Defence
The Secretary of State was asked—
Poppy Appeal
(Clwyd South) (Con)
1. What steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b)
promote the poppy appeal.
(North Warwickshire)
(Con)
2. What steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b)
promote the poppy appeal.
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con)
6. What steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b)
promote the poppy appeal.
(Keighley) (Con)
11. What steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b)
promote the poppy appeal.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Ministry of Defence was delighted to support the Royal
British Legion’s poppy appeal, in its 100th anniversary year.
Members of all three services took part in Poppy Day activities
the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, selling poppies and
collecting donations. I was delighted that all the members of the
ministerial team were able to join in acts of remembrance
throughout the weekend, demonstrating the central and cherished
role of remembrance in our national life.
Will the Minister join me in thanking and congratulating the many
volunteers, organisations and veterans across Clwyd South who
have worked so hard to raise money for the poppy appeal,
including Broughton community council, whose act of remembrance I
had the honour of attending yesterday, laying a wreath at Brynteg
Memorial Hall?
I do indeed join my hon. Friend in thanking everyone in Clwyd
South who took part in those activities, particularly the team at
Broughton community council and Brynteg Memorial Hall. I am sure
that theirs was a fitting tribute to those who have served.
The fantastic work of the poppy appeal, which raises millions
every year for our veterans, is only possible thanks to the hard
work of the volunteers and armed forces who take part, giving up
their time to ensure that the Royal British Legion’s fundraising
efforts succeed. Will the Minister join me in thanking the
volunteers and organisers of the Bedworth Armistice Day parade in
my constituency, chaired by Ken Whitehead? It celebrated its
centenary this year, being the only parade outside London to have
taken place every year on 11 November.
My hon. Friend is right to refer to the central role of the Royal
British Legion volunteers. They are a magnificent bunch of
people, and I particularly commend Ken Whitehead and all the
Bedworth Armistice Day team. I also want to record my thanks for
all my hon. Friend’s work to support our veterans and forces
people in his constituency.
I thank the many Carshalton and Wallington residents who
volunteered to raise money for the poppy appeal this year. The
appeal helps to fund the Royal British Legion’s work in raising
funds for the armed forces covenant, providing support for
thousands of service people and their families. What
consideration has the Minister given to the Legion’s recent
report on the impact of the covenant over the last 10 years?
I have given deep consideration to that excellent report, which I
think is a hugely important piece of work. We have come a very
long way in the last 10 years, but there is still more to do, and
that is why we are putting the covenant into law in the Armed
Forces Bill.
Over the past couple of weeks, people across Keighley and Ilkley
have been working hard to raise funds for our veterans through
the poppy appeal, including Jackie McGinnis and her team at the
Keighley branch of the Royal British Legion. Will my hon. Friend
join me in thanking all my constituents who have worked so
incredibly hard to raise money for the appeal, and use this
opportunity to reiterate the importance of such funds being
raised throughout the calendar year?
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in thanking Jackie McGinnis and
the Keighley branch of the Royal British Legion. They have done
terrifically good work. It is indeed an all-year-round challenge,
and that is why we are pleased to have invested £25 million this
year in third sector charities that support our veterans and
armed forces. I am very grateful for the work that my hon. Friend
continues to do in his constituency.
(Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)
I speak as a great admirer of the poppy appeal. However, when the
Minister next meets the national leadership of the Royal British
Legion, will he point out that effectively closing down a branch
and expelling its officers, as they have done in Leyton, is not
the best way to promote the appeal, and nor is sealing and
shutting the building so that its members have no access, and
removing the base for the appeal in years to come?
I regularly meet the magnificent team of the Royal British
Legion. If the hon. Gentleman can give me any particular details
of that case, I should be pleased to raise it with them.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
I had a friend who signed up at the age of 16 and served for
eight years in the Balkans, Northern Ireland and the first Gulf
war. About 10 days ago we lost him, after he had battled with
mental ill health for perhaps 20 years. The Government talk a
great deal about the programmes to help veterans with their
mental health, but there does not seem to be anyone who is really
reaching out to them. I wonder whether, through the poppy appeal
and the Royal British Legion, more could be done to try to reach
out to veterans so that they do not feel cast adrift once they
leave the services.
I entirely agree with the sentiment expressed by the hon. Lady.
