasgow, HMS Belfast
:19:07. > :19:12.and there will be further names announced in due course. The type 31
:19:13. > :19:18.T frigate will be named by the Royal Navy committee and my honourable
:19:19. > :19:22.friend had set out his claim today. The strategy announced by the
:19:23. > :19:27.Secretary of State will provide many opportunities for the supply chain
:19:28. > :19:32.including companies such as GE energy in my constituency who are
:19:33. > :19:36.working on the first batch of the type 26, the global combat ship. I
:19:37. > :19:45.wondered if she could say the timetable for the second batch of
:19:46. > :19:49.vessels? I think my honourable friend highlights the importance of
:19:50. > :19:53.the supply chain across the UK and the fact that in a relatively
:19:54. > :20:00.landlocked part of the country so much work is pouring in from the
:20:01. > :20:04.frigate programme. We announced the ?3.7 billion first batch of type 26
:20:05. > :20:08.frigates and we will be securing the necessary approvals to carry on with
:20:09. > :20:15.the negotiations for that contract and announce the second batch early
:20:16. > :20:19.in 2020. Despite the challenge of the UK steam industry at the
:20:20. > :20:25.offshore patrol vessels used by the Royal Navy are being that by foreign
:20:26. > :20:28.steel. Can the Minister the assurance that British steel will be
:20:29. > :20:34.put first when building new vessels? I'm delighted to let the house note
:20:35. > :20:40.that in fact on the first of the industry days we held for the type
:20:41. > :20:45.31 E frigates, UK still came along and were represented and so to
:20:46. > :20:48.ensure they got involved at that early stage give them the best
:20:49. > :20:56.chance of winning these competitions. Given the comments
:20:57. > :21:00.from trade unions on the Clyde who are suggesting that promises made to
:21:01. > :21:05.them had been broken by the Ministry of Defence, how does the Minister
:21:06. > :21:10.respond and will the government change it is a logical decision to
:21:11. > :21:13.put three fleets aboard ships to international competition? Should
:21:14. > :21:17.they not be built in the UK? Honestly every time I come and talk
:21:18. > :21:22.about our wonderful programme of shipbuilding in the UK I hear
:21:23. > :21:25.nothing but doom and gloom from our friends on the Scottish Nationalists
:21:26. > :21:31.ventures when in fact there are currently and no one would believe
:21:32. > :21:37.this, currently 15 ships being built in Scotland including the second of
:21:38. > :21:41.the two new aircraft carriers, two decades worth of work on the frigate
:21:42. > :21:44.programme, five new offshore patrol vessels and frankly I don't know
:21:45. > :21:51.what I can do to keep these gentlemen and ladies happy. Number
:21:52. > :22:00.five, Mr Speaker. We are making significant progress in Syria, Raqqa
:22:01. > :22:08.was freed from the control of diet on Friday, in Iraq Mosul was
:22:09. > :22:13.liberated in July. Aria strikes will continue against terrorist target
:22:14. > :22:16.until they have been defeated in both Iraq and Syria and only by
:22:17. > :22:23.pursuing this campaign can we help reduce the terrorist threat to us
:22:24. > :22:30.here in Europe. As coalition forces destroy and degrade Daesh stronghold
:22:31. > :22:35.in Syria and across the Middle East this campaign will clearly evolve
:22:36. > :22:39.and there are also reports of Daesh activity in Libya. What plans does
:22:40. > :22:43.the Secretary of State had to ensure that where Daesh are defeated in one
:22:44. > :22:49.area they do not have a research in another? I'm grateful to my
:22:50. > :22:52.honourable friend, we are working with the international coalition and
:22:53. > :23:00.will be meeting as defence ministers in a few weeks in Brussels to ensure
:23:01. > :23:04.there is no emergence of Daesh in Libya or other countries. As far as
:23:05. > :23:08.Libya itself is concerned we are supporting the UN plan under the
:23:09. > :23:16.special representative of the Secretary General. When the then
:23:17. > :23:21.Prime Minister asked this house to approve air strikes in November
:23:22. > :23:29.2015, he described Raqqa as the head of the snake. Now that the snake had
:23:30. > :23:34.apparently been beheaded, how long would he envisage the RAF staying in
:23:35. > :23:38.the region? And why on earth after three opportunities had this has not
:23:39. > :23:45.brought a statement to the house about this very major development?
