Oral Answers to Questions
Defence
The Secretary of State was asked—
Military Housing: Annington Homes
(Orpington) (Con)
What recent discussions his Department has had with
representatives of Annington Homes on the sale of military
housing.
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
Before I turn to Question 1, on behalf of the Government I wish
to pay tribute to Sergeant Gavin Hillier of the Welsh Guards, who
tragically died in an accident during live-firing exercises in
Wales earlier this month. Sergeant Hillier’s distinguished
service throughout his career was a tribute not only to his own
dedication to duty but to his family and to his regiment, who
continue to prepare for operations in Iraq later this year.
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington () for his close interest in this issue, which is also
actively pursued by my right hon. Friend the Member for Preseli
Pembrokeshire (), my hon.
Friends the Members for North West Cambridgeshire (Mr Vara) and
for Devizes (), and other colleagues. The Ministry of Defence longer
has any ongoing military requirement for the homes, which we
therefore intend to hand back to Annington, thereby helping to
meet obligations under our agreements. I regret that, despite the
MOD’s producing a significant package of support that we hoped
might assist Annington to allow our tenants to remain in situ in
many, although not all, cases, that was not a course that
Annington felt able to pursue.
[V]
I join the Minister and, I am sure, the whole House in expressing
sympathy for the family and friends of Sergeant Hillier.
A number of my constituents in Biggin Hill are keen to remain in
their homes; is there no way that Annington Homes can facilitate
that? If not, given that we are still battling the covid
pandemic, is there any way in which the Minister can provide for
a longer notice period to help to provide my constituents with
greater certainty at this very difficult time?
I am pleased to say that I have some good news for my hon. Friend
and his constituents. I am pleased to confirm that, mindful of
the representations made by my right hon. and hon. Friends, of
the fact that we are talking about packages of houses rather than
single units and of the ongoing covid restrictions, we will be
extending the notice period to 31 March 2022. That will mean that
civilian tenants will have received more than 18 months’ notice
in total. Furthermore, Annington has confirmed that it has no
in-principle objection to selling the properties to local
authorities or other social housing providers. I stress that any
such deals would be a commercial proposition between the social
housing providers and Annington, but I hope that the additional
time provided may help to enable such transactions to be
progressed. I shall write to my hon. Friend and other affected
MPs on this subject today.
Defence Estate Optimisation Programme
(City of
Chester) (Lab)
What plans he has to review the defence estate optimisation
programme.
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The defence estate optimisation portfolio is a 25-year
multibillion-pound investment in modernising MOD basing. It
provides resilience and ensures that our service personnel can
train in centres of excellence alongside those beside whom they
will fight. We routinely review and assess the programme in the
light of evolving requirements, including the contents of the
integrated review. However, the fundamental drivers of the
programme are unlikely to change.
[V]
The decision to site the entire Army presence in the north-west
at Weeton barracks, putting all our eggs in one basket, will
damage the operational and recruitment footprint of the Army in
the north-west. Were the Government to retain the Dale barracks
in Chester, that would provide easy access to the southern part
of the north-west, the north part of the midlands and north
Wales, so will the Government please look again at the decision
to sell off the Dale barracks and let them retain their historic
role in the City of Chester?
The hon. Gentleman has in the past spoken with passion about the
retention of Dale barracks, and he does so again. We continue to
speak to local stakeholders about alternative uses for the site,
but I assure the hon. Gentleman that no disposal will take place
before 2027 at the earliest. I also assure him that the armed
forces will continue to be able to provide support to the
north-west and, indeed, the whole of the United Kingdom.
(Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab) [V]
What steps has the Ministry of Defence taken to ensure the sound
financial sustainability of the defence estate, given that the
National Audit Office found in 2016 that the estate would have an
£8.5 billion funding shortfall over the next 30 years? A series
of National Audit Office reports have shown that the defence
estate faces a serious shortfall in investment. It is clear that
there is a direct link between poor infrastructure and increasing
risk to military effectiveness. What steps has the Minister taken
to reverse this decline?
I am pleased to reassure the hon. Gentleman that £18 million a
year is spent on single-living accommodation. Additional funding
has been provided through the £200 million package announced in
July last year, and the frontline commands intend to invest £1.5
billion in new build and upgrade programmes to accommodation over
the next 12 years. It is an issue that we are alive to and on
which we focus. It is not within the top 12 reasons why people
leave the Army, as stated in the surveys, but it is incredibly
important. We wish to look after the welfare of all the people
who serve defence. I do not wish to say anything further about
future funding, because that will be covered in announcements in
due course, but we take the issue very seriously.
Cyber Warfare
(Burnley) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to reduce the risks posed by
technological advances in cyber warfare to the UK’s critical
national infrastructure.
(Bolton North
East) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to reduce the risks posed by
technological advances in cyber warfare to the UK’s critical
national infrastructure.
(Rushcliffe) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to reduce the risks posed by
technological advances in cyber warfare to the UK’s critical
national infrastructure.
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
The threat of cyber-attack on UK interests is real. Every day, we
witness malicious interference from adversary states and hostile
actors. We are continually protecting our systems and have
previously called out activity from Russia, China and Iran. Our
defensive cyber programmes are delivering on an extensive suite
of capabilities, but cyber defence is only part of our approach.
A core element of broader deterrence is integrating our offensive
cyber-capabilities into our military operations.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. I particularly
welcome the fact that the National Cyber Force will be based in
the north-west of England. In saying that, may I urge the
Secretary of State to look sympathetically at hosting it in
Lancashire? We already have a really strong track record of
supporting our armed forces, from the thousands of men and women
who sign up from our county to manufacture the Typhoon and,
hopefully, the Tempest in the future.
Mr Wallace
I certainly hear what my hon. Friend says. As another Lancashire
MP, I am conscious of the good news which the Prime Minister
announced that the force will be based in the north of England.
Obviously, we will go through the processes of selecting where it
is to be based. I think of the lessons that we learned when
Bletchley Park and its successors moved to Cheltenham, as opposed
to a big city. The impact that that had in levelling up the area
is something on which we should all reflect. It is incredibly
important that, in our whole levelling-up agenda, we focus not
just on cities but on towns as well.
Mr Speaker
Perhaps we could bring all Lancashire MPs together.