We are trying harder than ever before and investing a huge amount
of money in Op Courage, which is the bespoke mental health
pathway for veterans in the national health service, but really
this is about a broader challenge of reducing the stigma of
mental health challenges. That is why we are ensuring that,
during the time people serve in the armed forces, they see it as
their professional responsibility to see mental good health as a
question of resilience and capability, not something of which to
be ashamed.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
This Remembrance Sunday was the first time that LGBT veterans
were invited to lay a wreath openly at the Cenotaph. While the
route to equality is something we all welcome, can the Minister
detail the steps the Government are taking to provide
compensation to all LGBT veterans who suffered a loss of earnings
and pension as a result of the historical ban?
I am pleased to be able to put on record my acknowledgement of
the injustice suffered by gay people who were unjustly thrown out
of the military. I have met Fighting With Pride and others, and
we are doing good work on this, which will be formally announced
as part of a review. I hope to be able to provide further details
to the House in the coming weeks.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh has been in operation
since 1926, employing ex-soldiers since the very beginning. Over
the years it has grown considerably, and now it employs 41
veterans. Will the Minister join me in thanking them for their
hard work and dedication in making beautiful poppy wreaths, and
encourage other organisations to support veteran employability in
the same way?
I am delighted to put on record my thanks to the Poppy Factory,
which I have visited: it does magnificent work, and the wreaths
it creates are a moving and important part of the Festival of
Remembrance. I am also grateful that the hon. Lady picked up the
theme of employability, because we will focus explicitly on that
in the forthcoming veterans strategy.
(Gosport) (Con)
As you know, Mr Speaker, the Royal British Legion and the poppy
appeal have supported veterans over the decades and over a number
of conflicts, not least the Falklands campaign, which my
constituency has such strong links with. Can the Minister talk a
little about plans to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the
Falklands campaign next year?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. This is of particular interest,
because my Aldershot constituency was formerly the home of the
Parachute Regiment and one of my first engagements as a new MP
was to attend the 35th anniversary of Op Corporate. There are
significant plans under way, and I look forward to sharing those
with her and her Gosport constituents in due course.
Afghan Nationals: Evacuation
(Liverpool, West Derby)
(Lab)
3. What steps he is taking to help evacuate Afghan nationals at
risk; and if he will make a statement.
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
We owe a debt of gratitude to locally employed staff who risked
their lives along with UK forces in Afghanistan. Around 7,000
principals and their families have so far been relocated under
the Afghan relocations and assistance policy. The ARAP scheme, as
I have always said, remains open and, in the past seven days, a
further 100 Afghan nationals have been relocated from third
countries to the UK. Of the 311 people who were called forward
before the end of Op Pitting but were unable to leave the
country, there are now fewer than 200 individuals remaining.
Correspondence received from the Minister for the Armed Forces,
the hon. Member for Wells (), states that a number of my
constituents’ family members may be eligible for the Afghan
citizens resettlement scheme when it becomes available. The wait
for the scheme to open has been unbearable for many. Can the
Secretary of State confirm what discussions he has had with
Cabinet colleagues about this and, specifically, when the House
will be informed of the date the scheme will open? Will it be
before the end of the year, and what support, including legal
support, will be available to help constituents to navigate the
scheme?
Mr Wallace
I hear what the hon. Gentleman says but, as he knows, that scheme
is under the stewardship of the Home Office. I am happy to take
his representations and make them, but the policy decisions he is
asking for are not made by the Ministry of Defence; they are best
pointed at Home Office questions.
(New Forest East) (Con)
Does my right hon. Friend accept that Pakistan, with its
deplorable record of support for the Taliban, is a hostile
environment for a number of people who have fled Afghanistan and
are hiding in Pakistan? If the British Government decide to issue
visas to people who are taking refuge or in hiding in Pakistan,
will he guarantee that they are safely able to get from Pakistan
to the United Kingdom?
Mr Wallace
I listen to my right hon. Friend’s concerns. However, Pakistan
has been, in these incidences, supportive, as have many other
neighbouring countries. It plays an influential role in the
region and it is necessary for us not only to engage, but to
ensure that we work with it for the benefit of many of those
people left in Afghanistan and for the wider security areas.
