Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Steve McCabe (Birmingham,
Selly Oak) (Lab) 1. What recent assessment he has made of the
adequacy of the timescales for processing applications to the
Afghan relocations and assistance policy scheme.(904884) The
Minister for Armed Forces (James Heappey) The Ministry of Defence
continues to process ARAP applications at pace, thanks to the
recruitment of more caseworkers and improved systems and processes.
In the first four...Request free trial
Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
1. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the
timescales for processing applications to the Afghan relocations
and assistance policy scheme.(904884)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
The Ministry of Defence continues to process ARAP applications at
pace, thanks to the recruitment of more caseworkers and improved
systems and processes. In the first four months of 2023 we issued
more than 12,200 eligibility decisions. We aim to process all
outstanding initial applications by August 2023.
I have recently written to the Minister about a family still
trapped in Afghanistan, whose case, I was told in January, was
being processed by the MOD, but this is about more than a
constituency case. The standing of our armed services is
affected, and scandals such as the pilot threatened with Rwanda
do not help. Does the Minister recognise that the shambles over
our treatment of Afghan refugees is damaging the reputation of
our military, with obvious implications for future
operations?
I certainly do not recognise the connection that the hon.
Gentleman has made. The offer made through ARAP, the scheme to
bring to the UK Afghans who served alongside the UK armed forces
and whose lives are now at risk as a consequence, is being
honoured and continues to be a major line of effort by the MOD.
We have had hundreds of thousands of applications, the vast
majority of which have come from people who either served in the
Afghan national forces—while their effort was heroic, they were
never who ARAP was aimed at—or never had anything to do with the
UK armed forces at all. Their desperation to leave their country
is understandable, but the ARAP scheme is what it was always set
up to be, the evacuation of those who served alongside the UK
armed forces, and the MOD continues to put a lot of effort into
delivering that. We will complete the processing of applications
by this summer.
Sir (New Forest East) (Con)
Does my right hon. Friend the Minister accept that, while people
who served with our armed forces are at grave risk within
Afghanistan, they are not out of danger even when they cross the
border into Pakistan? If they cross the border without papers,
they could well be sent back. What pressure are we putting on the
Pakistani authorities to ensure that no one who served with
British forces is sent back to a terrible fate while we are
processing their applications?
My right hon. Friend gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to
the Pakistan Government for the co-operation they have shown in
helping us to deliver ARAP. We are not encouraging people to
cross the border illegally, and the Pakistan Government have
given us a number of windows in which to bring people across
legitimately. The consular section at our high commission in
Islamabad has grown to support those who are in Pakistan waiting
for their onward transportation to the UK. However, my right hon.
Friend has raised specific cases with me in the past, and if he
knows of people who are at risk or are being pursued in a way
that I do not think is in our agreement with the Pakistan
Government, I stand ready to take up those cases with them
through our high commission.
Maritime Security: Scotland
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
2. Whether his Department is providing funding for maritime
security in Scotland. (904885)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
The national maritime security strategy details the Government’s
approach to maritime security. The MOD funds direct operational
activity that contributes to maritime security, including the
continuous at-sea deterrent, oceanic surveillance and maritime
domain awareness capabilities. Additionally, the MOD supports the
Joint Maritime Security Centre, a multi-agency organisation that
supports wider maritime security throughout the UK marine area,
including Scotland.
I am not entirely sure that that is the advert for the broad
shoulders and strength of the Union that the Secretary of State
would like to think it is. Can he confirm—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. I am sorry, but we cannot have conversations going on with
those in the Box.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Can the Secretary of State confirm that there is not a single
armoured surface ship permanently based in Scotland right now?
How exactly does that enhance our maritime security, protect our
undersea cables and offshore infrastructure, or make Russia feel
any less emboldened about sailing into UK waters?
Mr Wallace
First, some of the most formidable subsurface boats in the world
are based at Faslane. That does make the Russians calculate. Of
course, the SNP wants to get rid of that, make tens of thousands
of people redundant and fantasise about what that will do.
Secondly, a warship is best used at sea, not at port. That is how
to deter Russia. Tying it up alongside, empty, no doubt as part
of the Scottish “navy” under an independent Scotland, will hardly
frighten anyone.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
The Defence Secretary is right, of course, that for strong
maritime security, we need our Navy ships at sea, not in dock for
repairs. For the last two years, he has been telling us that we
are
“on track to deliver more days at sea for ships.”
Yet in last year’s data, eight of the Navy’s active warships
never went to sea at all, and the new Prince of Wales carrier
has, since it entered service, spent just 267 days at sea and 411
days in dock for repeated repairs. Why is he still failing to get
more of our ships at sea more of the time to keep Britain
safe?
Mr Wallace
First, it is very normal for a third of a fleet to be alongside
for maintenance, deep maintenance and, indeed, preparation to
sail and training—that is not unusual. Secondly, the claim that I
made was that we would get more days at sea off the Navy, rather
than days alongside, and that is indeed the case. If the right
hon. Gentleman is talking about more ships and more days at sea,
he makes the point that there are maybe not enough ships at sea
at the same time, which is exactly why I commissioned the
propulsion improvement process to get the Type 45s—made under his
Government—actually back out to sea rather than tied alongside.
We have now completed three—one at Cammell Laird in Merseyside,
one at Portsmouth, and a second at Cammell Laird—with tremendous
success. They will be out and more available.
The right hon. Gentleman wants to talk about the aircraft
carrier. I am responsible for a lot of things, but it was not me
who commissioned the build the design of the aircraft carriers
that we have to rectify; it was the Labour party.
Housing for Armed Forces Personnel
(Bury South) (Lab)
3. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of housing
for armed forces personnel.(904886)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
In the last seven years, the Ministry of Defence has invested
more than £936 million in service family accommodation
improvements. Currently, just under 97% of the MOD SFA meets or
exceeds the Government’s decent homes standard. Only those
properties are allocated to service families.
Over the last couple of years, I have been fortunate enough to
visit bases across the UK and speak to many servicemen and
servicewomen. The recurring theme is that accommodation is beyond
poor. Having seen family accommodation at first hand, with cracks
and mould on the walls of bedrooms, I have to agree. The Minister
responded to an urgent question on this topic on 20 December, so
what has his Department done since then to improve this awful
situation for our heroes and their families?
We all want to see our armed forces service personnel living in
good-quality accommodation. The key to that is investment, of
course, which is why I hope that the hon. Gentleman will
recognise and welcome the huge investment that we have put into
that space: £936 million in the last seven years, as I said,
including £185 million in 2022-23 alone, and I can confirm that
we are investing at least a further £1.8 billion over the next 10
years.