[V]
Our Prime Minister and Secretary of State are backing the north
by developing the National Cyber Force here. Some say that it
should be in Manchester, but others say Lancashire. Surely Bolton
is the place for it, with a foot in Greater Manchester, but our
heart firmly in Lancashire.
Mr Wallace
It is tempting to ask for Bolton as well as Warrington to be
returned to Lancashire following the reforms of the early 1970s.
I must declare that I was once a secretary for the Friends of
Real Lancashire. I think, Mr Speaker, you were probably a
co-secretary with me at one stage. I hear my hon. Friend loud and
clear. The strengths of these mill towns is clear. Whether it be
Bolton, Wigan, Warrington, Preston, in my constituency, or
Chorley, their contribution to Britain’s industrial base and the
next generation, which is obviously cyber, should not be
undervalued. I will certainly listen to all the arguments put
forward. The National Cyber Force is a mix of GCHQ and the
Ministry of Defence. We have a proud record of supporting the MOD
and defence in the north, and I look forward to that continuing.
I welcome the weekend’s announcement that a full-spectrum
approach will be taken to the UK’s cyber-capability. Can my right
hon. Friend confirm that the integrated review will include a
strategy for working with industry, great and small, so that
robust cyber defence can be maintained across our entire economy?
Mr Wallace
After the Defence Command Paper is announced on Monday, a week
today, the defence industrial strategy will be launched the
following day, which will give us an opportunity to indicate
investments not only in our more traditional industrial base, but
in the new and future domains, such as digital, cyber, space and
so on. This is incredibly important. Britain is one of the world
leaders in both applying our cyber-technology and investing in
it, and I predict that the strategy will have something to say
about that.
(Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
May I, on behalf of the official Opposition, offer my tribute to
the service of Sergeant Gavin Hillier and say to his family, his
friends and his comrades that our condolences are with them?
I certainly welcomed the weekend news that the integrated review
will commit the UK to full-spectrum cyber, as the hon. Member for
Rushcliffe () has just said, although I strongly feel that
announcements of important Government policy such as that should
be made in Parliament and not in the press. Is not the wider
security lesson from cyber and other grey-zone threats that more
civil and military planning, training and exercising is required?
Given that some countries are well ahead of us, will the
integrated review catch up with the need for full-spectrum
society resilience?
Mr Wallace
I hear what the right hon. Gentleman says, but I would take issue
with it on one thing, and that is about us catching up. I was the
cyber-security Minister—I was the Minister of State for
Security—for a considerable period of time. Britain actually led
the world both in NATO, where we were the first to offer
cyber-offensive capability, but also through our programmes. The
national cyber-security programme spent billions on enhancing
capability right across not just military, but predominantly the
civil sector. The National Cyber Security Centre is a first;
there are almost none in Europe.
We are one of the first to have such a centre to be able to
advise business, private individuals and the Government how to
keep themselves strong and secure. There is always more to do and
there are lessons to be learned around the world, but Britain has
a lot of innovation and strengths in cyber-security. It is a
dangerous world out there in cyber. I certainly agree with the
right hon. Gentleman that one of the ways to deliver this is to
ensure that we constantly work with our friends and allies.
Mr Speaker
Let us go to another expert—Dr .
(New Forest
East) (Con)
Does my right hon. Friend accept that while the cyber-threat to
critical national infrastructure can paralyse a society that is
then subject to attack by more conventional means, we also have
to maintain the methods and equipment to counter-attack anything
involving conventional military force? Is he satisfied that the
integrated review, while recognising the role of cyber, also
recognises the continuing role of conventional defence?
Mr Wallace
My right hon. Friend makes a valid point; we absolutely recognise
that. The important thing about the Command Paper and the
integrated review is learning the lessons of today. The lesson
that we learned from Syria was that when we tackle Daesh, we
tackle its cyber-offence and cyber-campaign in tandem with the
military campaign that we used to take apart its leadership and
the evil tasks that it was setting out to cause attacks. It is
absolutely the case that there cannot be one without the other,
but we should also recognise that the growing vulnerability of
our forces and civil society to cyber as we become more dependent
on cyber means that we have to take a very strong lead in
defending against that.
Veterans Overseas
(Denton
and Reddish) (Lab)
What steps his Department is taking to support the welfare of UK
veterans overseas.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
Veterans can access the same services provided by the Ministry of
Defence, no matter where in the world they live.
[V]
I thank the Minister for that answer, because the covenant
rightly offers to veterans provisions in areas such as education
and family wellbeing, having a home, starting a new career,
access to healthcare, financial assistance and discounted
services. What I would like to know, however, is what the
Ministry is doing to ensure that the undertakings that we give as
a nation are actually delivered for veterans who now live
overseas. Is there a specific budget for this vital work to
ensure that those veterans are accessing the services that they
qualify for?
There is not a carve-out in the budget for veterans who live
overseas, but we are committed to ensuring that the armed forces
covenant works equally for them as it does in this country. We
are introducing the Armed Forces Bill in the coming months to
legislate for the first time to ensure that discharge of duties
cannot result in disadvantage from local authorities in health,
housing and education. I look forward to the hon. Member
supporting the Bill.
Armed Forces Personnel
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
What recent assessment he has made of the level of satisfaction
among armed forces personnel with military (a) housing and (b)
salaries.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
Defence regularly monitors several metrics to gauge service
personnel satisfaction levels, including for accommodation and
pay, via the armed forces continuous attitude survey.
[V]
The Army has been instrumental in the fight against covid, from
assisting with logistics to being directly involved in testing
the vaccination programmes; yet the reward for army personnel is
a pay freeze at a time when low pay is one of the factors that
causes people to leave the armed forces, as Government studies
should show. I ask the Minister, why was awarded a huge pay rise, yet armed forces personnel
are not deemed worthy of one?
Mr Speaker
Minister, I do not think you are going to respond to that point.
No; I do not have responsibility for the Prime Minister’s
advisers, clearly. On satisfaction around pay, I am clear that
pay is one of the reasons that people stay in the military. If
the hon. Member looks forward to the integrated review, we will
be looking to announce a direction of travel on this matter in
due course.
(Glasgow South) (SNP)
On behalf of the Scottish National party, I send our condolences
to Sergeant Hillier’s family.
