Defence ministers today answered questions in the Commons on
subjects covering:
- Veterans: Support
- Armed Forces: Recruitment and Retention
- Covid-19: Preparations and Support
- Strategic Defence Review: Timescale
- Armed Forces: Covid-19 Response
- Defence Exports: NATO
- British Shipbuilding Support
- Veterans Charities: Covid-19 Support
- Veterans: Vexatious Legal Claims
- Overseas Operations: Civil Claims
- Veterans: Welfare Service
- Overseas Operations: Negligence and Personal Injury Claims
- UK Territorial Waters
- Non-disclosure Agreements
- Defence Manufacturing: Covid-19 Support
- International Disinformation Threat
- Topical Questions
Veterans: Support
(Grantham and
Stamford) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support veterans. [908014]
(Heywood and Middleton) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support veterans. [908020]
(North Devon) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support veterans. [908025]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs are
working together with colleagues across Government to improve
access to social housing, employment and healthcare, as well as
digitising the Veterans UK services. Defence Transition Services
is delivering tailored support to service leavers and their
families. The Government have delivered a veterans’ railcard and
have announced a guaranteed interview scheme in the civil service
and a national insurance holiday for veterans’ employers.
RecruitME in Grantham is a specialist recruitment business run by
veterans for veterans. Will the Minister join me in
congratulating it on its recent award for services to veterans,
and will he outline what the Government are doing to encourage
more employers to hire a hero?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and the company he mentions. I am
clear, and this Government are clear, that the single biggest
factor in improving the life chances of any veteran in this
country, and their family, is having a job. The Government are
fundamentally changing what it means to be a veteran by offering
a national insurance contribution holiday, guaranteed interviews
and things like that. Working with partners in the private
sector, we will make this the best country in the world to be a
veteran.
I thank the Minister for his answer. The protections in the
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill have
been warmly welcomed in constituencies such as mine, but
obviously we also have veterans of Operation Banner, so will the
Minister reiterate the Department’s intention to bring forward
the same protections for people who served in Northern Ireland?
I am happy to reiterate again the Government’s position that
those who served on Op Banner will be entitled to equal treatment
from the protections that we are bringing forward on Third
Reading of the overseas operations Bill tomorrow. I am clear that
this is the first Government who are actually dealing with this
very knotty and difficult issue. Northern Ireland veterans can be
confident that we will not forget them—we will not leave them
behind.
[V]
Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating the Veterans
Charity, which ran a Halloween-themed charity car wash in my
North Devon constituency and raised almost £500 this weekend?
Will he also join me in recognising the vital co-operation
between Government and the charity sector, with the Veterans
Charity having helped 650 veterans this year alone?
I pay tribute to all the groups up and down this country who work
tirelessly every day to improve the lot of our veterans,
particularly the ones in my hon. Friends’ constituencies. There
is a shift in the provision of veterans’ services in this country
towards more of a balance between the third sector and statutory
provision, but we will always require a blend of the two, and I
pay tribute to my hon. Friend for her lobbying for this cause.
Armed Forces: Recruitment and Retention
(New Forest West) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to recruit and retain armed
forces personnel. [908016]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
We have a range of measures supporting recruitment and retention,
and continue to refine the armed forces offer. Measures include
competitive pay, financial incentives, flexible service, and
retention-positive accommodation programmes.
What is the Minister’s estimate of the quality of new recruits?
Hopefully they are better than we were.
I can safely assure my right hon. Friend that standards have
risen significantly since he and I were accepted into the
military. We make no bones about it: the standards to get into
our military are some of the highest in comparison with our peer
nations. We employ some of the finest people this nation has to
offer, and under this Government we are seeing a conscious shift
towards how we look after them and value them as our finest
asset.
Covid-19: Preparations and Support
(Bury South) (Con)
What preparations his Department has made to support the NHS and
other public bodies with their response to covid-19 during winter
2020-21. [908017]
(Redcar) (Con)
What preparations his Department has made to support the NHS and
other public bodies with their response to covid-19 during winter
2020-21. [908023]
(Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
What preparations his Department has made to support the NHS and
other public bodies with their response to covid-19 during winter
2020-21. [908029]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
As part of the national covid-19 response, Defence has supported
NHS trusts in a variety of ways, with the distribution of
personal protective equipment and diagnostic equipment, the
planning, construction and staffing of Nightingale hospitals, and
service personnel to conduct testing. We have established a
winter support force of approximately 7,500 to ensure our
continued support throughout the winter 2020-21 period.
I welcome the Prime Minister’s comments about the armed forces
using their logistical expertise in helping to combat the virus.
However, can my right hon. Friend assure us that that will not
come at the expense of the armed forces’ vital work defending the
nation?
Mr Wallace
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, I have ensured both that we
have supported our colleagues across Government in tackling the
virus, and that our critical defence outputs have continued to be
fulfilled every single day. The continuous at-sea deterrent, our
Royal Air Force quick reaction alert force and a range of other
critical capabilities, and our operations, have all been and will
continue to be safeguarded.
Our armed forces have been instrumental in testing for covid-19,
and soon they will be supporting the roll-out of mass testing in
Redcar too. Does the Minister agree that in the run-up to
Remembrance Sunday, we should focus not just on the loss of life
in battle but on the commitment our armed forces make to serve
our communities every day?