:23:46. > :23:46.There are regular reports to this house by myself, the Foreign
:23:47. > :23:52.Secretary and the International Development Secretary in a cycle of
:23:53. > :23:56.reporting and updating on the campaign in Iraq and Syria and I
:23:57. > :24:04.briefed members of Parliament and I think he was present at the Ministry
:24:05. > :24:07.last week. To move on to the campaign, it is now changing
:24:08. > :24:14.following the liberation of Raqqa and Mosul. British forces will be
:24:15. > :24:17.training further forward and providing appropriate force
:24:18. > :24:21.protection for our personnel in and around coalition bases. I have also
:24:22. > :24:26.authorised the deployment of additional medical personnel to the
:24:27. > :24:30.airbase and I have extended the deployment of British engineers
:24:31. > :24:33.there a further six months. This question is a start but there may be
:24:34. > :24:45.a statement by one means or another in this chamber for very long. I was
:24:46. > :24:49.in Kurdistan for the recent referendum and that the privilege of
:24:50. > :24:51.meeting troops for the second Mercian Regiment who are training
:24:52. > :24:57.the Peshmerga in the fight against Daesh and I was very impressed with
:24:58. > :25:01.what I saw but given the Secretary of State's positive and welcome
:25:02. > :25:04.assessment of the campaign, what next for our Armed Forces in the
:25:05. > :25:08.fight against Daesh? What is important is that we keep up the
:25:09. > :25:15.fight against Daesh until it has been pushed in Iraq right up to the
:25:16. > :25:19.Syrian border and defeated there and that we then begin the process of
:25:20. > :25:28.stabilisation and reconciliation in the provinces in the area to ensure
:25:29. > :25:37.that all those Shia and Sunni realise they have a stake in the
:25:38. > :25:41.future security of Iraq. We on these benches have long called for an
:25:42. > :25:46.operation service medal for personnel on operation shader and we
:25:47. > :25:50.welcome its announcement last month and the secondary has an much that
:25:51. > :25:54.the changing nature of war that means changing the criteria of how
:25:55. > :25:57.we award medals so we can you tell me if he has any plans to review
:25:58. > :26:03.this process and when that might be published? I'm grateful to the
:26:04. > :26:09.honourable gentleman for his welcome for an operation medal which we hope
:26:10. > :26:11.to start issuing next year which rightly recognises the contribution
:26:12. > :26:18.over three years now made by our service men and women in this very
:26:19. > :26:24.important campaign against the evil of our time. I have commented
:26:25. > :26:30.already publicly on the current criteria that require both risk and
:26:31. > :26:35.rigour to be undergone before service personnel is eligible for a
:26:36. > :26:42.medal and the nature of warfare is changing so we are looking again at
:26:43. > :26:46.those criteria. One of the consequences of the success of the
:26:47. > :26:54.operations against Daesh has been in the dispersal of many of their
:26:55. > :26:57.volunteers including UK citizens. Yesterday the honourable member for
:26:58. > :27:01.Penrith and border, the Minister of State for the Foreign Office and for
:27:02. > :27:05.David said that as far as UK citizens were concerned who had
:27:06. > :27:09.served in Isis, the only thing to do with one or two exceptions was to
:27:10. > :27:13.kill them. If that is now government policy?
:27:14. > :27:24.We have made clear that those who travel to fight with Daesh in Iraq
:27:25. > :27:26.or Syria will have been committing a criminal offence, Daesh is a
:27:27. > :27:31.proscribed organisation and we have to make sure if they ever do return
:27:32. > :27:34.from Iraq and Syria they do not pose a future threat to our national
:27:35. > :27:41.security but they have made their choice. They have chosen to fight
:27:42. > :27:50.for an organisation that uses terror and the murder of civilians as a
:27:51. > :27:56.modus operandi. Number six, Mr Speaker. With permission, I should
:27:57. > :27:59.like to answer question six and 11 together. We are committed to
:28:00. > :28:04.maintaining the overall size of the Armed Forces including an Army that
:28:05. > :28:07.is able to fill a war fighting division. Whilst Army recruitment
:28:08. > :28:11.and retention remains challenging over 8,000 people joined the regular
:28:12. > :28:15.Army last year and since April applications are over 20% higher
:28:16. > :28:20.compared to the same period last year. I thank the Minister for that
:28:21. > :28:25.answer but I would like to ask him to recall the year I was born, 1989
:28:26. > :28:31.the regular arm strength was 140,000. When I joined the
:28:32. > :28:36.territorials, 102,000. In recent years we have seen the Army fall
:28:37. > :28:41.below a regular strength of 82,000. Including a 40% in armoured strength
:28:42. > :28:44.of the Army. Would the Minister not accept this is an unacceptable
:28:45. > :28:49.degradation of strength. No, I don't. It's important to note that
:28:50. > :28:53.the Army is currently 95% manned. I accept there are challenges. Having
:28:54. > :28:57.probably the highest employment rate we have had in recent years doesn't
:28:58. > :29:00.help when it comes to recruiting the Army or we discussed earlier the
:29:01. > :29:03.changing nature of Britain and having to fight harder to make sure
:29:04. > :29:07.all parts of society will join the Army. It's also about the offer. I
:29:08. > :29:12.must say that when the leader of the opposition says he can not see a
:29:13. > :29:15.situation when he would deploy the Army overseas that's hardly a good
:29:16. > :29:20.recruiting tool for people who want to join the Army to do exactly that.