The issue of pay rises and satisfaction more generally has been a
bone of contention in the House for many years. The numbers speak
for themselves; four in 10 serving personnel do not think that
the pay they receive reflects the work they do. Why?
The crushing irony of our people who work in Scotland having to
pay more in tax and therefore take home less pay and the hon.
Gentleman raising this point is not lost on those who serve. Pay
is a one of a number of factors that people speak about when the
armed forces continuous attitude survey comes through. It is by
no means the primary factor. We are constantly reviewing it and I
am comfortable that we offer a world-class package to our people.
Yet again, the Minister is rather poorly briefed. The lowest-paid
members of the armed forces in Scotland actually pay less in tax.
If he wants to talk exemptions, that is a power that lies in the
Treasury; it is not a tax power that lies with the Scottish
Government. But let me press him on this: when the integrated
review is published tomorrow, will it contain something—anything
at all—to reverse the trend on satisfaction, and will he
apologise to the armed forces, who have had a kick in the teeth
with their pay rise being paused, given everything they have done
for everyone over the covid crisis?
Let me be clear: this will be the first strategic review to have
a specific address to our people. They are our finest asset. They
are rewarded not only financially but through the choice of
career on offer to them. I encourage the hon. Gentleman to read
that when it comes out and I am more than happy to have a
conversation with him after that.
Support for Veterans
(West Lancashire) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of
military charities on improving support for veterans throughout
the UK.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of
military charities on improving support for veterans throughout
the UK.
(Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of
military charities on improving support for veterans throughout
the UK.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs champions our veterans’ mental
health and wellbeing needs at the heart of Government. This
month, NHS England launched Operation Courage, bringing together
three NHS England veterans’ mental health services with a single
point of access. Op Courage is truly a game changer for veterans
in the UK, including in the north-east.
[V]
The Royal British Legion has said that the current extortionate
charges to Commonwealth veterans to settle in the UK are unfair
and should end. We completely agree, so what is the Minister
doing to end this unjust treatment of those who have risked their
lives for our country?
Let me be absolutely clear: that is a policy that started under
the previous Government. This is the first Government who have
promised a pathway to residency for those who serve. We will
deliver that. We are looking to consult in the coming months.
This has been a long-term injustice for our foreign and
Commonwealth service personnel and under this Government we are
going to correct it.
[V]
There seem to be some really good schemes that have been awarded
funding under the Positive Pathways programme, but what is the
Minister doing to ensure that veterans know about these schemes,
and how can we be sure that they are not just a short-term
engagement with veterans but really offer the seamless route of
care and support that is talked about in the documentation?
One of my biggest challenges in this role is not the fact that
there are not pathways of care; it is getting people to
understand that and to really be able to access fantastic,
world-class healthcare and career advice and transition for a
seamless progress from the military into civilian life. It is an
ongoing effort and I welcome the hon. Lady’s efforts to help me
with that.
The extra £10 million allocated in the Budget to supporting
veterans’ mental health is a welcome step that the Opposition
have been calling for. However, there is still a large disparity
between physical and mental health support, and this extra money
works out just at an extra £4 per veteran. Covid-19 has impacted
heavily on veterans’ charities’ ability to raise funds and
conduct their vital work. Will the Minister therefore commit to
protecting our protectors and ensure that the funding is there
for veterans to get the support that they need?
The £10 million announced by the Chancellor in the Budget was
another important commitment, but we have also seen a greater
commitment in the past few weeks with the launch of Operation
Courage. It is the first integrated, single front-door approach
to mental healthcare in our NHS for our veterans. It truly is a
game-changer, and I urge veterans up and down the country to make
sure that they are fully aware of what it offers. I will be going
from this place to ensure that every GP practice and every NHS
trust in the UK is part of that programme to ensure we do our
duty by those who serve.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
Five years ago, the Government announced that veterans could
access the state-of-the-art £300 million Defence Medical
Rehabilitation Centre, but it has seen just 22 people in the past
three years. What steps will the Minister be taking to widen
veteran access to these facilities and make a meaningful
difference to the day-to-day lives of those who have sustained
serious injuries during their service?
I have commissioned a review into veterans’ access to the Defence
and National Rehabilitation Centre. It is an important project.
To be clear, in its original specification, it was a national
rehab centre, but I recognise that there are opportunities for
veterans to access world-class healthcare there. I have asked the
veterans community and others to go away, do a piece of work and
understand the ask. We will then address that with the DNRC, and
I hope we can find a path through the middle to ensure we are
looking after those who have served.
Covid-19: NHS Support
(Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)
What support his Department has provided to the NHS during the
covid-19 outbreak.
(Sevenoaks)
(Con)
What support his Department has provided to the NHS during the
covid-19 outbreak.
(Penrith and The Border) (Con)
What support his Department has provided to the NHS during the
covid-19 outbreak.
(Morley and Outwood) (Con)
What support his Department has provided to the NHS during the
covid-19 outbreak.
(Winchester) (Con)
What support his Department has provided to the NHS during the
covid-19 outbreak.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
The work of our armed forces in supporting the covid response is
popular around the country and popular in Parliament, too.
Defence has supported the NHS through the construction of
Nightingale hospitals, PPE distribution, planning and logistical
support, scientific advice, testing and vaccine delivery.
Currently, the Ministry of Defence is providing 199 medical
personnel to regional NHS trusts, and 321 general duties
personnel are providing a range of support tasks, including
support to the ambulance services. Some 1,600 defence medical
professionals are also embedded in the national health service.
[V]
I would like to pay tribute to the armed forces personnel in
Carshalton and Wallington for all they have done to help tackle
coronavirus. Will my hon. Friend join me in thanking the hundreds
of defence personnel across London who have been seconded to
hospitals throughout the duration of the pandemic, fulfilling
medical and general roles? Will he also outline the plans the MOD
has for continuing that offer of support in the coming months?
I certainly join my hon. Friend, as I hope will the rest of the
House, in thanking defence personnel for supporting the NHS
across London over the past year. Those thanks should also
recognise the NHS and frontline workers whom it has been our
great privilege to work alongside at the strategic level here in
Whitehall, all the way down to those in wards and in the back of
ambulances across the country throughout the pandemic.