Mr Wallace
Throughout the covid support force, the armed forces have
committed personnel and time and effort in helping the rest of
government to meet this challenge, including local government.
With regards to remembrance, despite the covid-19 restrictions in
place this year, every effort will be made to ensure that the
occasion can be marked appropriately and that the contribution of
our service personnel is recognised. We should all take time this
week to reflect not only on the sacrifices of past conflicts, but
on the sacrifices of and work that our armed forces personnel are
doing right now all over the United Kingdom in making sure that
this country gets through the worst of covid.
The role played by our forces in the construction of the
Yorkshire and the Humber Nightingale hospital in Harrogate was
very impressive. They brought engineering, logistical and
organisational expertise to the project, working alongside the
NHS trust and Harrogate convention centre. Will my right hon.
Friend focus on the additional, complementary skills that our
forces can bring to combatting this virus, particularly the speed
with which they can act and be deployed?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend highlights the important effort that the military
made in setting up the Nightingale in Harrogate. I visited it
during the set-up time, and it is also welcome that that
Nightingale has been used for other NHS tasks, which is an
important step in building NHS capacity where it is under
pressure elsewhere. Of course, we should make sure that we always
bring to bear the best of our armed forces to help wherever we
can right across the board. Resilience is Defence’s middle name,
and it is that key part of our skill that we are bringing to
support most of government across the country.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
We welcome the recent Government announcement from the other
place of the 7,000 personnel who will be brought to readiness
ahead of the winter period. In light of that, does the Secretary
of State agree that Government should keep the House regularly
updated on the numbers of personnel being deployed, how they are
being deployed, and if any further strengthening of the numbers
of personnel deployed will be necessary as we progress through
the winter period? Can he provide an update now?
Mr Wallace
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that point,
because I am very happy to inform the House on a periodic basis,
perhaps every two weeks or weekly, of the MACA—military aid to
the civil authorities—tasks that are being fulfilled. I can place
that in the House of Commons Library. In the previous lockdown,
we committed more than 10,000 troops. The number is 7,500 at the
moment, but we always keep that under review. During the last
lockdown, we actually only used at most about 4,000 or 5,000 at
any one time, but of course we stand by to help. At the moment,
there are over 20 MACAs in place and being used, and as we speak,
we are examining some significant asks from a number of local
authorities.
Strategic Defence Review: Timescale
(Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)
What his proposed timescale is for the next strategic defence
review. [908018]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
The Government announced on 21 October that they will conduct a
one-year spending review for 2021-22. The implications of that
decision for the integrated review are currently being
considered. The Government will provide an update to Parliament
once this has been decided.
At the annual NATO Parliamentary Assembly in 2019, a report was
published about the growing maritime threat from Russia. Will my
right hon. Friend meet me and other members of the Assembly so
that we may feed into the review of forward and ongoing naval
demands for the foreseeable future?
Mr Wallace
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his work in leading the UK
delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The UK, along with
NATO allies, takes the maritime threat from Russia very
seriously. This tempo and assertiveness of our operational output
will continue for as long as Russia continues to pose a threat
and challenge to freedom of navigation. My hon. Friend the
Minister for the Armed Forces would be delighted to meet him and
his colleagues to discuss it further.
(Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
As we belatedly go into this second national lockdown, can we as
a House pay tribute to the role of the armed forces? I say to the
Defence Secretary that his commitment to update the House
regularly on the use of the armed forces in this second lockdown
is very welcome. If he is willing to make further use of the
forces this time, this House and the public will back him. I also
pay tribute to the professionalism of the special forces who took
back control of the Nave Andromeda last week. With the integrated
review in mind, this is a timely reminder that while high-tech
weapons are essential, our highly trained British troops are
indispensable. The Secretary of State promised at the Dispatch
Box “a multi-year integrated review”, with
“a four-year spending settlement…for capital and a three-year
settlement for revenue”.—[Official Report, 21 September 2020;
Vol. 680, c. 607.]
When will it be published?
Mr Wallace
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for paying tribute to
the armed forces. He is, of course, right that the armed forces
have gone above and beyond in making sure that we get through
this covid process. Because of their training and the skills that
they possess, we can answer the call to help with resilience
throughout the country. We will not hesitate to take advantage of
all their skills. The demand must come from the ground up—from
local authorities or, indeed, the rest of Government. We stand by
our offer to any part of Government or the devolved Governments
to help in that struggle.
As I said to my right hon. Friend the Member for Elmet and
Rothwell (), the integrated review will be resolved; where we
are going to go with it will be resolved. We are thinking through
the impact of the Treasury’s announcement that there will be a
one-year spending settlement. Once we have thought through those
consequences and worked through the implications, I will report
straight to the House on what that means.
Is it not the regrettable truth that the Chancellor has cut the
ground from under the Defence Secretary and our British forces?
The Secretary of State rightly said that previous Tory defence
reviews have
“failed because they were never in step with the spending
plans”.—[Official Report, 6 July 2020; Vol. 678, c. 647.]
They were a cover for cuts, which is why our armed forces are
nearly 12,000 short of the strength promised in the 2015 review;
essential equipment, from new tanks to the new radar system
protecting our aircraft carrier, is long overdue; and the defence
budget has a £13 billion black hole. A fully fledged, fully
funded strategic defence and security review is needed now more
than ever. What does he say about the failure to deliver on that?