(North East Hampshire)
(Con)
I welcome the investment that has been put in over the last seven
years, which my hon. Friend the Minister mentions, but he is of
course dealing with a backlog from the last 20 years. Will he
visit RAF Odiham in my constituency to see some of the problems
caused by poor contractors and to discuss solutions with the
service families there?
I would be more than happy to visit—this is an important issue. I
recognise the challenges. It is a complex issue that has built up
over many years, as my right hon. Friend says, but we are putting
the investment in place and are determined to deal with it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
In March, Labour launched Homes Fit for Heroes, our campaign to
highlight the failings of defence housing for service personnel.
One member of the armed forces who has served for more than two
decades told us that they feel pushed to leave the Army because
their house is in such a state of disrepair that they described
it as “unfit to live in”. The Government could have solved that
crisis over the past 13 years if they had wanted to, but it is
getting worse and worse, with personnel leaving because of poor
housing. Will this problem be fixed before the next general
election, or will the Minister leave it to the next Labour
Government to clean up this Tory mess?
It is a pleasure to engage with the Labour Defence Front Bench
for the first time. It is interesting that the hon. Gentleman
does not welcome the significant investment that we have put in
place. Of course, we recognise that we have had long-standing
issues with mould and so on. I emphasise that the maintenance
backlog from December is now down by 75%. He might want to
reflect on the fact that his party’s Government oversaw private
finance initiative contracts for service properties in Bristol,
Bath and Portsmouth, which, I can confirm, had a cost of £25,000
per home whether or not they were occupied.
Veterans UK
(Lewisham East) (Lab)
4. What recent steps Veterans UK has taken to support veterans
and their families.(904888)
(Ogmore) (Lab)
5. What recent steps Veterans UK has taken to support veterans
and their families.(904889)
(Stockton North) (Lab)
8. What recent steps Veterans UK has taken to support veterans
and their families.(904892)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
We continue to deliver a range of services to our veterans and
their families. That includes pension and compensation payments,
and tailored support through our Veterans Welfare Service and
Defence Transition Services. We are also pressing ahead with our
£40 million transformation programme, which will digitise old,
paper-based practices, improving processes and creating a single
entry point for pensions and compensation by the end of 2024.
The number of claims leading to financial compensation through
the armed forces compensation scheme has dropped from 65% to 47%
since 2011-12, while rejections have risen from 24% to 41%. Can
the Minister say why that is, and how do he and Veterans UK plan
to address the issue?
The digitisation programme I referred to in my initial response
to the hon. Lady’s question will make a big difference; in fact,
the early evidence is that that is the case. My right hon. Friend
the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs recently visited Veterans UK
and was hugely encouraged by what he saw. My right hon. Friend
the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families,
who sends his apologies, Mr Speaker, for not being able to be
here today, is on this issue very closely. Whatever the failings
of the past, the transformation process should lead to
significantly better outcomes.
The Minister will know that 14% of veterans in England and Wales
are female. In a recent survey, 23% of those veterans said they
had suffered sexual harassment in the armed forces, and a further
23% said they had been subject to emotional bullying. That has
significantly contributed to post-traumatic stress disorder cases
among female veterans. Will the Minister set out what the
Government are doing to ensure that these veterans get the best
support they can and that they get it while they are serving, so
that we can both encourage more women to join the armed forces
and meet the Government’s target of 30% of the armed forces being
female in the next five years?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising such an important issue,
which gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to the work done by
my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham () on the Defence Committee
and while she was a Minister in the Department. This is an issue
that the Department is working on. The Defence Secretary has made
it a priority that we address any remaining issues around the
culture in our armed forces. As the hon. Gentleman noted in his
question, we need to make sure that that extends to the support
we offer female veterans as well.
Further to the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for
Birmingham, Selly Oak (), Ministers will be aware of
the series of articles in The Independent campaigning for asylum
protection for veteran Afghan pilots and others who fought with
the British forces in Afghanistan at great personal, mental and
physical cost. Will the Minister confirm once and for all that
these veterans will have their asylum applications processed
quickly and that not one of them will be deported to Rwanda or
anywhere else?
The hon. Gentleman is referring to a veteran of the Afghan
national security forces rather than the UK security forces. As I
said in response to the original question on ARAP, the terms of
ARAP were, from the very beginning, about those who worked with
the UK armed forces in direct support of our role in Afghanistan,
not the entirety of the Afghan national security forces. In the
case the hon. Gentleman refers to, the gentleman applied only on
9 April. We are looking at whether there are any special
circumstances under which his application could be approved but,
in principle, as a member of the Afghan national security forces,
rather than somebody who worked alongside the British armed
forces, he would not automatically be in scope.
(North Wiltshire) (Con)
There is one group of veterans to whom a terrible injustice was
done many years ago, namely LGBTQ+ soldiers, sailors and airmen
from before 2001 who lost their rank, who were dismissed and who
lost their pensions—to this day, none of that has been restored.
The Government have appointed to look into this matter and
to try to right some of those wrongs. When will his report be
brought before the House? Will there be an oral statement on the
matter so that we can cross-examine Ministers on it? Is the
Minister confident that he will now find a way of righting these
dreadful wrongs?
I personally agree very much with the sentiments of my hon.
Friend’s question. The way that gay people were treated during
their service in the armed forces at an earlier time does not
reflect the values of the modern British armed forces. The review
will be here soon, I am told, and we will make sure that its
lessons are learned and adopted by the Department.
(Hemel Hempstead) (Con)
Today is 15 May, the day that Captain Robert Nairac from 1st
Battalion the Grenadier Guards was taken by the IRA and murdered.
His murderers are still walking free and we do not know the
truth. Does the Minister acknowledge that those who served on
Operation Banner need to know the truth about what happened to
Captain Robert Nairac? The veterans’ groups in my constituency
and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (), led by David Brocklehurst,
who sadly was killed on Monday in a road traffic accident, need
the support of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, my right hon.
Friend the Member for Plymouth, Moor View (), as we go forward. We have
the success of peace in Northern Ireland, but it is no peace when
we do not know who murdered Captain Nairac.
I, too, read over the weekend that the anniversary of the death
of Captain Nairac was today. His case is a particularly barbaric
one. There is a great deal of work going into the legacy of the
troubles and how investigations should or should not be
progressed. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs leads on that. I
know he will have heard the question that my right hon. Friend
has asked today, and I am sure he will want to pick up the issues
with him in due course.