Besides MACA—military aid to the civil authorities—support for
specific tasks, Defence has an enduring presence within the NHS
for training and personnel placements. Work is being done to
expand that for future opportunities, given the experience of our
people working alongside the brilliant NHS clinicians throughout
the pandemic.
[V]
Will the Minister join me in thanking the military personnel who
set up the asymptomatic testing sites in Sevenoaks and Swanley?
The 35 Engineer Regiment managed the whole process swiftly and
efficiently, and has made it as pleasant as possible to visit.
They deserve to be recognised.
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in praising the fabulous work of
the 35 Engineer Regiment and the Kent resilience unit, which
supported Kent County Council to deliver its community testing
programme and to establish the Sevenoaks asymptomatic testing
site. Armed forces personnel have been working tirelessly across
the United Kingdom to help tackle this pandemic, and I know she
is not alone in wanting to pass her thanks on to all those who
have done such amazing work.
Dr Hudson [V]
In times of crisis, such as foot and mouth disease 20 years ago,
flooding catastrophes and now the coronavirus pandemic, the armed
forces have been deployed effectively to keep us safe by working
closely with the emergency services, the NHS and local
authorities. Will my hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to the
thousands of UK armed forces personnel who, aside from keeping us
safe, are ready to be deployed in national times of crisis and
have bolstered the vaccine effort, supported hospitals, assisted
with covid testing and much more?
I thank my hon. Friend for his comments, and I wholeheartedly
join him in recognising the consistency and excellence of the
support that the armed forces have provided to the United Kingdom
both in the past and throughout the covid-19 pandemic. It is
worth mentioning that, throughout times like this, they are not
just working on homeland resilience but continue with the many
jobs they have to do overseas to keep countries safe. It is an
extraordinary effort, and it is right that they should be
recognised in this way in the House.
Will the Minister join me in thanking the 35 military personnel
who continue to support the frontline team at South Central
ambulance service, which serves my constituents? Will he confirm
that the MOD will continue to be there by their side as we move
towards the end of all national restrictions on 21 June?
I, of course, join my hon. Friend in thanking and acknowledging
the fine work of the armed forces personnel supporting the South
Central ambulance service, as well as those who have been
supporting ambulance services in the north-west, London and
Wales. Supporting the covid-19 pandemic response remains
Defence’s main priority, and I can confirm that Defence will
continue to provide support while our assistance is requested and
the requirement endures.
[V]
Last summer, I met members of our armed forces in my constituency
of Morley and Outwood who were undertaking tests for people who
may have covid. These brave men and women are British heroes, and
throughout the pandemic, they have done everything possible to
keep the people of our great nation safe. Will the Minister
detail the steps that are being taken to strengthen support
services for our armed forces and their families so that we can
show them the same support that they have shown us?
My hon. Friend is right to notice just how extraordinary the work
of our armed forces has been. They have accepted great risk
during the pandemic in doing the things we have asked them to do,
which will have been of some concern for their families. While
they have often been deployed at short notice, we have tried to
make sure that the welfare provisions for them are as good as
they can be. We also recognise the demands of service life and
the impact that they can have on the lives and careers of family
members. My hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire
() has done excellent work on the armed forces families’
strategy and action plan, and we are looking to develop those
ideas fully over the next few months.
Covid-19: Vaccine Roll-out
(Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)
What recent steps he has taken to help ensure that military
personnel are available to assist with the covid-19 vaccine
roll-out.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
We have established a support package of 14,400 personnel who are
on stand-by to support covid-19 and winter resilience tasks.
Those personnel have a range of diverse capabilities, including
planning, logistical and medical. Approximately 700 personnel are
currently deployed in support of the covid-19 vaccine roll-out.
[V]
I would like to give my massive thanks to all the military and
defence personnel who have done such a fantastic job in
establishing our field hospitals and in the vaccination
programme; they certainly deserve a pay rise. Of the 250 teams of
vaccinators promised in December, how many have now been
deployed, and how many in Wales?
Forty two of the 252 available vaccination teams are now deployed
as part of the vaccine quick response force. In Wales, 34 medical
personnel are directly supporting the administering of vaccines,
with approximately 150 personnel helping to co-ordinate and
operate vaccine centres.
Army Personnel
(Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (SNP)
What recent estimate he has made of the number of personnel
serving in the Army.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
The number of personnel currently serving in the Army as
full-time trade trained strength is 76,350. That is supported by
26,920 Army reserves.
[V]
I thank the Minister for that answer. For years, the Ministry of
Defence has staggered from one recruitment crisis to another as
it has struggled and failed to meet its personnel targets,
including the broken promise of 12,500 personnel to be based in
Scotland by 2020. The Government are now set to cut a further
10,000 soldiers. Can the Minister confirm whether any regiments
are due to be disbanded completely and whether these further cuts
will pertain to Scotland, which was promised thousands more
personnel, not thousands less?
The hon. Gentleman tempts me to pre-empt the announcement next
week. He will have heard my colleagues say already that these are
things he just has to wait seven days more to understand.
Mental Health Support for Veterans
(Newcastle
upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to improve mental health support for
veterans in the (a) north-east and (b) UK.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs champions our veterans’ mental
health and wellbeing needs at the heart of Government. This
month, we launched Op Courage, bringing together three NHS
England veterans’ mental health services with a single point of
access, something we promised to do when we were established 18
months ago.
[V]
But waiting times for face-to-face appointments under the
veterans’ transition, intervention and liaison mental health
service was 37 days in 2020 against the Government’s own target
of 14. North-east charities, such as Forward Assist and Anxious
Minds in Newcastle, do fantastic work to support veterans in
civilian life, but they have been overwhelmed with demand. Does
the Minister agree that care for the mental wellbeing of our
armed forces veterans must begin before they leave the armed
forces, and what is he doing to ensure that they are better
supported in that transition to civilian life?
I do not recognise the waiting times the hon. Member relays to
me, but I am happy to write to her about what I understand them
to be. Let me be really clear that with the funding that has gone
into veterans’ mental health—£16 million written into the
long-term plan for the NHS, rising to £20 million by 2022-23—I am
absolutely determined that world-class veterans’ mental health
care will be available in this country. Op Courage, which we
launched last week, is the start of that, and we will continue
with that progress.