Mr Wallace
I think the right hon. Gentleman delivered the speech for a
potential future statement. No one has said yet that the
integrated review will be delayed or curtailed. What we are
saying is that we are studying the implications of the one-year
spending review on that. Once we have worked through those
implications, he is of course welcome to make his points across
the Dispatch Box. I know that he is keen to make those points,
but I respectfully suggest that he waits until we have thought
through the implications. Then we can have that discussion in
Parliament.
(Glasgow South) (SNP)
Ahead of Remembrance Sunday at the end of the week, we wish well
all of those organising events in a different fashion. The day
does not lose its meaning at all.
On the integrated review, I am sure that the Secretary of State
is more frustrated than most. As an avid reader of National Audit
Office reports, he will know that pushing spending to the right
will ultimately leave him with less money to spend. A multi-year
settlement, as long advocated by SNP Members, would allow
future-proofed planning. Can he tell us what the consequences of
the postponement are for the future nuclear warheads system and,
in particular, the W93?
Mr Wallace
As I said to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne
(), the first thing is to wait until we have worked
through the consequences of the one-year spending announcement by
the Treasury. I, or indeed the Prime Minister, will then be happy
to come and update the House about what that means for the
integrated review and the consequences that follow.
Unfortunately for the Secretary of State, we can all see where
this is going, as he knows as well as we do. In April, he wrote
to members of Congress stating that
“support to the W93 program in this budget cycle is critical to
the success of our replacement warhead programme and to the
long-term viability of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.”
We read in the press about his Department’s alarm that a victory
for the Democratic nominee in tomorrow’s election could stymie
congressional and US support for that programme. As his Treasury
and UK alliances have let him down, does he agree with Tom
McTague’s assessment in The Atlantic today that
“if the election of one president or another is an existential
challenge, then perhaps the issue is Britain’s strategy itself”?
Mr Wallace
I do not agree at all, and I think the hon. Gentleman may be
slightly confused because, whether it is one year or multi-year,
it does not mean to say that the defence budget goes to zero. We
will still have a £41 billion budget—one of the biggest budgets
in Europe—which will allow us to continue with not only running
the armed forces but investing in them. Of course, the challenge
that we have always been open about is the black hole in the
overall finances, which we will have to take steps to meet. I am
sorry to disappoint some of his anti-nuclear colleagues, but that
does not mean the end of the nuclear deterrent or the submarines.
The budget will not resort to zero after the one year. We should
first work through what one year will mean, versus multi-year. It
is not the first one-year funding settlement, and it is not the
first defence review that is trying to fix underfunding and
over-ambition. I distinctly remember serving in the armed forces
when Labour’s ones did exactly the same.
(Bournemouth East) (Con)
I can tell the Secretary of State what a one-year funding
settlement will do: it will make the integrated review next to
meaningless. The Prime Minister gave me a direct assurance that
the integrated review would not be delayed. If “global Britain”
is an instruction and not a strap line, this review is the road
map to how we advance our defence posture to support our foreign
policy ambitions. Any delay to its publication with its full
spending commitments will send a poor signal to the world that we
are absolutely serious about re-establishing our global
credentials and could prompt questions about our justification to
retain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. May I urge
the Defence Secretary to complete this review as promised, with a
multi-year funding settlement, taken in isolation if necessary,
if the spending review is to be delayed?
Mr Wallace
My right hon. Friend raises some interesting observations. First,
I ask him, as I have asked others, to wait until we see the
implications of the Treasury’s announcement of the one-year
review. Until that time, speculation is just speculation, but of
course he might like to take his message to the next Treasury
questions, where Treasury Ministers, too, can hear his views of
the impact.
Armed Forces: Covid-19 Response
(Don Valley) (Con)
What steps the armed forces are taking to support the response to
the covid-19 outbreak. [908021]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
Defence continues to play a vital role in the response to the
covid-19 outbreaks. Defence is currently supporting 34 MACA
tasks, including providing environmental health technicians to
support Liverpool city region and planning teams to support
Nottingham City Council and the Lancashire local resilience
forum.
What role does my right hon. Friend see the armed forces playing
in the event that a vaccine is to be rolled out?
Mr Wallace
Defence has already deployed military personnel to the vaccine
taskforce, with personnel supporting central organisation within
the task and exploring how defence could bring logistics support
to the national roll-out of a future vaccine.
Defence Exports: NATO
(Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support defence exports to
NATO partners. [908022]
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The MOD leads on strategic export campaigns to our NATO partners,
and from my personal contacts, including recent trips to Estonia
and Poland, I know how respected UK military kit and innovation
are. We work closely across Government to support British exports
and western security.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting the chief executive of
Meighs & Westleys at its site in Newcastle under Lyme, where
it manufactures high-integrity castings for the UK naval supply
chain. It is already exporting 5% directly to the United States
and another 5% through intermediaries. Will my hon. Friend praise
the company for its export success so far, and will he work with
the Secretary of State for International Trade to encourage
further export success in the future?
I absolutely congratulate the company on its successes, both at
home and overseas. I work closely with colleagues in the
Department for International Trade, particularly in the defence
and security exports team, and I will happily, via my hon.
Friend, introduce the company to that team to see what they can
do to assist it.