However, I hear his points, and we also press Pakistan on areas
such as terrorism, Kashmir and so on, ensuring that both parties
to that conflict withdraw from any support of violence.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
Last week I visited a bridging hotel where it became clear that
ARAP evacuees are facing a cliff edge on their immigration
status, having been given just six months’ leave to remain when
they left Afghanistan. Permanent status is key to building a new
life for those who supported our forces, so what steps is the
Secretary of State taking with Home Office colleagues to ensure
they receive indefinite leave to remain when they were
promised?
Mr Wallace
I would be delighted to get those details from the hon.
Gentleman, because all individuals settled under the ARAP scheme
are given indefinite leave to remain.
(Basildon and Billericay)
(Con)
I have no doubt that the Defence Secretary is straining every
sinew, but one fears that bureaucracy and lack of clarity are
getting in the way. I understand that almost 200 Afghans who
worked with the British Council, and are therefore eligible for
the ARAP scheme, are still in Afghanistan in fear of their lives.
One sent this email:
“we are now being hunted by the Taliban. We are in hiding, and we
have run out of money. We are in very real danger and in fear of
our lives”.
What more can the Government do to help these people?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend refers to a scheme that is stewarded by the
Foreign Office. I am happy to hold a surgery for colleagues on
both sides of the House on the ARAP scheme, for which I am
responsible, and I will broaden it by bringing along Ministers
from other Departments so that they, too, can answer these
questions and deal with individual cases brought by Members. If
the House gives me leave, I would be happy to arrange it.
Afghanistan: Reconstruction and State-building Contracts
(Edinburgh East) (SNP)
4. If he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the
private companies contracted by his Department for (a)
reconstruction and (b) state-building during the UK’s involvement
in Afghanistan.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
The Ministry of Defence did not contract private companies to
undertake state-building as part of UK military operations in
Afghanistan. Reconstruction activity could take many forms and
could be commissioned in many ways, both from within the MOD and
from elsewhere in Government. Does the hon. Gentleman have a
particular company in mind?
The Foreign Office tells me it has spent £54 million with a
company called International, but it will not
tell me on what the money was spent. Can the Minister assure me
that he will provide details of any contracts his Department has
with International with regard to
Afghanistan? There has clearly been a failure of nation-building
in Afghanistan, and this Parliament needs to consider whether
that failure is related to the organisations that were chosen to
implement Government policy and the programmes they developed on
the ground. May I ask for further assurance that the cloak of
national security will not be used to withhold information?
As I said, the Ministry of Defence did not contract with
companies to undertake state-building activity. I will clarify
whether International had any role in
anything we might count as reconstruction. The hon. Gentleman
mentioned the Foreign Office, and his question might be better
addressed to colleagues there.
NATO and Euro-Atlantic Security
(Aylesbury) (Con)
5. What recent assessment his Department has made of the UK’s
contribution through NATO to the security of the Euro-Atlantic
area.
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
NATO is the cornerstone of UK and Euro-Atlantic defence. As set
out in the recent integrated review of international policy, the
UK will remain the leading European ally within NATO, bolstering
the alliance by tackling threats jointly and committing our
resources to collective security in the Euro-Atlantic region. The
UK contribution is substantial and comprehensive, spanning forces
and headquarters, money, capabilities and people.
With cross-party members of the armed forces parliamentary
scheme, I recently visited NATO air command at Ramstein for
briefings from the excellent RAF officers based there. Given
Russia’s frequent incursions into NATO airspace, its aggression
and its threats, does my right hon. Friend agree that the RAF’s
involvement is a crucial aspect of NATO’s commitment to constant
vigilance and the protection of each and every member of the
alliance?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend is right that the RAF is a key component of NATO’s
deterrence and defence posture. The RAF preserves the security of
alliance airspace through its contribution to enhanced air
policing and its commitment of forces to the NATO response force.
The RAF also provides high-quality staff officers to NATO
headquarters, and it provides air transport, air-to-air
refuelling and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and
reconnaissance support to NATO exercises and operations.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Minister knows very well what is happening between Russia and
Belarus. He knows how many people are hostage on these borders,
and how many children are in danger of dying of cold and
starvation. What is NATO actually doing to show Russia that we
mean business when it has devious and disgraceful policies such
as this?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to say that what is going
on in Belarus—and then into Poland, Estonia and these other
countries—is a tragedy and a disgrace, in the way it has treated
vulnerable people and clearly brought them over from other parts
of the world. I am visiting Poland this week to discuss matters
with my Polish counterparts. The hon. Gentleman will be aware
that the UK has a considerable number of forces in both Estonia
and Poland, under the enhanced presence, and I have sent a recce
party of Royal Engineers to see what else we can do to help. At
the same time, on the diplomatic channels, we must also make sure
that we are very clear that this is unacceptable behaviour. It is
a hybrid, destabilising method deployed by too many countries,
with human beings being the traffic. We should also press on the
European Union, which is responsible for the civilian border
policing of its Union; that is a very important step for it to
take, as it should also be able to step up and complement NATO’s
efforts.