(Washington and Sunderland West) (Lab) [V]
Last week, we saw Meghan Markle speaking out about how her pleas
for support for her mental health crisis were dismissed. While
obviously the military is a very different institution, military
charities continue to see an increase in demand for mental health
support, although people do still struggle to speak out. What
steps is the Minister taking to help reduce the stigma around
mental health in the military and veteran community?
I pay tribute to the hon. Member for all the championing she does
in this area. Mental health has come on in leaps and bounds,
particularly in the last five to 10 years. Actually, this year we
are introducing mandatory mental health and fitness training for
our armed forces personnel, which they will undergo every year.
We are fundamentally changing our approach to mental health,
fundamentally making it easier for people to come forward. It
does take courage, but I encourage all those who have mental
health concerns to speak up. There is help available, and they
can get better.
Submarine Dismantling Programme
(Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the
(a) Submarine Delivery Agency and (b) Office for Nuclear
Regulation on the progress of the submarine dismantling
programme. [R]
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
Ministers have regular discussions with the Submarine Delivery
Agency on the progress of the submarine dismantling project and
the MOD holds regular discussions with the Office for Nuclear
Regulation, which is satisfied with the safety performance at
Rosyth dockyard.
[V]
I thank the Minister for his response. Any delay in the submarine
dismantling programme is of grave concern to my Dunfermline and
West Fife constituency, where we accommodate many of these
redundant submarines. Can the Minister confirm whether the
Government’s commitment to endorse the recommendations of the
Public Accounts Committee in 2019 still holds, or will his
Department continue to move the goalposts to guarantee that the
removal of these boats will remain a taxpayers’ nightmare
forever?
I believe I am right in saying that we have now adopted all the
recommendations of the PAC report, and we remain committed to
continuing to decommission these boats in a safe and swift way.
There were, and I have written to the hon. Gentleman, some small
delays due to covid, but they were minimal, and we are continuing
with the programme and are committed to continuing to do so.
Service Justice System
(Derbyshire Dales) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to help improve the service
justice system. [R]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Armed Forces Bill includes measures to reform the service
justice system. This includes the creation of an independent
Service Police Complaints Commissioner. In addition, we have
commissioned an independent review of policing and prosecutorial
processes for dealing with serious criminal offending overseas.
Miss Dines
As my hon. Friend knows, there are many service personnel and
veterans in Derbyshire Dales, and they expect to see real justice
in the service justice system. Can my hon. Friend say what else,
other than what is in the Armed Forces Bill, is going to be
brought forward to protect justice in the system?
There is a suite of measures in the Armed Forces Bill. The most
significant thing we are introducing is a serious crime unit,
which will ensure that our investigators are skilled, capable,
and have all the tools they need to conduct investigations of a
standard that will withstand ECHR compliance tests and such
things. We totally understand the need to address not only that
issue but the legal side of this matter through the Overseas
Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. We are
determined for uniform to be no hiding place for those who commit
offences, and as we go forward, we will improve the standard of
those investigations. These provisions will be a serious step
towards doing that.
Service Medal Awards
(Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)
On what basis the Advisory Military Sub-Committee decided not to
recommend service medal awards to British nuclear test veterans.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The review by the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee
into medallic recognition for those who participated in the UK’s
nuclear test programme concluded that it did not meet the level
of risk and rigour required for the reward of a campaigning medal
or class. That independent process operates to strict criteria,
and the outcome in no way diminishes the contribution of
veterans. The Government remain grateful to all who participated.
Our nuclear test veterans were sent to the south Pacific in the
1950s at great risk to themselves. They have heard decades of
warm rhetoric about their crucial role in the country’s defence
during the cold war and beyond, but they lack formal recognition.
Recently, a constituent wrote to me:
“My dad was a veteran who was present at two of the grapple tests
on Christmas Island in the 1950s. Sadly, my dad is no longer with
us and never got round to seeing the Government award a medal or
compensation to the veterans.”
Does the Minister share my concern that no more nuclear test
veterans such as my constituent’s father should pass away with
their contribution left unrecognised?
Their contributions are not unrecognised. We work hard to ensure
a programme of support for those who have become ill as a result
of their exposure to nuclear tests. This is a consistent process
that we are always refining, and the review I undertook eight
months ago tightened up that support. The medallic system is
outwith the control of Ministers and always has been. It is
rightly in that position, but I am determined to continue to do
all I can to support this cohort of nuclear test veterans.
Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy
(Bury North) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that armed
forces personnel are at the heart of the Integrated Review of
Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
Our people are our finest asset, and the Government will continue
to invest in our extraordinary armed forces personnel. We are
committed to ensuring that the UK continues to have the
world-class armed forces it deserves. I will publish further
details of my plans on 22 March.
Will my right hon. Friend outline what consultation has been
undertaken with our military personnel ahead of the policy
changes that will be announced as part of the integrated review
and defence Command Paper?
Mr Wallace
From the very beginning of the integrated review and defence
reform process, we have engaged with the chiefs and many members
of the armed forces across all services. We have been informed
throughout that process by defence intelligence and other
intelligence products, to ensure that our plans match the threat
that we face, as well as the capabilities that we should give to
the men and women of our armed forces.
Commonwealth Veterans
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the
immigration status of Commonwealth-born veterans.
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
We greatly value everyone who serves in our armed forces,
wherever they come from, for their contribution to the security
of our nation. Non-UK personnel can settle in the United Kingdom
after four years’ service, and I am pleased to confirm that we
are extending the time before discharge so that applicants can be
submitted from 10 to 18 weeks before they leave. In addition, an
imminent consultation is due, and I urge Members to contribute to
that and to try to solve the current ongoing issues regarding
Commonwealth veterans.
Pay up or pack up: that is the shameful choice presented to our
Commonwealth servicemen and women. I am aware of the strength of
feeling that the Secretary of State has on this issue. Will he
confirm when we will see the public consultation? Will the
reforms promised apply to veterans and families, as well as to
serving personnel?
Mr Wallace
First, may I place on record my apology to the hon. Gentleman for
the delay in responding to his correspondence? That should not
have happened and I apologise for it. The consultation is
imminent, and we will schedule it in as soon as possible. Once it
has been published, I will be happy to sit down with as many
Members as possible to discuss their views on what we are
proposing and on whether the measures should go further. We can
take it from that point. I understand what the hon. Gentleman is
saying. I am keen that whatever we do is fair for all veterans,
whether Gurkhas, or serving UK national or Commonwealth
personnel. We must ensure equity, but at the same time I
understand the strength of feeling in the House. Those who
contribute should be recognised.