British Shipbuilding Support
(Darlington) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support the development of
British shipbuilding. [908024]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
As shipbuilding tsar, I am working with Cabinet colleagues to
supercharge the British shipbuilding industry. Driven by the
ministerial shipbuilding working group, in the past 12 months the
Government have signed the contract for five Type 31 vessels to
be built in Rosyth, developed a maritime enterprise export plan
to pursue export opportunities that will hopefully deliver
state-of-the-art British ships to our global allies, and launched
a major analysis of the skills required in the broader maritime
sector through the Maritime Skills Commission.
My father worked as a shipwright at Smith’s dock on Teesside, and
I know that the UK has a proud history as one of the greatest
shipbuilding nations in the world. As we leave the EU, may I ask
my right hon. Friend what steps he is taking to ensure that all
parts of the UK benefit from shipbuilding opportunities
supporting the military?
Mr Wallace
The Government’s ambitious shipbuilding agenda is reinvigorating
this industry, including where my hon. Friend’s father worked. We
are working to review old yards, to diversify the industry’s
portfolio to promote smaller innovative vessels, and to
strengthen the national supply chain, which underpins this. We
will support tens of thousands of jobs across the UK, securing
benefits for every corner of the Union and bringing shipbuilding
back home to the UK. We are intending to use as many of our
defence contracts as possible to incentivise investment by the
owners of yards and, indeed, to invest in the workforces.
(Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab) [V]
Will the Secretary of State heed the pleas of his Back Benchers
and listen to the shadow Secretary of State’s recent “Built in
Britain” strategy for the defence industry? I reiterate: follow
the shadow Secretary of State’s strategy to ensure that the UK
engineering and manufacturing industry endures the covid
recession; invest in British engineering and manufacturing, in
British people and in the British economy.
Mr Wallace
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, because I agree with
everything he said; that is what we have been doing. We will
invest, where we can, in UK equipment. We also sometimes have to
balance the urgent operational need of our service personnel: if
there is something they need now or in the very short term and we
simply do not have the capability to deliver it, we will
sometimes have to look where we can to get them the best
equipment. There is always a fine balance between making sure our
forces have the very best at the very moment and long-term
investment. I am determined that we invest both in the people who
use our equipment in the MOD and in our industry as far as
possible across the board.
Veterans Charities: Covid-19 Support
Next02 November 2020
(Lancaster and
Fleetwood) (Lab)
What support his Department is providing to veterans’ charities
during the covid-19 outbreak. [908026]
(Newcastle
upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
What support his Department is providing to veterans’ charities
during the covid-19 outbreak. [908031]
(Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab)
What support his Department is providing to veterans’ charities
during the covid-19 outbreak. [908032]
(Jarrow) (Lab)
What support his Department is providing to veterans’ charities
during the covid-19 outbreak. [908040]
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab)
What support his Department is providing to veterans’ charities
during the covid-19 outbreak. [908059]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Government have been proactive in providing support to the
charity sector in response to the covid-19 pandemic. The MOD and
the Office for Veterans’ Affairs have played a leading role in
this effort by providing £6 million in funding for the armed
forces community through the covid impact fund.
In June, the Office for National Statistics reported that almost
one in five adults were likely to experience some form of
depression during the covid-19 pandemic. Given that service and
veterans’ charities have seen a spike in demand for their
services, can I ask what steps the Department is taking to
support veterans, serving personnel and service family members
during this very difficult time?
It is completely accepted that this period of lockdown and the
lockdown that is coming present particular challenges for a
veterans community that, in some small parts, may be struggling
with the situation. We have worked hard to go down the pathway of
blending the statutory and state provision, working with our
third sector to make sure that people are being looked after, on
time, in suitable care pathways. We have more to do, but we are a
lot better than we used to be and I am confident that we will be
the best country in the world in which to be an armed forces
veteran in due course.
The north-east sends a higher proportion of people into the armed
forces than any other region and we are proud of our veterans.
Forward Assist helps them to transition into civilian life. When
it moved online, it found that referrals quadrupled, with those
coming from as far afield as Germany, and there was overwhelming
demand for mental health support. It needs funding to improve its
digital infrastructure and find mental health professionals to
provide support, the need for which will go up again, with the
second lockdown. Will the Minister provide that?
I pay tribute to Tony and all of the team at Forward Assist, who
do an incredible job in the north-east and are a good template
for others to follow across the country. More money is going into
veterans’ mental health than ever before, in terms of the
transition liaison service, the complex treatment centre and the
high intensity service that we are bringing on board later this
year. We are always happy to look at doing more, but I am
confident: the need is expanding and we are meeting a great deal
of it at this time.
The Liverpool Veterans headquarters has seen a significant
increase in demand for its services throughout this pandemic and
especially for mental health support. This situation is likely to
worsen in the coming months and the support this local charity
offers will be in greater demand. The resources it has are
stretched beyond capacity and the £6 million just alluded to is
not enough. Can the Minister explain how he will redress this
shortfall?
By using the transition liaison service, the complex treatment
service and the high intensity service. Those are the three
frameworks through which all mental healthcare pathways for
veterans in this country will go. There is an opportunity for
third-sector companies, such as Forward Assist and the others
that have been mentioned, to bid into those programmes—indeed,
they are already running some of the programmes in the north-west
and north-east. That is the future: a blending of third sector
and statutory provision. There is resource in the sector and we
need to do more to make it easier for people to understand, but I
am confident of the way ahead.