:29:21. > :29:25.The latest figures show that the Army is running at 6% under the
:29:26. > :29:28.number of personnel needed with a gap growing. How understaffed do we
:29:29. > :29:33.need to be before the Secretary of State will put pressure on the
:29:34. > :29:39.Chancellor to lift the 1% pay cap in order to boost recruitment? Well,
:29:40. > :29:44.the Army is 95% recruited and quite capable of fulfilling all of its
:29:45. > :29:48.commitments. I am pleased there will be some flexibility in how we apply
:29:49. > :29:51.that pay of course we have the Armied forces Pay Review Body which
:29:52. > :29:55.set that but it's important to have some flexibility so that we can
:29:56. > :29:59.attract people into the skill sets that we are currently short of. Can
:30:00. > :30:04.my right honourable friend confirm or deny if there is any truth in the
:30:05. > :30:11.current media speculation that the UK Armed Forces are about to bes as
:30:12. > :30:17.sooned into a European defence force to placate the European Union? No, I
:30:18. > :30:25.think I can absolutely scupper that one, thank you. Dz my right
:30:26. > :30:28.honourable friend agree that Yeovil's multirole wild cat
:30:29. > :30:36.helicopters ably support and protect our Army units and could be upgraded
:30:37. > :30:39.with missiles even better to support more focussed strike brigades? Well
:30:40. > :30:42.of course these are just some of the questions which we are currently
:30:43. > :30:45.considering under the national security capability review which is
:30:46. > :30:49.ongoing. The purpose of that review really is to decide how best that we
:30:50. > :30:56.can use the money that we are investing in our armed forces to
:30:57. > :30:59.maximise that capability. On the basis of the Minister's first
:31:00. > :31:05.answer, can he guarantee that the Army strength will not drop below
:31:06. > :31:09.80,000? We continue to work very hard to ensure that we do have new
:31:10. > :31:15.recruits coming. As I say the news this year is positive. We have over
:31:16. > :31:29.8,000 which is up some 20% on last year. Question number seven. HMS
:31:30. > :31:33.Queen Elizabeth sailed in June to commence sea trials. The second set
:31:34. > :31:38.of sea trials should begin this week weather-permitting. She remains on
:31:39. > :31:45.track to be accepted into the Royal Navy this year. Will my honourable
:31:46. > :31:49.friend confirm that as well as projecting global Britain's power
:31:50. > :31:53.for the next five tee years, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of
:31:54. > :31:57.Wales will be providing long-term skilled job opportunities and
:31:58. > :32:02.training for people in Portsmouth and in neighbouring constituencies
:32:03. > :32:05.like mine in Fareham? Well, my honourable friend is absolutely
:32:06. > :32:09.right to point out it's not just the 10,000 people who worked on getting
:32:10. > :32:13.her to the point where it is now the long-term sustainment over the next
:32:14. > :32:19.50 years and can I take this opportunity to put on record my
:32:20. > :32:23.appreciation to the Fareham company Westminster limited which did a lot
:32:24. > :32:28.of the dredging of Portsmouth harbour. Can the Minister update the
:32:29. > :32:33.House on what's happening with respect to ordering of the aircraft
:32:34. > :32:37.for the aircraft carrier, it would be handy to have an update. I am
:32:38. > :32:41.pleased to be able to update the honourable gentleman on that because
:32:42. > :32:44.as he will know we already have 12 of these aircraft and they are
:32:45. > :32:48.already flying in the US. We will have 14 by the end of the year. Next
:32:49. > :32:52.year we are on track to stand up the first squadron in the UK and I am
:32:53. > :32:56.pleased last week I was able to announce that the F-35 has
:32:57. > :33:03.successfully completed the trials on the ski jump in the US and is clear
:33:04. > :33:09.to land on the carrier. Question number eight. Following the
:33:10. > :33:12.recession there has been a requirement for fiscal
:33:13. > :33:15.responsibility to manage the deficit but today we need to balance out
:33:16. > :33:22.protecting jobs in the public sector, being fair to public sector
:33:23. > :33:26.workers and of course being fair to taxpayers who pay for it. Pay rates
:33:27. > :33:32.are recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body and we
:33:33. > :33:37.look forward to receiving their next set of recommendations for
:33:38. > :33:42.2018-2019. I thank the Minister for his answer. The Government is fond
:33:43. > :33:47.of saying they value our Armed Forces personnel. Yet back in June
:33:48. > :33:49.every Minister and every Cabinet member, including the Defence
:33:50. > :33:54.Secretary himself, voted against lifting the public sector pay cap
:33:55. > :33:59.for our Armed Forces. Isn't this proof that their commitment to our
:34:00. > :34:04.brave men and women is only skin deep? Well, the opposition does have
:34:05. > :34:09.a habit of actually spending money it doesn't have. We need to take
:34:10. > :34:13.things into consideration, much as we would like to move forward with
:34:14. > :34:18.breaking the 1% pay cap, we have to bear in mind when it comes to the
:34:19. > :34:23.Armed Forces the review also takes into consideration the progressive
:34:24. > :34:27.pay, subsidised accommodation, a range of allowances, including the
:34:28. > :34:29.factor as well as the basic salary that remains competitive and also
:34:30. > :34:33.bearing in mind comparisons with the private sector as well. This is
:34:34. > :34:36.exactly what the Armed Forces Pay Review Body does and it's for them
:34:37. > :34:41.to make their decisions and we look forward to that. Did I hear the
:34:42. > :34:48.Minister talking about the X Factor? This may require elaboration for
:34:49. > :34:52.some colleagues I think. Never mind. Well, in spite of increases in
:34:53. > :34:56.accommodation costs and cuts to tax credits the Government has slashed
:34:57. > :35:02.the starting pay of an Army private by over is,000 in real terms. This
:35:03. > :35:05.is no way to treat our Royal Armed Forces and will do nothing to
:35:06. > :35:08.resolve the crisis in recruitment and retention. I am asking the
:35:09. > :35:12.Government to change priorities, stop thinking about that ?2. 5
:35:13. > :35:18.billion tax giveway they're giving to big companies and the wealthy and
:35:19. > :35:21.now actually commit to freeing up the arm forces Pay Review Body so
:35:22. > :35:26.they're not convained by the pay cap and allow them to give a proper pay
:35:27. > :35:30.rise to Armed Forces personnel. I am not sure where the honourable lady
:35:31. > :35:32.has been, there is now that flexibility, it's been removed.