Military Aid to Civilian Authorities
(Wolverhampton South West) (Con)
What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19
outbreak on the armed forces’ capacity to deliver military aid to
civilian authorities operations.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
Defence remains able to assist other Departments where
appropriate and, through prudent planning, has continued to
provide support when required throughout the pandemic. Mitigation
measures such as testing of key personnel and adaptation of
working practices have ensured that Defence has maintained both
its UK operational and contingent readiness, as well as being
able to generate the forces we require for our commitments
overseas.
As a proud veteran, I am delighted to see what our great armed
forces have done throughout this pandemic. They continue to go
over and above. Will my hon. Friend go over and above in
honouring our armed forces by seeing that they have everything
they need in the integrated review to stand proud on the world
stage?
I look forward to the announcement later in the week and next
Monday, but I have a strong suspicion that it will be jam-packed
full of opportunities for our men and women to serve at home and
around the world in really fulfilling roles that keep our country
safer for the future.
Topical Questions
(Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)
[913379]If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
Included in my responsibilities is the duty to uphold the duty of
care to our workforce. We were all appalled by the reporting we
saw of the incident involving members of the RAF Regiment at the
weekend. The RAF police are investigating the incident and the
victims have been offered our full support. The Chief of the Air
Staff and I had a discussion about the incident over the weekend
and he has, with my support, acted quickly. He has removed
officers from the immediate chain of command without prejudice
pending the findings of the police investigation, and the unit
involved, the Support Weapons Flight, will be disbanded with
immediate effect. Bullying, harassment and discrimination has no
place in our armed forces. I will not tolerate it and nor will
the Chief of the Air Staff.
[V]
What proportion of servicemen and women are currently deployed in
UN peacekeeping, what was it last year and how is it set to
change over the next three years?
Mr Wallace
I can write to the hon. Lady with the exact proportions. All I
can say is that there has been a significant increase recently,
with the deployment to Mali of our forces to assist in the United
Nations mission there. We also have a number of forces deployed
in Somalia, assisting that fragile state in trying to come to
terms with the consequences of the civil war. The Government are
determined to continue to contribute to UN missions wherever we
can, lending military support—not necessarily operational
support, but in the logistics, the enabling and humanitarian aid.
(Bournemouth East) (Con)
Russia is rearming, Daesh is regrouping and China is nudging us
out of military and trade partnerships across Africa, yet we are
about to witness a shocking reduction in our conventional hard
power and full-spectrum capabilities. That is overshadowed by the
fanfare of announcements promoting a tilt towards niche
capabilities, including electronic warfare and autonomous
platforms. Yes, we must adapt to new threats, but that does not
mean that the old threats have disappeared. Severe cuts to our
infantry regiments, main battle tanks, armoured fighting vehicles
and Hercules C-130s will worry our closest allies and delight our
competitors. Regarding the F-35 jets, does the Secretary of State
agree that cutting back our order from 138 to 48 will mean that,
if required, we could never unilaterally operate both carriers in
strike mode simultaneously?
Mr Wallace
I have listened to my right hon. Friend’s consistent messaging
over the last few months. I think the thing that we can all agree
with is that, as he said at the weekend,
“we must modernise—but first let’s agree the threat—& then
design the right defence posture.”
That is exactly what we have been doing. Obviously, in the
Ministry of Defence, we have made sure that we have been doing
that in conjunction with our serving personnel, our allies and
the threats. I think playing by the Ladybird book of defence
design is not the way to progress.
(Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
Why are Britain’s full-time armed forces still 10,000 short of
the numbers that the last defence review, in 2015, said were
needed to meet the threats and keep the country safe, which the
Defence Secretary’s Government pledged to meet?
Mr Wallace
I have listened to the right hon. Gentleman. We are 6,000 under.
The strength is 76,500 from the 82,000 that was pledged. He will
of course know—it is well documented—that under the previous
coalition Government and Conservative Government there was not a
satisfactory outcome by the recruiting process. That has now been
fixed. Until the covid break, we were on target to fulfil the
pipeline and target for that recruiting. We have to make sure we
continue to invest in that. That is why we are investing in
people. We will continue to invest throughout the process and
next week there will be announcements that put people at the
heart of our defence review.
The Secretary of State may want to check the numbers. I was
talking about the full-time armed forces, not the full-time Army
numbers. He has rightly said before that our forces personnel
will go to war alongside robots in the future, but robots do not
seize and hold vital ground from the enemy. They do not keep the
peace or rebuild broken societies, and they do not give covid
jabs. Size matters and no Government can secure the nations with
under-strength armed forces. Is it not the truth that over the
past decade we have seen our armed forces run down—numbers down,
pay down, morale down—and that all the indication from stories
ahead of tomorrow’s integrated review is that Ministers are set
to make the same mistakes as in the last reviews, with our
servicemen and women paying the price for cuts and bad defence
budgeting?
Mr Wallace
The right hon. Gentleman seems to forget that for the past three
or four decades we have had that characteristic, where Government
after Government have been over-ambitious and underfunded the
defence policy. His Government did it. The Governments before
mine have done the same things. I only have to point him, as I do
during at every defence questions, to the National Audit Office
report into the processes of his Government in 2010 and our
previous Governments to show that the biggest problem is that we
have been promising soldiers, men and women of the armed forces
equipment they never got, or numbers gains when just tying them
up alongside. That is not the way to confront an enemy. The way
to confront the enemy is to invest in the people, give them the
right equipment to take on the threat, and make sure they are
active, busy and forward. As a soldier, being active, busy and
forward is what keeps you engaged and in there.
(Rushcliffe) (Con)
A cyber-security conference is one of the only places on earth
where women never have to queue for the loo. That is because
there are so few of us in the industry—approximately 10% when I
left in 2019. Given that cyber-security is vital to our nation’s
defence and that there is a global talent shortage, how will the
Government work with industry to encourage more women into
cyber-security and to address the skills gap?