(Filton and Bradley Stoke)
(Con)
Can my right hon. Friend update the House on the progress of the
roll-out of veterans ID cards, which I understand is due to be
completed by Remembrance Day this year?
I have no reason to believe that my hon. Friend’s expectations
are inaccurate, but I will make sure that the Minister for
Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, my right hon.
Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) writes
to him, in case that is not the case.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Luton South) (Lab)
Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the last serviceman being
stood down from national service, and I express our thanks to all
those who served. The headline findings of the five-year review
of the armed forces compensation scheme found the process overly
burdensome and even distressing. I have heard many complaints
about the scheme from veterans and their families, as I am sure
have Ministers. With the Government missing their own casework
targets, delaying action on the scheme is not good enough, as it
continues to let down our armed forces community. Can I press the
Minister on when we will see the final report of the review? Can
he confirm that meaningful improvements will be made to the
scheme before summer recess?
As I have said in response to earlier questions, around £40
million is being invested in the ongoing transformation process
to digitise the existing paper-based processes and records, and
that will be transformative. These are hundreds of thousands of
records kept largely on paper, which makes them extraordinary
difficult to process and has caused all of the delays that the
hon. Lady rightly mentions. Since the new online digital claims
service was launched through the gov.uk website, the service has
been available to service personnel and veterans. The new service
has been well received and already accounts for 50% of all new
injury and illness claims being made.
Sudan Conflict
(Eddisbury) (Con)
6. What steps his Department has taken to support the
Government’s response to the conflict in Sudan.(904890)
(Meon Valley) (Con)
21. What steps his Department has taken to support the
Government’s response to the conflict in Sudan.(904905)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
Defence was pivotal in the success of the wider Government effort
to evacuate British passport holders and other eligible persons
from Sudan. A range of UK military assets and capabilities were
deployed in our response, resulting in the evacuation of more
than 2,400 people—the longest and largest evacuation of any
western nation from Sudan.
I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. A constituent of
mine was holed up in a Khartoum corridor with a French family for
days, unable to receive email or WhatsApp instructions from the
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office due to the power
outages. My office was having to relay updates to his distressed
family. Mercifully, he was airlifted out by the French armée de
l’air. I recognise the complex and challenging nature of the
evacuation, but what can His Majesty’s Government do to help
improve awareness of and communications with stranded British
citizens in potentially unstable states to enable our armed
forces to mount efficient and effective airlifts in the
future?
Mr Wallace
My hon. and learned Friend raises an important point, but not an
easy issue to solve. In Sudan, we were seeing less than single
digit percentage coverage of or access to the internet at any one
time, in the middle of effectively a civil war, as it was then.
For Defence, it is an easier thing to solve, as we bring our own
communications with us. When 16 Air Assault Brigade deployed, we
managed to bring a limited amount of capability so that we could
try to communicate with British citizens. For the main part, the
Foreign Office has primacy in this area. We will always stand by
to help it with that advice, but I also advise that travellers
look at advice before they travel. Indeed, we have to find a way
through that challenge in a communications-denied space, but it
is not straightforward or easy.
Mrs Drummond
I have been seeing some of the amazing work that the Royal Air
Force does through my membership of the armed forces
parliamentary scheme. Will my right hon. Friend join me in
congratulating the RAF on the work it did in Sudan, evacuating
more than 2,500 people from over 24 countries under very
dangerous circumstances? Will he also inform the House which
other stakeholders made that a success, so that we can recognise
their work and thank them as well?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend is right to highlight the RAF. To fly into an
airfield with unsure conditions, often in the dark and without
much of an advance recce is some achievement. If you remember, Mr
Speaker, we also saw the RAF do that in the large evacuation of
Kabul. Alongside the RAF, a specialist unit from 16 Air Assault
Brigade flew in and helped to fix the runway, which, of course,
was not used to the level of demand placed on it; only Britain
had that ability. That allowed a better relationship with the
Sudanese armed forces and enabled the longer-term evacuation to
continue. That is an example of the breadth of experience our
armed forces carry.
(South Shields) (Lab)
Three of the four Atlas aircraft used in the evacuation of
British nationals from Sudan are reported to have developed
faults, two thirds of the incoming fleet are listed as
unavailable and there remains no clarity that the fleet can
perform the niche functions that our Special Air Service and
Special Boat Service need. Has the Secretary of State not made a
mistake in pressing ahead with ditching the Hercules fleet in
their favour?
Mr Wallace
I have heard these tired arguments that what we need to do is
keep the Herc and get rid of the A400. The A400 outperforms the
Herc in most areas. It has a longer ranger and a bigger capacity,
and it can land in the same area; in fact, it can land in a
shorter distance. In the massive evacuation of Kabul, one A400
had a fault for six hours and managed to continue on its course.
The A400 is performing. The migration to special forces and other
capabilities is on track, with jumps having been done from it and
other parts. The simple reality is that the A400 outperforms the
Hercules, and its availability was extremely successful. The
Hercules accounts for only 10% of the fleet, and the overall
fleet for lift is now the biggest it has been for 50 years.
(Warley) (Lab)
I join the Secretary of State in congratulating our armed forces
on their role in Sudan, as in Afghanistan. However, there is a
problem: in Afghanistan and Sudan—but also during covid, when
lots of our citizens were stranded around the world—while the
Ministry of Defence was up for early action, the Foreign Office
was not. Can we have a stronger role for the MOD in the machinery
of government, so that we get the can-do attitude of the MOD,
rather than the can’t-do attitude of the Foreign Office?
Mr Wallace
I can do, by helping the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the
resilience of the whole of government is supported by the MOD.
There are definitely lessons to be learned, and I will ensure
that they are taken away and shared across Government.
Defence Exports to Global Allies
(Eastleigh) (Con)
7. What steps his Department has taken to support defence exports
to global allies.(904891)
(Dudley North) (Con)
24. What steps his Department has taken to support defence
exports to global allies.(904908)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The UK scores highly in the global rankings for defence exports,
which create jobs and prosperity across the country, building the
industrial resilience and capacity we need for our national
security. Through the defence and security industrial strategy,
we and the industry are strengthening our position by
diversifying our exports and target markets, and by collaborating
more closely.