:35:33. > :35:36.There is no longer pressure to remain in that 1%. I wish her
:35:37. > :35:41.enthusiasm for the Armed Forces would rub off on the leader of the
:35:42. > :35:46.opposition. Who has no support or respect for the Armed Forces or Nato
:35:47. > :35:56.and wants to get rid of our nuclear deterrent. Number 12. We must
:35:57. > :36:00.recognise historically that mental health has not received the same
:36:01. > :36:05.attention as physical well-being. I am pleased that in July we published
:36:06. > :36:08.our new mental health and well-being strategy that comprehensively
:36:09. > :36:14.addresses this and I hope will lead to a cultural change in challenging
:36:15. > :36:17.the stigma and providing improving mental fitness of Armed Forces
:36:18. > :36:22.personnel and their families. I am grateful to the Minister for those
:36:23. > :36:26.comments. Does he agree with me that it is important that we provide
:36:27. > :36:30.better treatment for our veterans, but also that it is very important
:36:31. > :36:35.that the public appreciates that the vast majority of veterans who leave
:36:36. > :36:39.the Armed Forces do so being all the better for having served, rather
:36:40. > :36:44.than being seen as damaged individuals? My honourable friend
:36:45. > :36:48.makes such an important point because all of this House I think
:36:49. > :36:52.respects and reveres our Armed Forces but we need to bury this myth
:36:53. > :36:56.somehow if you joined Armed Forces you will be more likely to have
:36:57. > :37:00.mental health problems and to commit suicide than the general population
:37:01. > :37:05.and this is not the case. Absolutely not the case. We have 2. 5 billion
:37:06. > :37:10.veterans in this country, 15,000 leave every single year. 90% of them
:37:11. > :37:14.actually get into jobs or education within six months. Of course some of
:37:15. > :37:19.them through no fault of their own do require support and we need to
:37:20. > :37:23.make sure we provide that. Veterans have done their duty and we must
:37:24. > :37:27.ensure that we do ours by them. Can the Minister say a few words about
:37:28. > :37:32.what extra steps are being taken by the Armed Forces covenant and the
:37:33. > :37:35.veterans board to address this critical issue. Well, I am pleased
:37:36. > :37:40.to say this was a manifesto commitment. We need to recognise
:37:41. > :37:42.that it isn't just the MoD that looks after veterans' interests but
:37:43. > :37:45.it's across Whitehall and the Secretary of State will be chairing
:37:46. > :37:48.the first meeting of that on Thursday. He asked about the
:37:49. > :37:54.covenant, this is absolutely important. It is in its infancy but
:37:55. > :37:57.it encourages businesses to employ veterans, it encourages businesses
:37:58. > :38:01.to actually allow members of the reservists to go on training and of
:38:02. > :38:07.course it also provides deals that the Armed Forces regular members can
:38:08. > :38:11.have as well. The veterans welfare services is committed to enhancing
:38:12. > :38:17.the quality of life for veterans and its main objective is sufficient
:38:18. > :38:21.delivery of core services. My constituent Scott gar flee has had a
:38:22. > :38:24.different experience. The loves of his national insurance payments
:38:25. > :38:27.records. Will the Minister meet to discuss these matters with my
:38:28. > :38:30.constituent? I make it clear to any honourable
:38:31. > :38:33.member if they have a situation such as this I would be more than
:38:34. > :38:36.delighted to make sure that we understand what support can be
:38:37. > :38:39.provided because that is the duty of this House, that is the do you
:38:40. > :38:44.wantive of the nation and the MoD as well. It can be confusing as to know
:38:45. > :38:47.which way to turn. There are 450 charities out there. The veterans
:38:48. > :38:52.gateway programme provides that support. That was launched this
:38:53. > :38:58.July. I am more than delighted to meet with the honourable gentleman.