Mr Wallace
I am sorry that that has been my hon. Friend’s experience. I
think in the public sector it is cyber-security. In the
intelligence services I worked with when I was Security Minister
and in key parts of the armed forces, such as the Signal
Regiment, there are higher proportions of women. I think that is
something on which the state can lead. That is why the state
signed up and sponsored the CyberFirst campaign, designed to
stimulate among girls at school an interest in cyber and to
invest in them. Hopefully, we are seeing an increase in that. But
she can rest assured that with the next stage of the defence
review she will see us making sure that, loud and clear, the sign
“women are welcome” will be put above the door.
(Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) (Lab) [V]
As I mentioned at the previous defence questions, workers at RAF
Leeming have been striking since January over a £5,000 pay
disparity. Just last week, Faslane and Coulport workers walked
out over low wages and the looming break-up of their single
bargaining unit. What action can the Minister take to stop these
loyal staff being exploited?
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The hon. Lady refers to two bits of potential industrial action.
I have written to her about RAF Leeming in the last month.
Obviously, it is a source of concern when employers and employees
fall out, but I am not going to get into discussions on the
specific action involved. We urge all those involved to come to
an agreement.
(Grantham and Stamford) (Con) [V]
I very much welcome the Government’s efforts to forge new trade
links with India. However, given we share many common security
threats and the fact that it is a key strategic ally in the
Indo-Pacific region, can my hon. Friend outline what efforts are
being made to better strengthen our defence relationship with
India?
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
The UK Government are committed to working with the Government of
India and increasing our efforts to combat shared threats. In
particular, the UK is focused on increasing bilateral maritime
co-operation in the Indian ocean and on ensuring a closer defence
industrial relationship in line with Prime Minister Modi’s made
in India policy. We are also committed to uplifting our defence
education and training relationship to enable us to work together
more effectively. I am certain that my hon. Friend and our
friends in India will be hugely excited by what may follow in the
integrated review.
(Glenrothes) (SNP) [V]
The MOD itself estimates that its equipment plan is underfunded
by about £8.3 billion in its first five years. We also know, for
example, that the MOD will need to spend perhaps billions of
pounds to bring its single-person living accommodation up to even
a basic minimum tolerable standard. Will the Minister tell us how
much of the additional money that the Prime Minister trumpeted at
the spending review in November will be genuinely new money and
how much of it will be swallowed up to fill these and other
existing black holes in the defence budget?
I am not going to prejudge in advance of the announcements that
are going to be made. They will all be made in the next eight
days or so. The hon. Gentleman will be able to see for himself,
but I assure him that we have gone through the numbers very
closely and there is a lot of new money coming into defence—a £24
billion increase in the amount of money being spent on defence.
We can see an awful lot of benefit coming through to our armed
forces and our personnel.
(West Dorset) (Con)
With the Government’s integrated review due to be published
imminently, potential investment in programmes such as Tempest
would clearly align with the Government’s agenda for skills,
development and social value. The defence sector employs unique,
high-end design and manufacturing capabilities across the UK,
with significant export potential, so how will constituents
benefit from this?
Many constituencies and many constituents will benefit from it. I
know my hon. Friend is a fierce advocate for Leonardo helicopters
in his part of the world. In that particular case, we really
value our strategic partnership arrangements and recognise the
contribution that they make to UK prosperity. We will shortly be
publishing the findings of our review into the defence and
security industrial strategy, setting out our strategic approach
to a number of sectors.
(Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD) [V]
Some days ago, I read with great interest a piece in The Times
saying that the intention is to deploy Royal Navy warships to the
high north to safeguard trade routes via the Arctic. Given the
limited range of conventionally powered warships, is there a case
for relocating warships further north within the United Kingdom?
Mr Wallace
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that question.
First and foremost, I can give him some reassurance that not only
are we continuing to move our submarines from the south to the
north to invest in basing in Scotland—for submarine basing, and
submarines pose just as lethal a threat to our adversaries as any
surface fleet—but we continue to patrol the high north, recently
in the Barents sea, and earlier in the year when we returned for
the first time since the cold war, joining NATO allies to make
sure that those vital trade routes are invested in. From my point
of view, the key place for a ship is at sea doing its job on
operations. The bases are very important, but let us remember
that the way we protect our coast is by being out at sea.
(Cheadle) (Con) [V]
The International Criminal Court’s announcement that it is
opening an investigation into Israel sets a precedent,
potentially opening the door for non-state actors in Afghanistan
or Iraq to initiate proceedings against our armed forces. What
steps is my right hon. Friend taking to support Israel against
this probe and to ensure that democratic states will not be
prevented from combating terrorist threats?
My hon. Friend is right to ask about the actions of the ICC. We
of course respect the independence of the ICC, but we expect it
to exercise due prosecutorial and judicial discipline. We
continue to engage with the ICC and international partners to
make those points.
(Lancaster
and Fleetwood) (Lab)
The Veterans Minister will recall that in defence questions in
November, I raised the concerns that I have about veterans’
mental health. Since then, I have been made aware that demand for
services has increased 74% during lockdown. Does he think that
the funding that goes into veterans’ mental health is enough, and
because waiting times have continued to be longer for veterans,
what more can we do to support veterans with mental health
difficulties?
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
Under Op Courage, the new NHS pathway for all veterans’ mental
health, there is an ability to monitor waiting times in almost
real-time data, and I am absolutely committed to meeting those
targets. There is significant investment going into it. I will
always argue for more investment in something that has
historically been underinvested in for so long. But I am
confident that, as we stand here today, we have a world-class
offering of mental health provision for our veterans, and it is
incumbent on all of us to get that cohort to understand where
that help is, to understand what the care pathways are and to
have hope, because they can get better and they will be looked
after.
(Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con) [V]
How have the emerging military technologies that are being used
in the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh impacted my right
hon. Friend’s Department’s assessment of threat, ahead of the
integrated review?
Mr Wallace
The recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh demonstrated with brutal
clarity the devastating impact of unmanned aerial vehicles,
intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and traditional
artillery when combined to produce a lethal cocktail of
precision, lethality and range. The destruction of Armenian
forces throughout the battlefield, not just on the frontline,
demonstrated the vulnerability even of armoured forces on the
modern battlefield. This includes our own forces, which is not
something that, as Defence Secretary, I am willing to ignore any
further. I will set out further details in the future review.