I welcome the Department’s announcement that both Germany and the
United Kingdom will work together on the development of advanced
armour-piercing tank ammunition. Given that these new rounds will
be able to be fired from both British and German tanks,
supporting compatibility within NATO, what export potential does
this new capability have?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who is right to highlight this
important collaboration with one of our major allies. Enhanced
kinetic energy munitions are a key part of the Challenger 3 and
Leopard 2 main battle tanks programmes, and will deliver
battle-winning capabilities to UK and German armed forces. I am
confident that their advanced performance will be recognised as
world-leading, and their export potential to NATO and other
allies will be promoted by the MOD, as ever in close partnership
with the Department for Business and Trade.
I congratulate the Defence Secretary and all Ministers past and
present who may have played their part in securing the £1.9
billion export deal with Poland for missiles. Does he agree that
significantly strengthening our defence and security relationship
with Brazil can increase exports to that country, too?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and he is absolutely right to
celebrate a great British success story. The MBDA
British-designed common anti-air modular missile is the
latest-generation air defence system in service with the Royal
Navy and British Army; it can engage targets up to 25 km away and
is capable of hitting a tennis ball-sized object travelling
beyond the speed of sound. It is already deployed in Poland to
protect its airspace following Putin’s barbaric invasion of
Ukraine. We work closely with the Department for Business and
Trade in supporting Energy UK’s export campaign through dedicated
teams. This network is supporting delivery of numerous CAMM
campaigns, and I can confirm to my hon. Friend that we have a
positive defence relationship with Brazil: he makes a very good
point, and the MOD continues to work with the Brazilian Ministry
of Defence and armed forces on how we and UK industry can support
their equipment capability shortfalls and development
requirements.
AUKUS Submarine Project
(Crawley) (Con)
9. What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy
of progress on the AUKUS submarine project.(904893)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
I recently accompanied Prime Minister Albanese to
Barrow-in-Furness, where the next generation of AUKUS nuclear
submarines will be built for the Royal Navy—a testament to our
joint commitment. This multi-decade undertaking will create
thousands of jobs in the UK, delivering on the Prime Minister’s
priority to grow the economy, and demonstrating the experience
and skill that is embodied in British industry.
I welcome the Australian Government’s decision to design their
submarines on the SSN-AUKUS model, and I understand that
Australian Prime Minister Albanese was in Barrow recently to see
that work. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the
benefits of AUKUS and the design being made in this country to
the supply chain across the United Kingdom?
Mr Wallace
Building complicated machines such as submarines has the benefit
of a long and broad supply chain. The AUKUS model will be truly
collaborative: while based on a UK submersible ship nuclear
replacement, I expect it over time to be built by Australian
hands and with United States skills and supply chains, which will
provide opportunities to both countries, alongside ourselves.
That is good news for British industry, for skills in places such
as Barrow-in-Furness, and for our alliances with Australia and
the United States.
(North Durham) (Lab)
I thank the Secretary of State for his response to that question.
I visited Australia last year and saw the great work that the
Australians are undertaking on AUKUS; it is a great national
endeavour. Is he confident that in the UK the Department for
Business and Trade and others realise that if we are to get the
benefit of this exciting project, we need that national endeavour
here, especially on skills and technology across Government?
Mr Wallace
The right hon. Gentleman will know that getting sign-off on a
project such as this involves engagement across Government,
including getting the Treasury’s buy-in. Once that has been
locked in, we can progress. I am confident that the whole of
Government stand behind the project, which is important not just
to regenerate places such as Cumbria and the north-west but to
lock in the skills base that we need for our future. This is a
very exciting project. It will be building long after the right
hon. Gentleman and I have probably left this House, in many
decades to come. Britain has been at this game—nuclear
submarines—for 70 years, and it is not something that one commits
to and then backs out of. We expect Australia, alongside the
United States and ourselves, to be doing this for a very long
time to the benefit of British jobs.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op)
I welcome the new Minister, the hon. Member for South Suffolk
(), to his place; I got on
with all his predecessors and I look forward to our exchanges in
future. As has been said, the AUKUS agreement is a game changer
not only for our forces but for British industry. The Government
have promised a jobs bonanza for generations to come in places
such as Derby, Barrow-in-Furness and Devonport in the
constituency of my fellow shadow Minister, my hon. Friend the
Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (). Will the promise be
underwritten by contractual guarantees to ensure that future
generations are trained in the skills that we need for this vital
programme?
Mr Wallace
It is already underwritten by contractual guarantees. In
Barrow-in-Furness, BAE is recruiting for 11,000 to 17,000 jobs.
Derby is investing for the next generation of reactor, and that
is starting. The key point about AUKUS is that it not only gets a
commitment from the Treasury and the Government for the British
replacement of the Astute class but locks in the potential of the
Australian supply chain and working together collaboratively on
skills in both countries. That process is already under way, with
£2 billion recently unlocked to start building the infrastructure
needed in both Derby and BAE in Barrow, and that will continue.
This is further down the path than the beginning, but the real
work starts now.
Trident Renewal
(Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
(Alba)
10. What recent estimate his Department has made of the (a)
timescale and (b) cost of the renewal of Trident.(904894)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The Dreadnought submarine programme remains within overall budget
and on track for the first of class, HMS Dreadnought, to enter
service in the early 2030s. As the programme is in its
preliminary phases, it is too early to provide cost estimates for
the replacement warhead programme.
The financial cost of weapons of mass destruction is one thing;
the potential human cost from radiation leaks is quite another.
On 7 November last year, I raised concerns from a whistleblower
about a serious radiation breach at Coulport on Loch Long. The
Secretary of State promised that he would provide a detailed
written response. Despite my persistence, six months later I have
still not had a reply, other than a leak to the media saying:
“The alleged radiation incident referred to…did not”
take place. Will the Secretary of State confirm today from the
Dispatch Box whether HMNB Clyde staff were moved from building
201 in Coulport to building 41 elsewhere due to a serious
radiation breach?
Obviously, I will have to look into the matter and will write to
the hon. Gentleman further. I would make one point. He talked
about the other costs. If I may, while the SNP has a merely
quirky position of unilateral nuclear disarmament but supposedly
remaining in NATO, the position of the Alba party is both nuclear
disarmament and withdrawal from NATO. What would be the cost of
that policy? In the light of the current situation where Russia
has invaded Ukraine, what would happen if we were to announce our
withdrawal from NATO?
It is not questions to me.
He should reflect on the cost of—
Mr Speaker
Order. That was a long answer, which did not really answer the
question. What I am more concerned about is that there has not
been a reply to a letter that was put in six months ago. Can
somebody check that? I am bothered about MPs getting replies from
Ministers, not scoring points.