:38:59. > :39:02.The honourable gentleman has a look of statesman-like gravity on his
:39:03. > :39:04.face. I am keen to know the source. I am very worried about the
:39:05. > :39:08.complacency of the answers we have had from the Minister. Why is it
:39:09. > :39:12.that crisis and so many other charities working with homeless
:39:13. > :39:16.people, people sleeping rough, find a huge percentage of the people they
:39:17. > :39:21.find are ex-military personnel. What are we doing about it? Well, I am
:39:22. > :39:26.not sure again, example of the myth that we need to bust. Can I pay
:39:27. > :39:30.tribute to the local authorities and indeed the charities who are doing
:39:31. > :39:33.their work. Where we are failing, if we are failing, is not communicate
:39:34. > :39:40.where that support for brave veterans is and that's something
:39:41. > :39:49.that we all need to work towards. Number 13, please. The tremendous
:39:50. > :39:53.work of RAF #1k57 mounts Bay last month in the Caribbean demonstrated
:39:54. > :39:57.versatility of ships in the Royal Navy. It did indeed. But people in
:39:58. > :40:04.County Durham will be very alarmed there appears to be a question mark
:40:05. > :40:09.over the future of HMSBulwark, she is one of the newest amphibious
:40:10. > :40:15.ships, she was's been the fleet flagship. She's been used to rescue
:40:16. > :40:21.migrants in the Mediterranean. Surely a decision to decommission
:40:22. > :40:26.her early would be a false economy. I too have read the speculation in
:40:27. > :40:30.the press and it is just that. As we already discussed at defence
:40:31. > :40:32.questions today, there is a national security and capability review, it's
:40:33. > :40:37.very important we have that view. It's about trying to bring together
:40:38. > :40:40.a capability with our investment and equally the honourable lady would
:40:41. > :40:45.recognise while that review is ongoing it would be entirely
:40:46. > :40:50.inappropriate for me to pluck out individual capabilities and comment
:40:51. > :40:56.on them. I see the Minister of State is enjoying the benefit of family
:40:57. > :41:02.encouragement, this is something we enthusiastically welcome. In
:41:03. > :41:06.welcoming The Assurance the future of amphibious capability is under
:41:07. > :41:12.active and positive consideration, can I say as one who has been
:41:13. > :41:15.privileged to spend a little bit of time on HMS Bulwark, she is a
:41:16. > :41:21.magnificent fighting ship, has served this nation very well and to
:41:22. > :41:24.remove her from service would be a tragedy. I recognise my honourable
:41:25. > :41:28.friend's support and indeed the support of colleagues from across
:41:29. > :41:35.this House who feel strongly on this matter. We do enjoy amphibious
:41:36. > :41:41.capability, it's not just Albion and Bulwark. Albion is about to step up
:41:42. > :41:46.into the high readiness role for the next five years and Bulwark will be
:41:47. > :41:51.going to the lower role. We will be investing into amphibious capability
:41:52. > :41:55.for the QE class, as well. As the member of parliament that represents
:41:56. > :41:58.the dockyard Naval base where they are based, can I ask the Minister to
:41:59. > :42:03.speed up this review because there are lots of people that are very
:42:04. > :42:05.concerned about their jobs and local economy if Albion and Bulwark and
:42:06. > :42:09.the Royal Marines are to be scrapped.
:42:10. > :42:14.Once again he seems to be unnecessarily adding fuel to the
:42:15. > :42:18.spec collision and perhaps even scaremongering to his own
:42:19. > :42:22.constituents which I don't think it's valuable. What I will say is
:42:23. > :42:29.that the review will be completed in a timely manner but it is important
:42:30. > :42:32.to get it right. Will my honourable friend commit that in taking
:42:33. > :42:37.decisions about our amphibious capability and other issues that he
:42:38. > :42:42.will always be guided by military advice as to what capabilities we
:42:43. > :42:46.need? That is a very fair point and at the moment there has been no
:42:47. > :42:50.advice put on the Minister's desk as to where the outcome of this review
:42:51. > :43:03.is going but it will be based firmly on military advice. Number 15. The
:43:04. > :43:07.MoD hold personnel information on former Armed Forces personnel for
:43:08. > :43:11.lawful defence and security purposes. Information is held if the
:43:12. > :43:15.individual is receiving an occupational pension or made a claim
:43:16. > :43:18.for compensation or wet welfare assistant is being provided. The MOD
:43:19. > :43:22.is determined to ensure that veterans who need help are provided
:43:23. > :43:26.with appropriate support through the whole help -- the helpline, website
:43:27. > :43:30.and the welfare service and better and information service. The help
:43:31. > :43:36.has not been available to my constituent Mr Job with Parma -- Mr
:43:37. > :43:42.Joseph Palmer. He served as a regular in the Army the 60s and in
:43:43. > :43:49.Afghanistan. The only place which hold his record is the MOD because
:43:50. > :43:54.the immigration and visa service has lost his details and documents. Will
:43:55. > :44:01.the Minister work with me so that my constituent can remain in the UK and
:44:02. > :44:09.work in the UK? I would be delighted to meet the honourable lady and
:44:10. > :44:17.discuss this case. Could I ask the Minister if he can assure me that
:44:18. > :44:22.medical records of former personnel are accurately passed to general