(Rutland and Melton)
(Con)
Given the extremely concerning situations in not only Bosnia, but
Ukraine, will my right hon. Friend please advise as to whether he
plans to uplift our military presence to peacekeeping operations
in both countries? Will a defence Minister attend the Bosnian
Armed Forces Day at the start of December to show our continued
support for peace in the region?
Mr Wallace
My hon. Friend makes an important point about another part of
eastern Europe and the Balkans that is currently experiencing
destabilising actions, activities and messaging that do no one
any good. As she will know, it is a EUFOR deployment in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, but there is also a NATO deployment, and I am
open to exploring what more we could do in that area. will be attending the
conference my hon. Friend asks about.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
May I offer our very best wishes to David Perry, whose heroic
actions in Liverpool yesterday may have prevented a despicable
and devastating attack on the city’s remembrance ceremony?
I say to the Defence Secretary that we share his grave concerns
about deteriorating security and destabilisation, both in Bosnia
and on the Ukraine border. We fully back the diplomatic efforts
he mentions to de-escalate tensions, but, as the Chief of the
Defence Staff said yesterday, we also
“have to be on our guard and make sure deterrence prevails”.
So may I ask the Defence Secretary to confirm that a war-fighting
division is still the bedrock of the British Army and the defence
capability Britain offers NATO? When will this division be fully
capable for combat operations?
Mr Wallace
The right hon. Gentleman is correct to identify that a
war-fighting division is the bedrock. Obviously, as we reform and
invest in new capabilities, the scale and availability of that
division will fluctuate, as we re-equip and re-posture. However,
that does not prevent our already having a very, very
high-readiness battle group available in Estonia, with a matter
of hours to move, as one of the best parts of deterrence is
readiness, as opposed to simply having just scale on its own. We
can have scale, but if we cannot get to the battlefront, we are
not necessarily deterring anyone. That is why we are investing in
those new capabilities, but he is correct to say that a
war-fighting division is obviously part of our cornerstone
commitment to NATO.
The Army told the Select Committee on Defence last year that it
will not be until the “early 2030s” before it can field a fully
equipped war-fighting division, including a new strike brigade.
There are serious questions about capacity—or, as the Defence
Secretary says, scale—as well as about military capability.
Britain’s previous contribution to the UN peacekeeping in Bosnia
was about 2,400 troops, and that was when the Army was still
145,000 strong. His current cuts will leave the Army at exactly
half that size. So if, in the worst circumstances, our forces are
called on in both eastern Europe and the Balkans at the same
time, how confident is he that Britain could meet NATO
requirements?
Mr Wallace
I am very confident of that: we have just completed another round
of forces allocation within NATO to make sure that we are all
able to meet our commitments. We have a new scheme in NATO
whereby we can trade different capabilities. For example, we have
traded some capabilities for more maritime contribution, so that
we can keep our abilities strong and present in the sea as much
as we can on land—it will not have escaped the right hon.
Gentleman that Russia, for example, is capable of using all the
domains to threaten our security.
On the division the right hon. Gentleman talked about, the Chief
of the Defence Staff’s comments to the Select Committee
represented the situation at the end of the transition, but all
the way through that transition the UK’s premier armoured
division, 3 Division, will have battle-winning capabilities and
the ability to take on Russia as part of a NATO commitment. Only
recently, I visited the division on Salisbury plain—it is the
single biggest brigade or battle group we have had on Salisbury
plain for decades—and saw more than 270 vehicles go through their
paces, planning and making sure that they are up to date with the
latest equipment.
Helicopter Supply Chain
(West Dorset) (Con)
7. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the
resilience of the helicopter supply chain in the UK.
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
We recognise the need to understand and manage risk in our supply
chains, including rotary wing, and work closely on this with the
defence industry, including through the defence suppliers forum.