Ukraine: NATO Response
(Bosworth) (Con)
11. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness
of NATO’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.(904895)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
Mr Speaker, I will endeavour to ensure that the hon. Member for
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath () gets a reply, and to find
out why it has taken so long. It is too long, if that has been
the case. Maybe we put it in the camper van.
The UK and international partners committed to providing the
capabilities that Ukraine requires, including training,
artillery, air defence and armoured vehicles, and to driving
further international donations to resolve the war. However, the
Ukrainian people should not be forced into concessions. To ensure
that Ukraine is in the best possible position to negotiate, the
UK and its partners will continue to provide military and
economic support, apply sanctions and increase international
pressure on Russia.
Dr Evans
NATO’s key strategic concept is that of ensuring the collective
defence of its members. The best way to do that is to secure
peace in Ukraine, but, given Russian aggression, I support the UK
and NATO in their work. What assessment has the Secretary of
State made of the likelihood of securing peace and, failing that,
the defensive capabilities of the alliance should a war
escalate?
Mr Wallace
NATO has done a lot of work—not only from February last year when
the invasion started—to ensure that it is ready and to use that
readiness to deter Russia on NATO’s borders. That is incredibly
important. To date, we have not seen any deliberate strikes into
a NATO country by Russia. While we have seen deeply provocative
events in the Black sea, Russia has so far been respecting those
NATO borders.
The most important thing is to ensure that President Putin
realises he cannot win this war in Ukraine. His brutality is
having the opposite effect—it has driven two new nations into
NATO—and the west, including the United Kingdom and Germany, as I
saw in an announcement, is stepping up more and more to ensure
that Ukraine has success on the battlefield so that it can
negotiate, if it wishes, from a position of strength.
Dame (Llanelli) (Lab)
We on the Opposition side stand firmly behind and support
Ukraine. However, Ukraine is depleting our military stockpiles,
and the Government seem to be acting too slowly to replenish
them. What progress has the Secretary Of State made on a
stockpile strategy? What talks has he had with NATO allies about
their replenishment plans to ensure the most effective sequencing
of replenishment?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Lady makes an important point that is common not just to
the United Kingdom but across Europe. Ukraine has woken everyone
up to issues such as ammunition stocks. The first challenge was
to wake up that supply chain. Many of the orders we had placed
were filled, and the supply chain went on to do something else.
We have now placed orders for new NLAWs. Let us remember the
anti-tank weapons and new anti-aircraft missiles from Thales in
Northern Ireland in conjunction with our Swedish and, I think,
Finnish colleagues. We are in the process of, hopefully, awarding
a contract to replenish 155 mm shells. At the same time, I have
worked across the international community to make sure that we
stimulate those supply chains and to make sure that Ukraine does,
as well.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Defence Committee.
(Bournemouth East) (Con)
I welcome President Zelensky’s visit to the UK. Clearly, a warm
relationship is developing between the President and our Prime
Minister. We have a proud track record of being the first to
provide those NLAWs, and of providing training on Salisbury
plain, those main battle tanks and the long-range weapons
systems. What next? Perhaps fast jets.
There is much talk of a counter-offensive, but I want to ask the
Secretary of State about the comments of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the
leader of the Wagner Group. He openly criticised President Putin
for the absence of ammunition and battlefield tactics. Is the
Secretary of State concerned that if the counter-offensive is
successful and terrain is gained, Putin will turn ugly and resort
to non-conventional chemical and biological weapons, as he did in
Syria?
Mr Wallace
We always have to be on our guard about the behaviours of the
Russian military and President Putin. As my right hon. Friend
rightly comments, the use of chemical weapons in Syria was
another turning point, as was the use of chemical weapons here on
the streets of the United Kingdom in the poisoning of the
Skripals in Salisbury. We are on our guard. The international
community regularly communicates. We stand ready with NATO. We
have increased our readiness and we have started to increase
investment in our capabilities. That is all important, but my
right hon. Friend is right that we must be on our guard about
what happens next.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
Figures show that NATO allies in partner countries have provided
Ukraine with more than 98% of the combat vehicles promised. What
steps are Ministers taking to ensure that Ukraine continues to
see high levels of support from NATO?
Mr Wallace
NATO allies regularly meet alongside other international partners
at Ramstein in Germany, at a US-chaired donation conference,
which builds on my first international conferences. It is a
regular drumbeat to keep up on that. As hon. Members can tell,
President Zelenskyy and members of his Government are regular
visitors to international communities to keep that momentum
going. Britain is at the forefront of that momentum and will
continue to be. Our determination is to see it through.
Defence Procurement System
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
13. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of
his Department’s defence procurement system.(904897)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
We are driving the delivery of capability to the frontline. When
requirements, budget and risk are clear, we have proven our
ability to deliver. The majority of our programmes are on or
ahead of time and budget. The Ministry of Defence has set out an
affordable 10-year equipment plan to ensure that our armed forces
are being given what they need, while living within our
means.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
I heard what the Secretary of State said about Atlas. He has
previously given me a commitment that there will be no loss of
capability, but today, Deborah Haynes at Sky News is reporting
that the UK will be left dangerously exposed when the C-130J is
cut next month. That comes amid concerns that its successor, the
Atlas A400M, has yet to be cleared to perform the niche but
mission-critical functions of the C-130J. Will the Minister give
an absolute assurance that our defence procurement system will
ensure no loss of operational capability?
I am more than happy to give the hon. Gentleman that assurance.
There is a great deal of affection for the Hercules, but to go
back to what the Secretary of State said about the recent
performance in the important operation in Sudan, the largest
number of evacuees that the Hercules carried out from Sudan was
143. The largest number in an A400M was about 100 more than
that.
Mr Speaker
I call the Scottish National party spokesperson.
(Angus) (SNP)
Continuity, focus and a relentless grip on detail are the
hallmarks of a competent defence procurement Minister. In less
than a year, we are on our fourth defence procurement Minister,
so we do not have the continuity bit nailed down. Will the new
Minister reassure the House of his competence by enlightening us
of the most challenging defence procurement issue on his desk
this week?
I look to my left and my right and I see continuity. I am
grateful to follow in the steps of my right hon. and learned
Friend the Member for Cheltenham (), now Lord Chancellor and
Secretary of State for Justice, who did a sterling job. To give
one example, the hon. Member for Llanelli (Dame ) mentioned the issue of replenishment. I recently
had the privilege of visiting British troops training Ukrainian
forces, as referred to by the Chair of the Select Committee, my
right hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood).