:44:23. > :44:25.practitioners. It is a long time ago now but mine were not and there was
:44:26. > :44:35.no record of me being badly hurt and spending six months in hospital and
:44:36. > :44:38.my GP was amazed. Again, my honourable friend makes a valuable
:44:39. > :44:42.point and it is important we get these things right as veterans
:44:43. > :44:45.require, those who have served in the Armed Forces the particle or we
:44:46. > :44:51.have to make sure we provide the service they deserve. -- depart. One
:44:52. > :44:56.of the ways in which the Minister can ensure that information is
:44:57. > :45:00.secure is in terms of the National sentence and the owners said that
:45:01. > :45:03.former armed services personnel should be included new question and
:45:04. > :45:09.so what would his response be to ONS decision? I would be delighted to
:45:10. > :45:13.say that I'm very much supportive of this, the more information we have
:45:14. > :45:20.in understanding who our veterans are and whether that is through a
:45:21. > :45:24.veterans ID card or on changing the driving licence so there is a symbol
:45:25. > :45:29.on there to show you are a veteran, or indeed on GP records, it is all
:45:30. > :45:31.supportive of the veterans and that is the direction of travel we should
:45:32. > :45:47.go. Number 18. Leaving the EU should not affect our
:45:48. > :45:50.defence spending, our commitment to European security will continue when
:45:51. > :45:55.we leave and we are committed to meeting Nato guidelines of spending
:45:56. > :46:00.at least 2% of GDP on defence and to increase the defence budget by at
:46:01. > :46:04.least 0.5% above inflation every year of this parliament which will
:46:05. > :46:12.enable us to deliver smarter, stronger defence in the face of
:46:13. > :46:17.intensifying threats. With the uncertainty surrounding Brexit from
:46:18. > :46:21.the pound in freefall, what action as the secretary of state
:46:22. > :46:26.Twitterverse costs are kept under control for future equipment which
:46:27. > :46:32.would be paid for in US dollars like the effort he fired and the Apache
:46:33. > :46:36.helicopter? Like any organisation we take precautions against movements
:46:37. > :46:41.in the currency and we continue to ensure that we get the best value
:46:42. > :46:48.for money from any part of our equipment programme. Topical
:46:49. > :46:52.questions. Number one, Mr Speaker. This government has a strong record
:46:53. > :46:56.of supporting our Armed Forces and delivering a growing defence budget.
:46:57. > :47:00.Since July we have led the response to Hurricane Irma, we have published
:47:01. > :47:05.a new national shipbuilding strategy, supported the defeat of
:47:06. > :47:09.Daesh in Raqqa and continued to lead in Nato. I would like to
:47:10. > :47:12.congratulate all those service personnel and veterans who competed
:47:13. > :47:18.so well in the recent Invictus Games. Growing the supply of
:47:19. > :47:22.engineers is one of the ways the government can support both the
:47:23. > :47:26.Armed Forces and defence industry so can he tell the house what action
:47:27. > :47:30.his department is taking to support next year's year of engineering to
:47:31. > :47:37.ensure we inspire the next generation of engineers? We recruit,
:47:38. > :47:43.train and employ more than 55,000 engineers and we will be working as
:47:44. > :47:46.a partner with the Department for Transport on their year of
:47:47. > :47:51.engineering initiative and each of the single services will play a role
:47:52. > :47:53.in promoting that initiative through stem outreach helping to deliver a
:47:54. > :48:04.bright future for engineering in the UK. Given the announcement of nearly
:48:05. > :48:08.2000 job losses at BAE Systems, to maintain industrial capacity will
:48:09. > :48:13.the government bring forward its order for new Hawk aircraft for the
:48:14. > :48:17.Red Arrows? Can I use this opportunity to put on record what a
:48:18. > :48:23.wonderful job the Red Arrows do for the UK around the world and
:48:24. > :48:26.congratulate them on that successful 11 country tour which they have just
:48:27. > :48:32.returned from. He will know that this is an important training
:48:33. > :48:38.aircraft for the RAF and we have 75 of them and we expect them to
:48:39. > :48:43.continue to last until 2030 and we are pursuing a range of export
:48:44. > :48:47.opportunities around the world. Would my right honourable friend
:48:48. > :48:50.confirmed that commitment of the government to Nato and the
:48:51. > :48:54.collective defence of its members which has kept the peace for over 70
:48:55. > :49:01.years and would he condemn those who would withdraw from Nato and abandon
:49:02. > :49:04.our allies? Nato is the cornerstone of our defence and we are leading
:49:05. > :49:12.the battle group in Estonia, we have sent troops to Poland, RAF Typhoons
:49:13. > :49:15.to Romania. By contrast, the Leader of the Opposition does not support
:49:16. > :49:25.collective defence and Young Labour has just voted to withdraw from
:49:26. > :49:29.Nato. Can the Secretary of State give us an up-to-date report on the
:49:30. > :49:32.implementation of the Armed Forces covenant bearing in mind it was a
:49:33. > :49:38.Labour government in the first place that introduced it? As I mentioned
:49:39. > :49:41.earlier the covenant is very important, it is that bond between
:49:42. > :49:46.the nation and our Armed Forces to make sure they are looked after, not
:49:47. > :49:50.disenfranchised. It is in its infancy and we have to recognise it