Each death by suicide is a tragedy. Suicide is of great concern
to the military and veterans community in my constituency of
Jarrow and throughout the country. Will the Minister outline the
scope of the Department’s study on the cause of death of military
personnel who were deployed on combat operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan? When will the study be published?
We currently have a number of studies going on. This country has
traditionally been a poor collector of data when it comes to
veterans’ affairs. We are looking at a cohort study of 20,000
people who went through Iraq and Afghanistan and what happened in
their lives. We are also looking into each individual who takes
their own life and studying the 12 months prior to that incident
to work out whether there was anything that any Government or
third-sector provision could have done to intervene. I accept
that we come from a low base when it comes to data, but that is
now changing and I hope we be able to do the best job that we can
in fighting veteran suicide.
[V]
The Minister will know about the recent announcements of job
losses at Help for Heroes, in addition to the closure of all but
one of its recovery centres because of a reduction in funding as
a result of covid-19. As that is the case for one of the UK’s
biggest household names, which is under huge financial pressure
and having to make such difficult decisions, what further support
will the Government give to service and welfare charities to fill
the gaps in the coming months? We know that the demand is there.
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise this issue. I spend every
day fighting to get more money into the sector. The veterans care
sector is changing, and aspects of it needed to change. We have
seen a decrease in giving as the overt nature of operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan has faded, yet the demand continues to go
up. That delta is being met through the new programmes that I
have outlined. There is always more to do and I am happy to speak
to the hon. Gentleman outside the Chamber to hear his particular
concerns.
(Washington and Sunderland West) (Lab) [V]
At the previous Defence questions, the Minister said:
“For too long we have over-relied on the third sector”—[Official
Report, 21 September 2020; Vol. 680, c. 611.]
when it comes to veterans’ care, and I totally agree. As far back
as June, Cobseo reported that one in 10 armed forces charities
will have to close in the next 12 months as a result of
coronavirus. The pressures will only intensify with the second
lockdown imminent, so what urgent action will the Minister take
to ensure that no gaps in charity provision and vital support
arise over the next four weeks?
I want to be clear with the hon. Lady. A rationalisation and
professionalism is definitely currently going on in the veterans’
care charity sector, and in respect of many aspects that needed
to happen. My concern is veterans, the provision for them and
what it looks like to the veteran. We are working hard to bring
together seamlessly the panoply of care, whether it is in the
third sector or statutory provision, and we will get there. There
are financial challenges, but I am confident that we can meet
them and that this country will be the best place in the world to
be an armed forces veteran.
Veterans: Vexatious Legal Claims
(South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to protect veterans from
vexatious legal claims. [908027]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
We are unstinting in our admiration of and gratitude for our
armed forces, who perform exceptional feats in incredibly
difficult circumstances to protect this country. We rightly
expect the highest standards of our service personnel, and we owe
them justice and fairness. We have introduced the Overseas
Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill to help to
tackle vexatious claims and end the cycle of re-investigations
against our armed forces personnel and veterans. The Bill’s Third
Reading and Report stage are tomorrow.
[V]
I thank my hon. Friend for his response. Can he give me and the
whole House assurances that veterans’ rights to claim against the
MOD will in turn remain protected?
Yes. The majority of personal injury and clinical negligence
claims by service personnel and veterans against the MOD do not
relate directly to overseas operations so will be unaffected by
the Bill. Veterans will still be able to bring claims relating to
overseas operations against the MOD within a reasonable
timeframe. For example, in the event of a late diagnosis, service
personnel and veterans will be able to bring personal injury
claims against the MOD for up to six years from their date of
knowledge.
Overseas Operations: Civil Claims
(Workington) (Con)
What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the overseas
operations Bill on the ability of service personnel to make civil
claims against his Department. [908028]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
will not prevent service personnel and veterans from bringing
personal injury claims against the Ministry of Defence in
relation to overseas operations within six years. Historically,
we assess that the vast majority—around 94%—have done so already
for claims relating to overseas operations. We will, of course,
aim to ensure that everybody in the armed forces community is
made aware of their right to bring claims and of changes to the
relevant time limits for doing so in relation to overseas
operations.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he agree that the
rhetoric around exemptions from torture mislead colleagues and
the public and only serve to misrepresent the purposes of this
long overdue Bill?
(South Shields) (Lab)
Did you write that for him?
No, but let me be really clear on these issues around torture.
Nobody on this side of the House, or on whatever side of the
House they are, would want to reduce our safeguards against
torture. We have to be realistic about what this country has put
its servicemen and women through in terms of historical
allegations. Credible allegations will always be investigated. It
is not right to say that it is almost impossible to prosecute,
and people peddling that view know it to be untrue. I am happy to
work with anybody to improve this Bill, but we must operate in
the real world.
Veterans: Welfare Service
(Wolverhampton South West) (Con)
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
providing an effective welfare service for veterans. [908030]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The MOD’s Veterans Welfare Service provides advice and
information on areas such as health, statutory benefits and
pensions to all ex-service personnel and their families. Other
areas of veterans’ welfare, such as health and benefits, are the
responsibility of the respective Departments, and my officials
work closely with them to ensure a joined-up approach.