(Lewisham East) (Lab) [V]
The Secretary of State will be well aware of the historic failure
of the Government to repay the £400 million International
Military Services debt to Iran. My constituent Anousheh Ashouri
is just one of the dual nationals being held hostage in Iran as
diplomatic leverage. There is no doubt that this debt has caused
their detainment; officials in Iran have confirmed that. What
action is the Secretary of State, along with colleagues in the
Foreign Office, going to take to resolve this shameful situation
with urgency?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Member will know that I held a debate in the House as a
Back-Bencher about that very debt and the need and determination
to repay it, as it is a stain on Britain’s honour from when we
dealt with this in the 1970s. It is definitely the intention that
we comply with any court orders that are made against us, and we
continue to do so, but we have to ensure that whatever we do is
in line with both this law and the sanctions law that we have to
observe as well.
(Fylde) (Con)
[V]
The BAE Systems site at Warton in my constituency employs more
than 6,000 people, serving as a source of high-skilled employment
and playing a critical role in UK defence capability. With the
Team Tempest project reaching its critical phase, does my hon.
Friend agree that the project must be at the heart of the
Government’s defence plans and must be provided with the backing
it needs to give it certainty for the future?
Warton plays a key role in the UK’s combat air sector and Tempest
is the future of that sector, with over 1,800 highly skilled
engineers already involved in the programme, going up to 2,500
next year. As the Prime Minister has made clear, this Government
are committed to investing in the future of our combat air
strategy.
(Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab) [V]
The north-east sends a higher proportion of people into the armed
forces than any other region, but it also has historically high
levels of unemployment. Service charities are concerned that the
scope of the Armed Forces Bill is too narrow and that it does not
address specific challenges such as employment. Given the
challenges of the transition from service to civilian life, will
the Government commit to ensuring that all areas of potential
disadvantage are addressed for north-east veterans?
The Armed Forces Bill is an important opportunity to enshrine the
armed forces covenant. I understand that for some it goes too far
and for some it does not go far enough. I say to the hon. Member
that it is the start of the process and the start of a
conversation to ensure that the experience of being a veteran is
levelled up across this country, and I look forward to working
with her in the years ahead.
(North Wiltshire) (Con)
The hundred or so families at Lyneham in my constituency who are
facing eviction from Annington homes will very much welcome the
Minister’s remark a moment ago that he is to extend the eviction
notice period until next March. They will also be glad that there
are to be negotiations with Wiltshire County Council about this,
but is the Minister aware of the further complication that those
homes get their utilities from within the base? Annington Homes
has so far said that that would preclude them from being sold.
Will he instruct officials to look into what can be done about
that particular circumstance?
I hope we may have found a technical solution that would enable
base-dependent sites to be dealt with to allow sales to social
housing providers if the parties agree. Our advice is that the
transfer of supply can generally be effected relatively rapidly,
and we are willing to share this advice with Annington, which
will need to be satisfied that it can perform connections to
mains networks safely and efficiently with tenants in situ.
(New Forest
East) (Con)
It should be possible to restore the pensions of the small cohort
of war widows who lost them on remarriage or cohabitation without
setting a precedent that would open the floodgates in respect of
other cohorts, so what progress is the Department making in
addressing this debt of honour?
I am aligned with my right hon. Friend’s views. The Secretary of
State has worked tirelessly on this issue to try to correct the
historic injustice of war widows’ pensions. We continue to
examine all possibilities, including the ex gratia scheme and all
the other ideas that my right hon. Friend has come up with in his
tireless campaigning. We will arrive at a solution. Like I said,
the Secretary of State is committed to resolving it, and we will
get there in the end.
(North Durham) (Lab)
The Government maintain that every F-35 built has 15% UK content,
but I understand that the MOD’s definition of “content” includes
work carried out for UK companies by US subsidiaries. Will the
Minister therefore publish how he defines UK content in the
programme, so that I can decide what is done in the UK and what
is done in the US?
I have received a large number of parliamentary questions from
the right hon. Gentleman, and I believe that I have answered that
question as part of them. If not, I will make certain that it is
clear to him. It is 15% by value, and we are proud of the
contribution that is being made by UK manufacturing to the F-35.
I will make certain that that is covered again.
(Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The ministerial code is clear
that
“When Parliament is in session, the most important announcements
of Government policy should be made in the first instance, in
Parliament.”
I know that you believe this principle to be fundamental to the
proper role of Parliament and the accountability of Ministers. We
look forward to the Prime Minister’s statement tomorrow on the
integrated review, yet over the last week there have been a
series of detailed media briefings about decisions in that
integrated review. With the Defence Secretary in his place, can
you offer guidance to the House, ahead of the follow-up Command
Paper on Monday and the defence industrial strategy on Tuesday,
so that we do not have the same serious disregard of the
ministerial code and disrespect for Parliament?
(Bournemouth East) (Con)
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. We have indeed seen a
steady drumbeat of media stories promoting radical changes to our
defence posture, but the Defence Committee has not received any
of those briefings, despite frequent departmental requests. What
troubles me the most is the MOD’s decision to share with the
media the desire to increase our nuclear stockpile with the
purchase of 200 W93 US-made warheads. I am a firm supporter of
continuous at-sea deterrence, but changes to our
non-proliferation policy deserve proper oversight in this House
and should not be used a sweetener to overshadow dramatic cuts to
our conventional defence posture. May I ask for your guidance on
how we can encourage the MOD to brief the Defence
Committee—perhaps in the Ladybird book form that the Defence
Secretary likes to promote—and to ensure that any announcements
on CASD are made in this Chamber first?
Mr Speaker
I am grateful to both right hon. Gentlemen for giving me notice
of their points of order. “Erskine May” states that
“The Speaker has made it clear that the media should not be
informed about the content of statements before they have been
made to the House”.
When a statement is made, Members will of course have an
opportunity to ask about any advance briefing given to the media,
but my position is clear: I want important policy announcements
to be made first to this House. Ministers on the Treasury Bench
will have heard the comments of the right hon. Member for
Wentworth and Dearne () and the Chair of the Defence, Committee as well as
this response. I expect that that response will be shared with
all Ministers and that they will act accordingly. Thank you.