:49:51. > :49:55.has to go a long way. We look at how the United States in their practical
:49:56. > :49:58.measures look after its veterans, this is no different but practically
:49:59. > :50:03.we have a long way to go to make sure we give the veterans the
:50:04. > :50:07.respect they deserve. Could I ask if the government plans to provide
:50:08. > :50:16.midlife upgrades to the tycoon and Chinook? -- Typhoon. We will create
:50:17. > :50:22.two additional front line squadrons from our existing fleet and extend
:50:23. > :50:25.Typhoon in service until 2040. They're capable of you are
:50:26. > :50:30.constantly evolving through initiatives like Project Centurion
:50:31. > :50:37.and we will be upgrading our Chinook helicopter to ensure it can also
:50:38. > :50:41.extend its life until the 20 40s. The government's invention to come
:50:42. > :50:46.out of the single market and the customs union will affect the
:50:47. > :50:51.complex supply chains for defence procurement. Has the Minister made a
:50:52. > :50:55.full assessment of the implications of Brexit for defence procurement
:50:56. > :51:03.taking into account these complex supply change? -- chains. There is
:51:04. > :51:08.an extensive programme of work under way not only in the MOD itself but
:51:09. > :51:11.also with our colleagues in the Department for exiting in the
:51:12. > :51:17.European Union and the contest of the importance of those supply
:51:18. > :51:20.chains. Given the concern on both sides of the house about the
:51:21. > :51:26.prosecution of Northern Ireland veterans up to 40 years after
:51:27. > :51:30.incidents occurred for which no new evidence is available, what with the
:51:31. > :51:34.Secretary of State's reaction be to an approach from perhaps the main
:51:35. > :51:41.opposition party to see if some form of consensus could be agreed on how
:51:42. > :51:44.to prevent this happening? There is broad agreement within Northern
:51:45. > :51:48.Ireland that the current systems and structures for dealing with the
:51:49. > :51:51.legacy of the troubles are not delivering enough for victims,
:51:52. > :51:55.survivors and wider society. We are working with the Northern Ireland
:51:56. > :51:58.Office to make sure that investigations are fair and focus on
:51:59. > :52:01.terrorists and not the personnel who kept us safe but of course we think
:52:02. > :52:12.there should be further discussions and we would welcome such
:52:13. > :52:19.discussions. There is no bar on a second question if the mood takes
:52:20. > :52:25.you! Repetition in this place is not an uncommon phenomenon! I will try
:52:26. > :52:28.to avoid that! Is the Minister aware that national insurance records are
:52:29. > :52:34.failing to be handed over to the veterans groups so that veterans
:52:35. > :52:41.cannot be identified when they are making applications and regard to
:52:42. > :52:46.benefits? I was not directly aware of that I meet with charities every
:52:47. > :52:50.week and it is something I will raise and it goes back to the point
:52:51. > :52:54.of making sure the veterans get the support they deserve but if he would
:52:55. > :52:59.like to write to me with more detail I would be grateful to receive his
:53:00. > :53:03.letter. Will my right honourable friend join me in commending those
:53:04. > :53:06.members of the Armed Forces who provided such brilliant support to
:53:07. > :53:09.those who were suffering at the hands of Hurricane Irma and set out
:53:10. > :53:14.for the house what different those efforts have made? I am sure my
:53:15. > :53:19.honourable friend speaks for the whole house and the military
:53:20. > :53:22.response to Hurricane Irma was swift, are mounts Bay was
:53:23. > :53:24.pre-positioned and at its peak we had almost 2000 troops on both
:53:25. > :53:29.islands who were deployed very quickly and managed to get aid
:53:30. > :53:32.through using the copters to areas which would not have received it had
:53:33. > :53:35.it not been for the military intervention and I take this
:53:36. > :53:40.opportunity on the half of the whole house to thank them for their
:53:41. > :53:44.efforts. Can the ministers confirmed to the house when the outcomes of
:53:45. > :53:55.the Armed Forces compensation scheme will be published? As nobody is
:53:56. > :54:00.getting up I will jump to my feet! I look forward to presenting the Armed
:54:01. > :54:11.Forces Project review in the near future. Five ships of the Royal Navy
:54:12. > :54:16.had been named after Devon's county capital HMS Exeter, the first in
:54:17. > :54:19.1680, so would he not agree with me that it would be entirely
:54:20. > :54:23.appropriate if one of the new frigates continued in that great
:54:24. > :54:27.tradition? Again my right honourable friend makes a compelling case, as
:54:28. > :54:31.are many other colleagues from all parts of the house for HMS Exeter
:54:32. > :54:38.and I am sure he would welcome the fact that HMS Tema is currently in
:54:39. > :54:43.billed as a offshore patrol vessel. It must be in the national interest
:54:44. > :54:46.to retain domestic military aircraft manufacturing capabilities if the
:54:47. > :54:49.government does not bring forward the replacement for the arrows, how
:54:50. > :54:55.will they guarantee that domestic Kebede the well military orders are
:54:56. > :55:02.secured for the long term at BAe given the current shortage of those
:55:03. > :55:05.orders -- -- capacity. He makes an important point because we have such
:55:06. > :55:11.strong leadership in this area but what I would say to the honourable