What steps is the Minister taking to remove negative stigma
around mental health issues for veterans?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his tireless campaigning on
these issues. It is true to say that we are light years away from
where we were, but there is still more work to do. The vast
majority of people and families of those who have taken their own
lives have not spoken out and have not reached out for help, and
that remains the biggest challenge in fighting the issue of
veterans’ suicide. We have made great progress and I pay tribute
to all those who have come with us on that journey, but it is
clear that we have more to do and I am determined to lead that
fight.
Overseas Operations: Negligence and Personal Injury
Claims
(Streatham) (Lab)
What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the overseas
operations Bill on the number of veterans who make allegations of
(a) negligence and (b) personal injury against his Department.
[908033]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
As I said in response to the question of my hon. Friend the
Member for Workington (), the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and
Veterans) Bill will not prevent service personnel and veterans
from bringing personal injury claims against the MOD in relation
to overseas operations within six years from either the date of
incident or the date of knowledge. Claims by service personnel
and veterans that are not related to overseas operations are
unaffected by this Bill.
As Members begin to wear their poppies across the House, I want
to remind the Minister of comments from Charles Byrne, the
director of the Poppy Appeal campaign. He said that
the six-year long-stop could be a breach of the armed forces
covenant,
and that the six-year limit is
protecting the MOD, rather than service personnel.
The Government say that the Bill is about protecting veterans,
so, given that this is what many veterans’ organisations are
saying, will the Government think again about the six-year limit,
and will they also commit to promoting awareness of how to bring
forward civil claims against the MOD to ensure that no veteran is
unable to make a civil claim in the future?
It is not true to say that many veterans’ organisations take the
same view as the Legion on this case. Neither the Legion nor the
Government are the guarantor of the armed forces covenant. I am
absolutely 100% sure that this does not breach the armed forces
covenant. If we were to wilfully translate it in a way in which
it was never intended, then I accept what has been said, but that
is not what the armed forces covenant is there to do. It is there
to ensure that there is no disadvantage for those who serve, and
this Government are the first to legislate, in the armed forces
Bill next year, to make it illegal to discriminate against
servicemen and women and veterans for their service. I am afraid
therefore that I disagree on that point. It is a good Bill. It is
fair and proportionate, and people should support it tomorrow.
UK Territorial Waters
(Ayr, Carrick and
Cumnock) (SNP)
What recent steps his Department has taken to protect UK
territorial waters in the (a) north Atlantic and (b) North sea.
[908038]
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
What recent steps his Department has taken to protect UK
territorial waters in the (a) north Atlantic and (b) North sea.
[908042]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
The protection of UK territorial waters is a cross-Government
responsibility. The Ministry of Defence contributes to this by
providing a multi-layered capability to deter incursions into
territorial waters. This includes a range of assets based in
Scotland, from surface ships and submarines based on the Clyde to
the new Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft based at RAF
Lossiemouth. That is a good example of how United Kingdom defence
contributes to the security of all these islands.
[V]
Can the Secretary of State tell us his plans to ensure that our
armed forces can cope with multiple tasks, including combating
people and drug trafficking, and foreign incursion into our
territorial waters and airspace, as has been seen recently? Will
they specifically live up to the Government’s promise to
establish a frigate factory on the Clyde?
Mr Wallace
First of all, the hon. Gentleman will know that one of the ways
in which we cope with securing our borders—both inside and
further afield internationally—is by burden sharing and working
across a range of agencies, including with the Scottish
Government, who have control of fisheries protection. On the
issue of a frigate factory, first and foremost, the last two
major shipbuilding contracts for defence have both been placed in
Scotland: the Type 26 on the Clyde and the Type 31 at Rosyth.
Good United Kingdom shipbuilding will, of course, always involve
Scotland—as long as Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom.
[V]
Scottish waters comprise over 60% of the UK’s waters, yet we have
no surface warships. In fact, the most northerly surface warship
base is located at the south coast of England, which means that
scrambling a fleet ready escort takes over 24 hours to reach
Scottish waters. Given that there are almost monthly
transgressions into Scottish waters and we need regular patrols,
why is the Rosyth base being scrapped?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Gentleman’s claim could have some credibility if his
party was not busy trying to scrap the HM submarine base on the
Clyde and to push the submarines out of Scotland.
Non-disclosure Agreements
(North Durham) (Lab)
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of
non-disclosure agreements used within his Department’s defence
programmes. [908043]
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The Ministry of Defence only uses non-disclosure agreements in
its commercial arrangements by exception, when there is a
specific need. Although no trend analysis has been undertaken, it
remains the case that NDAs are only used where absolutely
necessary.
Mr Jones
I accept that NDAs are important in terms of financial
contractual obligations, but is the Minister aware that his
Department is asking industry, at pre-bid stage, to sign NDAs
that actually exclude those companies from being able to speak to
MPs or Ministers? I understand that some US primes such as Boeing
and Lockheed Martin are refusing to sign them—quite rightly—so
why is the Department now getting companies to sign these NDAs
for contracts such as Skynet?
I am not aware of any company complaining about NDAs. If the
right hon. Gentleman is aware of some, I would really encourage
those companies to get in contact with me directly and I will
take it up.
Mr Jones
They can’t!
There are many means, including through trade associations,
whereby companies can put the word to Ministers if they are
concerned. NDAs do have a valuable role, including protecting the
interests of the commercial entities themselves; they normally
work both ways. Many companies are reluctant to share
intellectual property, and research and development, with another
entity without having their own position protected, so NDAs have
a benefit for companies as well.