We have to remember, it is not just that we are training 15,000
personnel to go back out to Ukraine and defend their homeland;
every time they go we are giving them high-quality kit. There are
lessons to learn from what has happened in Ukraine, but we should
be incredibly proud of that effort. We have procured at pace,
gifted in kind and ensured that Ukraine has been able to sustain
its fight to this day.
Well, that’s crystal clear. One of the things the Minister said
when talking about Ukraine, in answer to my question about
procurement, was about replenishment. He will know, even in his
short tenure in the job, that small and medium-sized enterprises
are the lifeblood of any military-industrial complex. Can he
explain why, in answer to my parliamentary question a couple of
weeks ago asking if the Ministry of Defence would attend a public
sector meet-the-buyer event in Edinburgh, which is attended by
other UK Government Departments, the MOD—a £50 billion-resourced
organisation—cited a lack of resource as the reason it could not
attend? Is that a special kind of indifference that is reserved
for Scotland?
Of course not. I am happy to look into that. I want to assure the
hon. Gentleman that the latest figures show that the proportion
that the MOD spends with SMEs has increased from 19.3% in 2018-19
to 23% in 2021. I ran an SME before coming to this place—it was
not a defence SME but I know how important they are. They give us
creativity and innovation, and I want to work with them and the
primes in delivering the British defence industry, because we see
that as a key part of our own defence capability.
Ukrainian Military Defence
(Colne Valley) (Con)
15. What steps his Department is taking to help support Ukraine’s
military defence against Russia.(904899)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
The UK, our allies and partners are continuing to respond
decisively to support Ukraine as the conflict evolves. We have
trained over 15,000 recruits and provided £2.4 billion of
support, including artillery ammunition, as well as leading the
world on the gifting of vital capabilities, such as
multiple-launch rocket systems, Challenger 2 tanks and now Storm
Shadow missiles.
I again congratulate my right hon. Friend on the announcement of
the delivery of long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. I am
proud that the UK has been able to provide this vital capability
to the Ukrainians ahead of their long-expected counter-offensive.
Given that the Ukrainians will need all the support they can get
for that, can he reassure me that the second spending round of
the international fund for Ukraine is proceeding at pace? When
might we expect to see contracts placed with the remaining £300
million?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend will be glad to know that the second spending
round was launched last month. It is seeking expressions of
interest in a phased approach, beginning with the needs for air
defence, long-range strike and mobility support, and it is open
to huge numbers of SMEs to apply for funding. Submissions are
being assessed right now and more requirements will be launched
in the coming weeks. Successful companies will be chosen by the
UK, alongside our IFU partners, and contracting will begin as
soon as possible.
Topical Questions
Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(904909)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
I place on record my thanks to all the members of our armed
forces who contributed to the coronation parade. It was a
remarkable day in the history of the nation. It was both an
immense privilege and a solemn responsibility for the Ministry of
Defence and our armed forces to fulfil. I thank them once again
for contributing in an exemplary way and with such extraordinary
personal commitment and dedication, while also meeting all other
operational requirements. We are immensely proud of them all and
privileged to belong to the defence community.
I echo the Secretary of State’s comments in their entirety. The
visit by President Zelensky today highlights how vital a
collective approach is to our national defence and security. To
that end, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that we
have security and defence agreements in place with our nearest
allies in Europe, in response to Russian aggression?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Lady is absolutely right that we get our strength
through coalition and our alliances, and NATO is the most
successful military alliance the world has seen. In addition, I
led the way in ensuring that countries that were not covered by
NATO at the time—Sweden and Finland—signed together a mutual
defence pack about two years ago, when no one thought that they
would now be joining NATO. We encourage nations to join NATO and
to apply using the open-door policy; at the same time, we seek to
help other nations to join using memorandums of understanding and
other agreements, to try to bolster that enabling alliance.
Mr (Delyn) (Ind)
T2. Following the groundbreaking work done by my hon. Friend the
Member for Wrexham () on the experience of women
in the military, Delyn constituents were pleased to hear the
announcement of a women veterans strategy. Could the Secretary of
State provide an update and a timeline on when that might be
implemented?(904910)
Mr Wallace
I can. I will write to the hon. Gentleman, as the strategy will
be the responsibility of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. I will
be happy to provide him with further details.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
We welcome President Zelensky’s visit and the extra military aid
announced today. The invasion of Ukraine has reinforced the
importance of strong deterrence and Army numbers. While NATO is
responding by increasing its high-readiness force to 300,000, the
Defence Secretary is still set on cutting the British Army to its
smallest size since Napoleon. Will he halt the cuts in next
month’s defence Command Paper?
Mr Wallace
I have been really clear that this is not a numbers game; it is
about making sure that, whatever the size of our armed forces, we
have a completely well-equipped and well looked-after workforce.
If we simply go on a numbers game, without the appropriate
funding—and I have heard no commitments from the Labour party—we
will go back to a world that I served in, under Governments of
both parties, where we had numbers on paper and on parade
grounds, but hollow forces. I will not repeat that. I will make
sure that whatever we have is fully equipped and fully 360. That
is the real lesson of Ukraine.
Labour has argued for over two years for a halt to these cuts.
Despite the Secretary of State’s bluster, the truth is that he
has failed to get the new money for defence, apart from for
nuclear and for stockpiles. Why will he not just admit it? Far
from responding to the threats that Britain faces, he is cutting
the Army to cut costs.
Mr Wallace
This is like “Through the Looking Glass”, Mr Speaker. The reality
is that as Defence Secretary I have achieved an increase of over
£24 billion, both in resource departmental expenditure limit, in
parts, and also in capital spend. It is important that the House
understands that the world and the battlefield are changing. If
we simply go to a numbers game, we will head back to a first
world war. What we need is to learn the lessons and equip and
support people properly. I have still not heard from the
Opposition a single mention of their defence budget. Reversing
the cuts, of course, will cost billions of pounds. I have heard
nothing so far.
Mr Speaker
I do not think they have any responsibility today, so let us go
to .
(Bosworth) (Con)
T3. I recently had the privilege of becoming honorary president
of the Royal British Legion’s Hinckley branch. My first
engagement was to join the Hinckley armed forces and veterans
breakfast club at the Hansom Cab in Burbage for its fifth-year
celebration. That amazing organisation helps veteran men and
women, providing support, companionship and banter for those who
have served. Will the Minister thank all those who give their
time for such organisations? More importantly, what more can he
do to support armed forces and veterans breakfast
clubs?(904911)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his presidential duties at the
Hinckley branch of the Royal British Legion—my own branch in
Burnham-on-sea will just about let me make the tea. He is
absolutely right to draw attention to the fantastic work of
veterans breakfast clubs. The Government have supported those
through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. I know that that
support is as well received in his constituency as it is in mine,
where there is an excellent club in Glastonbury.