:55:12. > :55:16.gentleman is this, that it is also important we show cross-party
:55:17. > :55:19.support for the many export campaigns that BAE Systems are
:55:20. > :55:26.involved with around the world and I urge him to do what he can with his
:55:27. > :55:34.leader and front bench to do that. Given that the tycoon is scheduled
:55:35. > :55:37.to leave service in 2040, can I ask what is that she is taken to procure
:55:38. > :55:41.the next generation of fighter aircraft given the potential
:55:42. > :55:46.opportunities for export and to preserve and maintain our sovereign
:55:47. > :55:53.defence capabilities? Again a very important statement of the support
:55:54. > :55:55.we're giving to Typhoon export around the world and I was delighted
:55:56. > :56:00.my right honourable friend the Secretary of State was able to sign
:56:01. > :56:04.a statement of intent with Qatar recently and we will continue that
:56:05. > :56:11.effort, as well as considering what our options are in terms of work on
:56:12. > :56:14.a replacement. The Secretary of State was most welcome to my
:56:15. > :56:19.constituency for weeks ago bid to name a ship that was built in
:56:20. > :56:22.Glasgow. Can I ask the Secretary of State when he intends to visit
:56:23. > :56:32.Glasgow to announce some naval shipbuilding in Belfast? I hope the
:56:33. > :56:39.honourable member shared my pride in restoring the name HMS Belfast again
:56:40. > :56:48.to a warship and I will certainly bear his suggestion in mind next
:56:49. > :56:52.time I am in Glasgow. My constituent has just returned to Newark after
:56:53. > :56:57.fighting with the Kurdish Peshmerga and helping to defeat IS in Syria
:56:58. > :57:01.and northern Iraq and is one of hundreds of British citizens have
:57:02. > :57:05.done the same so would the Defence Secretary note the contribution and
:57:06. > :57:09.bravery of these British citizens but also strongly dislike that young
:57:10. > :57:15.people from this extremely dangerous course in the future? I certainly
:57:16. > :57:21.note that and I would advise any British citizen intending or wanting
:57:22. > :57:25.to go to fight against Daesh Isis, the way to do that is to join our
:57:26. > :57:29.Armed Forces and get the professional training that is
:57:30. > :57:30.necessary and the respect for international humanitarian law that
:57:31. > :57:40.goes with it. It's 30 years since HMS Sheffield
:57:41. > :57:45.was sunk in the Falklands war. My constituents believe that it's about
:57:46. > :57:50.time the city should have another Royal Navy ship named after our
:57:51. > :57:54.great city. So will the Secretary of State ensure that the committee
:57:55. > :58:03.gives full consideration to making sure we can enjoy the third HMS
:58:04. > :58:08.Sheffield? The honourable lady makes a very poignant appeal for another
:58:09. > :58:11.ship to be named HMS Sheffield. I am sure that her representations will
:58:12. > :58:16.have been heard by the revanity committee and I am so pleased that
:58:17. > :58:24.we have so many new ships that we are building in this country that we
:58:25. > :58:29.can have all these new names. Engineers at BAE in Chelmsford were
:58:30. > :58:36.critical in developing the Samsung multifunctional radar, the sea wolf
:58:37. > :58:41.missile tracking radar and the highly innovative T-9942 dimensional
:58:42. > :58:46.radar. When it comes to the next generation, the ballistic missile
:58:47. > :58:51.defence radar, will the MoD take into consideration employment as
:58:52. > :58:56.well as capability and make sure these skills stay in Britain? My
:58:57. > :58:59.honourable friend will be pleased to know that we don't need to
:59:00. > :59:05.distinguish between the two things because the radars that are made by
:59:06. > :59:09.BAE Systems are unrivalled around the world. Whilst agreeing with what
:59:10. > :59:12.the Secretary of State said about Daesh, he will know that one of the
:59:13. > :59:16.things that separates them from us is that we are bound by the rule of
:59:17. > :59:20.law. Specifically, by rules of engagement. Can the Secretary of
:59:21. > :59:23.State take the opportunity today to confirm that our conduct will always
:59:24. > :59:30.be bound by the Geneva convention? Absolutely. That is one of the
:59:31. > :59:36.things that distinguishes our Armed Forces from the way in which Daesh
:59:37. > :59:41.has unscrupulously used civilians to prosecute their particular case. We
:59:42. > :59:47.should hear from a member of the Select Committee. Thank you. The
:59:48. > :59:50.Secretary of State's own permanent Secretary said last Tuesday at the
:59:51. > :59:54.defence Select Committee on the subject of the F-35 programme, we
:59:55. > :00:01.will not be in a position to be able to give a precise view as to the
:00:02. > :00:08.whole of this very complicated programme, until 2035. Does that not
:00:09. > :00:15.put paid to the Secretary of State's incredible claim that eight type 26
:00:16. > :00:20.will employ work until 253? What I would say, put paid to is, it puts
:00:21. > :00:24.paid to anyone who thinks that you can forecast a budget out for two
:00:25. > :00:29.decades and get it down with pinpoint certainty, something that I
:00:30. > :00:35.know the Scottish Government might also find difficult. Order. Point of
:00:36. > :00:39.order. Exceptionally, I will take this point of order now. I think
:00:40. > :00:44.it's occupants of the Treasury bench should hear it. Point of order.
:00:45. > :00:48.Thank you. It's now more than four months since the general election
:00:49. > :00:49.but still the liaison committee