International Disinformation Threat
(Midlothian) (SNP)
What assessment he has made of the potential threat of
international disinformation to the security of the UK. [908046]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
The Ministry of Defence takes the threat posed by malicious
disinformation campaigning by state and non-state actors very
seriously. Working with allies and partners across Government
collectively, we monitor such activity closely, assess the risk,
and take action to counter it if appropriate.
Topical Questions
(Wellingborough)
(Con)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
[908074]
The Secretary of State for Defence (
)
The Government are committed to ensuring that we have the best
possible process for timely and effective investigations into
serious allegations arising from future military operations
overseas. That is why, building on the review of the service
justice system done by His Honour Shaun Lyons and former chief
constable Sir Jon Murphy, I announced on 13 October that I have
commissioned a review to be led by Sir Richard Henriques. Sir
Richard Henriques was appointed to the High Court bench in 2000,
has tried several high-profile terrorist cases, and has conducted
several reviews for the Crown Prosecution Service and the
Metropolitan police. His review will consider options for
strengthening internal investigation processes and skills, thus
helping to ensure that in our future complex and demanding
operations around the world, our armed forces are continuing to
uphold the highest standards of conduct. It will not revisit past
investigations or prosecutable decisions.
Mr Bone [V]
Does the Secretary of State believe that not having a multi-year
defence settlement would be catastrophic?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend will know that last year we did not have one
either, but we got a generous settlement from the Treasury for
that one year. It is of course the case that any Department that
has a heavy reliance on capital spending prefers a long-term
spending commitment from the Treasury. That was true a decade ago
and it is true today. That is our preference. However, we are
also living in a time of covid-19—a less than a
once-in-a-generation challenge to both the coffers and indeed the
conduct of this country. As a result, we will have to review each
issue as it comes. As I have said, we are in the middle of a form
of negotiation trying to see what the impacts of the announcement
will be.
Mr Speaker
Can I just say that topicals are meant to be short and punchy? We
have got to get into that habit.
(Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab)
As we have seen this afternoon, there is growing cross-party
concern over the Secretary of State’s overseas operations Bill.
Will he now accept, after 10 Committee sittings, that it is clear
that the Bill simply does not do what it says on the tin—to
protect British troops overseas from vexatious litigation and
repeat investigations? Will he also accept that, as we have seen
this afternoon, the Minister in charge is in denial about the
Bill’s flaws and dangers? Will the Secretary of State himself
therefore join me tomorrow for Report stage so that we can work
together on the changes needed to make this legislation fit for
purpose?
Mr Speaker
Order. I say to the Front Benchers once again, if you are going
to ask questions in topicals, they have got to be short and
punchy. That is the idea of topicals. I call the Secretary of
State.
Mr Wallace
No.
Mr Speaker
That’s the way to do it.
(Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)
Now that we have left the EU, what assessment and representations
is my right hon. Friend making about inter-operational ability in
procurement done by EU members through the permanent structured
co-operation, PESCO? [908075]
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
As a leading European ally, we work closely with allied nations
and do not need formal EU programmes to do so. However, I
understand that the EU is in the final stages of agreeing third
country participation rules for PESCO, and we look forward to
seeing them in due course.
John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP) [V]
Following the death of Captain Dean Sprouting caused by American
soldiers on 31 January 2018 while on deployment in Iraq, his
widow Linda and their two sons, Oliver and Harry, have been
seeking justice on Dean’s behalf. How can it be right for the
British Government to allow those who killed Dean to investigate
themselves by themselves, and to decide for themselves only to
then defend themselves? Particularly at this time of year we are
reminded and mindful of Dean’s futile loss of life. Is the
Secretary of State willing to challenge the US over this
concealment of injustice? [908078]
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
I have met the widow of Dean Sprouting on a couple of occasions,
and I am more than happy to do so again. This incident has been
investigated. It is a tragic incident. I am happy to speak with
her again, but I am not sure there is too much more we can do.
(Montgomeryshire) (Con)
Royal British Legion branches across the country are getting
ready for Remembrance Sunday, and I pay tribute to them,
including my home branch of Llanfair Caereinion, which has filled
the village with poppies. What guidance has the Secretary of
State given to the devolved Assemblies and local authorities to
encourage them to hold remembrance services this Sunday? [908076]
This is a very important time of year for the country. We
encourage people to remember in their own way. There will be
guidance given out by local authorities, but remembrance events
will be able to go ahead. There will be a small national ceremony
at the Cenotaph that we encourage people to watch on television.
(Ogmore)
(Lab)
Will the Minister provide an update on the voter ID card
roll-out? I know there was a statement in April, but my
constituents who are former veterans are asking when it will be
implemented. It is of huge concern to constituents who rightly
deserve their ID card. [908079]
Well, it is veterans ID, not voter ID. The veterans ID card
should have come out at the end of last year. It has been
delayed. Everybody who leaves the military now gets a veterans ID
card, but there are challenges in backdating it and dealing with
things such as fraud. We accept that and we are working through
it at the moment. I will have an update in due course.
(Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)
Can I ask the Minister to update the House on the activities and
investment that the Ministry of Defence plans for Scotland in the
months ahead? [908077]
Mr Wallace
Defence continues to invest in Scotland and the critical
capabilities based there. Both RAF Lossiemouth and Her Majesty’s
Naval Base Clyde are expanding and will be home to the new
maritime patrol aircraft and all Royal Navy submarines. MOD
expenditure with industry in Scotland has increased for the fifth
consecutive year, supporting 10,200 jobs—the equivalent of £320
per person in Scotland. Approximately 10,000 regular armed forces
personnel, 5,000 reservists and 4,000 civilians are based in
Scotland.
(Sefton Central) (Lab) [V]
Why does the Defence Secretary think the Royal British Legion is
so adamant that the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and
Veterans) Bill breaches the armed forces covenant and fails to
protect veterans? [908081]
Again, that is completely incorrect. The Royal British Legion
does not think that. It thinks that there is a risk, and it has
outlined that risk. We have taken that risk into consideration,
and the Bill does not breach the armed forces covenant. It is a
good piece of legislation and the House should support it
tomorrow.
(Mid Derbyshire) (Con)
What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that UK armed forces
will not be complicit in sexual exploitation and abuse by
international peacekeepers in Mali? [908080]
This country has a very long-standing system to ensure that we
have strong safeguards against that sort of behaviour. Everyone
deploying to Mali will be equipped with the mission-specific
training that we have done on operations over many years now. We
have some of the highest and most rigorous standards in the
world, and that will be continued in operations in Mali.
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
The vital Crowsnest project for the carriers has faced severe
delays. Delivery is now promised for September 2021, 18 months
late. Can the Minister confirm that it will definitely be ready
next year? [908083]
I can confirm that a baseline capability will be sailing with the
carrier strike group next year.
(Rutland and Melton) (Con) [V]
What assessment has the Secretary of State made regarding recent
revelations by Bellingcat that Russia continues to develop covert
chemical weapons and targeted, more advanced delivery mechanisms
in an enormous violation of the chemical weapons convention? What
does that tell us about the threat we face, and what is he doing
to keep us safe? [908082]
Mr Wallace
My right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May)
confirmed that the Salisbury Novichok attack in 2018 was carried
out by the Russians and that Russia had an undeclared chemical
weapons programme. We have repeatedly called on Russia to declare
a Novichok programme and uphold its international obligations
under the chemical weapons convention. We have brought in
sanctions against those responsible for Navalny’s poisoning and
we will keep every measure under review.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
With almost 400,000 acres in England, the Ministry of Defence is
one of the biggest landowners in this country. What is it doing
to ensure that it is environmentally sustainable and helping the
Government to meet their target to plant many more trees?
[908086]
I am speaking to my colleagues across Government about how we can
help with the programme of planting more trees in the
environment. There is a large programme ongoing in the estate,
and I can assure the hon. Lady that we are very proud of the
sites of special scientific interest under our control and what
we are doing for the natural environment.
(Hyndburn) (Con)
Hyndburn and Haslingden is famous for the Accrington Pals and has
a proud record when it comes to representing this country. We
also have great people such as the team at Veterans in
Communities, who I recently had the pleasure of meeting in
Haslingden. Will my right hon. Friend agree to look at whether a
recruitment office can be opened in my constituency, so that our
armed forces can attract more of Lancashire’s finest? [908084]
My hon. Friend is a strong advocate, and Accrington has a long
and proud history of providing people for the armed forces. My
hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces would be delighted
to do a visit with her and to look at all the recruitment offices
to see whether there is a space that needs to be filled up in
Accrington.
Mr Speaker
Nothing prouder than the Accrington and Chorley Pals.
(Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op) [V]
It is welcome news that the fleet solid support ships will now be
built in Britain. Can the Secretary of State assure us that
British steel will be used exclusively to build those ships?
[908088]
Mr Wallace
All I can say at this moment in time is that we are engaging with
potential bidders, and we will ensure that we build a ship that
is the best of British but also incorporates the best
capabilities that we can deliver for the money and for our armed
forces.
(Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con)
Can my right hon. Friend outline what support the military is
providing to increase NHS bed capacity and what plans there are
to extend that? [908085]
Mr Wallace
At the beginning of the covid outbreak, the military were deeply
engaged in the roll-out, building and running of the covid
Nightingale hospitals, including the transfer of reserve medics
from the NHS into that service. We will continue to review that.
We are working inside the Department of Health and Social Care to
see what its needs are, and I stand by to deliver them.
(Orkney
and Shetland) (LD)
Fishermen working in Scapa Flow occasionally still dredge up
ordnance left there from the end of the second world war. My
constituent Ian Spence did exactly that in January this year. For
the loss of a day’s fishing, damage to his gear and the personal
danger in which he was put, he was given an ex gratia payment of
£228. Can the Secretary of State explain to me and to my
constituent why he considers that to be adequate? [908092]
Mr Wallace
I will have to look at the detail of that case, and I am happy to
write to the right hon. Gentleman. Compensation and liability are
obviously linked to who is at fault, and I will ensure that I
furnish him with the details.
(South Shields) (Lab)
The changing of contracts at HM Naval Base Clyde, as part of the
future maritime support programme, is an exercise in outsourcing.
It will lead to job cuts and weaker terms and conditions and
create an unnecessary operational risk to our UK defence
capabilities. Why is the Secretary of State doing this?
I think the hon. Lady is referring to the change from one
outsourcing contract to another. We have gained a lot for the
taxpayer from the existing contract, and hopefully more will be
driven out in the future. We will do nothing that could endanger
national security.