(Bradford South) (Lab)
T4. Today the UK is pledging a new package of military support to
Ukraine. What assessment has the Minister made of the pace of
delivery of those vital supplies to Ukraine?(904912)
Mr Wallace
Right from the start, the United Kingdom has been at the
forefront of ensuring that the supplies get into the country as
soon as possible, basing people not only in the international
donor co-ordination cell in Germany—there are over 70 military
personnel there—but in neighbouring countries, to ensure the
logistics of getting supplies to reach places in time. We are
still managing to commit to that pace.
As President Zelensky has said, some countries have made pledges
but part of the delay has been in their getting equipment ready
to donate. Ours is already in—our 12 Challengers are already in
the country. We will make sure that we keep monitoring the
situation and pushing as fast as possible.
Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con)
T5. The Mayor of London has generously permitted 54,000 friends
and family of Transport for London workers free travel around
London. He has also granted police officers from eight services
free travel when not in uniform. Will the Minister explain to
service personnel, particularly those from Woolwich barracks, why
they can travel free only while in full uniform, which makes them
and those around them a target? Are there any plans to rectify
that discrepancy?(904913)
The Labour Mayor of London is also expanding the ultra low
emission zone charge, which will affect thousands of armed forces
personnel who are based in the outer boroughs. I suspect that our
Opposition colleagues will have heard of this impact on their
cost of living, and will be earnestly encouraging their Mayor to
ensure that free travel is extended to armed forces personnel who
are not travelling in uniform.
(Halifax) (Lab)
T7. The transition to the new NATO force model must be complete
by this year. Can the Secretary of State update the House on how
prepared the UK is for more capability at greater readiness, so
that we can continue to play our leading role in
NATO?(904915)
Mr Wallace
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe recently issued his regional
plans, which extend to 3,000 pages of detailed proposals for the
defence of Europe. From that will stem a donation conference at
which all the member states will present their contributions to
the plans. Within that, we will develop the new force model that
will contribute to the new force structure of NATO. Once we have
got through that period of the next few months, we will be able
to tell the House exactly what we have put forward, how ready it
is, and whether it meets the ask of the Supreme Allied Commander
Europe.
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
T6. Clive Sheldon KC, of 11 King’s Bench Walk chambers, submitted
his Lessons Learned report on the AJAX programme to the Ministry
of Defence some four months ago. We are told that it is still
undergoing a “fact-checking” process, but there are growing
rumours that some people who are adversely implicated in the
report are trying to water it down or even suppress its
publication. As the Secretary of State personally commissioned
the report, and as it is his birthday today, and as this is, I
think, my fourth time of asking, will he please give us all a
birthday present and tell us when the report will actually be
published?(904914)
Mr Speaker
Happy birthday.
Mr Wallace
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. What a birthday.
My right hon. Friend is entirely right. I have not yet seen the
draft, and I have asked to see it as well as the final report so
that, on the basis of what I have seen with my own eyes, I can
decide whether or not it is appropriate to change it. I have been
told, after raising the issue recently, that its arrival is
imminent, and it is extremely important to ensure that it does
reach me. My right hon. Friend has a real point here: namely,
that I am not in the business of shielding people from their
errors; I am interested in learning lessons.
(Preston) (Lab/Co-op)
T9. You, Mr Speaker, the Defence Secretary and I all have
thousands of constituents who work at BAE Systems in Lancashire.
They have been working very hard on Typhoons and F-35s, but for
the last couple of years there has been a great deal of
excitement and hype about the Tempest programme. I understand
that the Tempest is still a concept, in terms of its development,
so can the Defence Secretary tell us when the detailed design and
production stages are likely to take place?(904917)
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend has raised an issue that is important not only to
our part of the world but to the whole United Kingdom: the
ability to deliver a sovereign capability. I recently went to
Japan, where I signed another agreement with my Japanese and
Italian counterparts. The global combat air programme, or
GCAP—Tempest to us—is incredibly important for jobs in the
north-west. It is already moving into the design phase, and we
will then start to deal with the question of the political
balance—of how much work is shared among the partners. However,
there is a strong Government commitment to take this forward. We
expect to see test flights before 2030, and we hope that the
project will progress strongly for all our sakes.
(Sleaford and North
Hykeham) (Con)
T8. On 1 March this year more than 22,000 armed forces personnel
had been described as being in dental categories 2 or 3, which
means that their dental fitness was suboptimal. In addition,
constituents of mine who are spouses or dependants of military
personnel are struggling to obtain treatment from NHS dentists
owing to their frequent house moves. What are my right hon.
Friend and the Department doing to ensure that we meet our
obligations to service personnel and their families?(904916)
I understand that my hon. Friend recently met the Minister for
Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, my right hon.
Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), to
discuss this matter. Defence service personnel have more access
to dentistry than would be expected by the general population.
When people are awaiting dental care ahead of deployment, their
care is prioritised. As for the wider issue relating to dental
provision for service families, my hon. Friend has made an
important point, and I will ensure that it is conveyed to
Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care. It does,
of course, involve armed forces covenant issues.
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
It was good to hear that the Appledore shipyard in Devon will see
the construction of modules for the three support ships for the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary, as announced last November. It has been
reported in the press in the last week that shipyards belonging
to our ally, Poland, will construct blocks of hull for the Type
31 frigates, with final assembly to be carried out at Rosyth.
What parts of the Type 31 will be built in Poland, and what value
will that amount to?
Mr Wallace
My understanding is that the smallest part—[Interruption.]—1%
will be built in Poland. That is of course Babcock’s decision,
made under the original contract, but overall this will be
completed in Rosyth and I have already been up there to visit. I
am also delighted that, for example, the contract model we put
together for the fleet solid support ship has enabled places such
as Appledore to get work. It is important that we keep all our
yards busy and that they do not just go from feast to famine.
(Clwyd South) (Con)
T10. Will my right hon. Friend comment on the ways in which the
Ministry of Defence is maximising defence procurement from Wales,
particularly from north-east Wales where my constituency is
situated?(904918)
Wales plays an integral part in all aspects of the UK’s defence
policy, with a number of the MOD’s major suppliers and small and
medium-sized enterprises having a presence there. In 2021, for
example, the MOD awarded a £110 million contract to the Raytheon
UK plant in north Wales, which is providing the RAF with one of
the world’s most modern and capable intelligence-gathering
assets. We are also working with the Welsh Government and the
Defence Electronics and Components Agency to create an advanced
technology research centre at MOD Sealand. The centre will
develop cutting-edge sovereign capability to support
international collaboration, job sustainment and skills retention
while meeting our changing defence requirements.
(Liverpool, Riverside)
(Lab)
I would like to thank the PCS union and the staff at Defence
Business Services for their work on negotiating important wins
for disabled and non-mobile staff, who have been offered flexible
and hybrid working as a reasonable adjustment. Not forcing staff
to move without their agreement, along with the creation of a
voluntary release package, is a positive step. Can the Secretary
of State commit to ongoing negotiations with PCS and the
Liverpool staff to keep their terms under review, to ensure that
staff are given the support necessary to keep their jobs under
reasonable conditions?
I am glad that the hon. Lady recognises that these have been
constructive negotiations. She mentioned the offer of flexible
working and, as she knows, there have to date been no compulsory
redundancies. I would just stress that, even with the £30 million
cost of the new site, there will be a total £40 million saving,
so this is good value for taxpayers as well as a good deal for
the workforce.
(Witney) (Con)
I welcome the new Minister to his place. It was great of him to
make his first visit to Carterton recently, where we discussed
the upgrading of existing MOD housing and the purchase of new
housing. I look forward to discussing that with him further
following the Defence sub-Committee report that will be produced
shortly. He also saw the large brownfield site known as REEMA
North, where MOD housing has been demolished and not yet replaced
because the money has not been found to do it. We always talk
about prioritising brownfield land. This is a prime site where
housing is much needed but the money has not yet been found. Will
he work with me to ensure that we not only use this brownfield
land but protect West Oxfordshire’s land supply and give the RAF
the homes that it needs?
I very much enjoyed my visit to Brize Norton. It was actually my
second visit after Abbey Wood. Just to be clear, we remain fully
committed to the development of new housing for service personnel
at the REEMA site. We are in discussions with industry partners
to facilitate this, but given the time that has elapsed, I am
happy to continue to engage with my hon. Friend, who I know is a
champion of his local service personnel, many of whom serve in
the RAF. I am more than happy to stay engaged with him.
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
In March, 8,000 Afghan relocations and assistance policy scheme
families were given eviction notices from their hotel
accommodation by the Home Office. What assurances can we hear
from Defence Ministers that these people will not become
homeless?
Mr Wallace
I can only talk on behalf of the ARAP cohort of people in the
hotels. In the beginning of the process, over half went straight
into the community and found places with family or friends. On
the ones in hotels, the ARAP lodgers are different from those in
the general asylum scheme. They can claim benefits, including
housing benefit, and they can work immediately when they arrive.
It is time that we found a way of getting them out of the hotels
and into the community so that they can start working. They have
that ability, and that is the way they can integrate into society
and get on their own two feet. At the time, it was right that we
took a stand that some of those people had been there for a long
time. It is time to move out and use the rights that they have,
coming here under ARAP.
(Elmet and Rothwell)
(Con)
I have been led to believe that the issue facing HMS Prince of
Wales has been an almost incredible complacency on engineering
tolerances in the shaft. Is there any financial recourse to the
manufacturer in getting the Prince of Wales operational
again?
Mr Wallace
From the initial reports I have read, the misalignment of the
shaft is around 0.8 mm or 1 mm—a tiny amount that, of course, can
make a huge difference at sea. We are examining the liabilities
and who should cough up for that. The good news is that, overall,
it has not delayed the Prince of Wales’s work-up. We took
advantage of some of the maintenance periods to put in
pre-planned maintenance and I think she will be back on track and
on time to deliver her capability.
(Kingston upon Hull West and
Hessle) (Lab)
I recently met Elizabeth Wilson, a school pupil who is also a
Member of the Hull Youth Parliament and the daughter of armed
forces personnel. She is campaigning to establish an armed forces
champion in every school to assist pupils with transition and to
provide peer-to-peer support. What additional support can the
Minister give this young entrepreneur on that project?
Mr Wallace
I would be very happy to meet that young entrepreneur with the
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. That excellent idea would plug in
perfectly with the local authority forces champions, with their
local education remit. That is a really good idea.
(Watford) (Con)
I share my condolences with the family of David Brocklehurst. He
will be a massive loss to the Abbots Langley veterans
association, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel
Hempstead ( ) said.
May I, through the Front-Bench team, thank the Minister for
Veterans’ Affairs for recently visiting Watford to meet veterans,
including the Abbots Langley group, to hear about the fantastic
initiatives in Watford, including Luther Blissett OBE’s Forces
United initiative?
Mr Wallace
Our veterans are very important to the fabric of society, and it
is important that this country is the best place in the world to
be a veteran. This Government have been on the right track in
delivering that. Yes, there are some things around the veterans
card and services, but the agreement of many parts of Government
to support the armed forces covenant is the right direction, and
we are going from strength to strength.
(Weaver Vale) (Lab)
In 1969, 74 US personnel perished after the USS Frank E. Evans
sank. Two Royal Navy personnel from my constituency were present
and they have just been invited to a commemoration, but they are
struggling to get there. Can a Minister meet me to look at
options to help them get there?
Mr Wallace
I will be delighted to try to do that, either personally or
through the Veterans Minister.
(Bracknell) (Con)
The Minister will know that I have constituents in substandard
military accommodation at Sandhurst. When they asked for help
under the Pinnacle Service Families contract over Christmas, it
did not turn up. Will he use the relative lull of the summer
months to plan ahead with the contractors to make sure we do not
have another problem at Christmas?
Mr Wallace
I have already met the contractors and the Defence Infrastructure
Organisation, and the good news is that maintenance issues that
were around at Christmas have been cut by 75%. That is continuing
in the right direction, but my hon. Friend is right: the key is
to plan ahead for next winter. That is what we are getting on
with at the moment. I am determined to hold these contractors to
account.
(Dunfermline and West
Fife) (SNP)
HMS Prince of Wales currently lies in Rosyth for repairs and I
hear it has been cannibalised for spare parts. Will this £3
billion asset be back on full operational duties by the end of
the year?
Mr Wallace
Yes, by the autumn. It is perfectly normal for ships to take ship
stores from each other. HMS Prince of Wales is not being
cannibalised because it is off to be mothballed. The ship will be
back in full service in the autumn.
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