We are also engaged with the cross-Government global supply
chains initiative, which is aimed at improving resilience in
public procurement.
I was particularly pleased to learn of Leonardo’s £1 billion
investment proposition to provide a great future for the site in
Yeovil—where many of my West Dorset constituents work—as a global
centre of military excellence. Will my right hon. Friend kindly
ensure that we in the UK, and the Leonardo business in
particular, will secure more transformational industrial
innovation, as he envisaged under the defence and security
industrial strategy?
Mr Wallace
Yes. I welcome Leonardo’s investment in West Dorset and in UK
manufacturing as a whole. The defence and security industrial
strategy will ensure that the UK can continue to have
competitive, innovative and world-class defence and security
industries. The MOD is investing in emerging technology,
utilising the UK’s strong industrial and research base. Through
our forward-looking strategic partnerships, we will drive
collaboration on cutting-edge information.
(Easington) (Lab)
I do apologise, Mr Speaker: I mean no discourtesy to you or the
House but I am afraid I have pulled a muscle in my back and it is
terribly painful for me to bob up and down. I draw the House’s
attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial
Interests and the fact that I am a proud member of and, indeed,
chair of the Unite group of Labour MPs.
To follow up on the Secretary of State’s previous answer, he will
no doubt be aware that the Yeovil-based Leonardo
helicopter-manufacturing facility has prepared a tender for the
Puma-replacement contract. Will the Government deliver on their
responsibility to support workers in rural communities and
protect skilled jobs in the United Kingdom? Will he assure the
House that the Puma-replacement contract will be awarded to a
UK-based company?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Gentleman will have read the defence and security
industrial strategy and, indeed, the reforms to the Treasury
Green Book that allow me to put a premium on social value,
including in respect of priorities such as levelling up and UK
skills. I am determined that we make that clear in many of our
interactions with industry. As a member of Unite, the hon.
Gentleman will know that Unite represents not just workers at
Leonardo in Yeovil but no doubt lots of workers in the aerospace
industry in my part of the world up in Lancashire. We have a duty
to make sure that we listen to all British workers, wherever they
are.
On the new medium-lift helicopter contract, we are expecting a
competition and will produce details of that for the House sooner
rather than later. We expect the new medium-lift helicopter to
come in by 2025.
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
A fortnight ago, the all-party Public Accounts Committee
published the most damning report it has ever produced on MOD
procurement, including helicopter procurement. The report
concluded:
“To meet the aspirations of the Integrated Review, the
Department’s broken system for acquiring military equipment needs
an urgent rethink, led by HM Treasury and the Cabinet
Office.”
Given that not one of the top 36 MOD procurement programmes—worth
£150 billion of taxpayers’ money—is fully on track, who, either
at Abbey Wood or on the fifth floor of the MOD, is going to
accept personal responsibility? When will the Secretary of State
bring in the Cabinet Office to clean up the MOD’s mess?
Mr Wallace
I have read the report and, while it makes some very important
points, I am sad to say that it is actually no different from the
series of reports that I have read over decades. It is not any
worse than some of the ones from 2008 and 2009. There are repeat
problems, which is why, in seeking defence reforms, I have been
determined to make sure that we get on top of these issues.
[Interruption.] I distinctly remember the report that was
delivered in 2010, which showed that, in one year under the
Labour Administration, they spent £3 billion without even knowing
where it was coming from. My right hon. Friend is right that
there are lessons to be learned. We will get on it. I would be
delighted to meet him to discuss what we think we can do. Many of
the programmes referred to not only pre-date me and this
ministerial team, but predate my right hon. Friend and his
ministerial team and we need to make sure that we get on top of
that issue. There are solutions to this, but we must also enforce
tight timetables and then we will deliver.
(Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op)
It is welcome news for the British aerospace industry that the
Government have published a draft plan to buy between 36 and 44
aircraft under their long-awaited New Medium Helicopter
acquisition programme. Like other Members on both sides of the
House, we, too, could not let this pass without mentioning the
National Audit Office report. The Government have been in power
for 11 years. They have overseen a Ministry of Defence that has
created a black hole of £17 billion. The Defence Secretary has
stood here and said that the helicopter will be ready by 2025.
Why, given the evidence that the MOD has difficulty in fulfilling
its contracts, is he confident that this will happen? How long
will it be before the Ministry of Defence takes these NAO reports
seriously, and will it take positive action to bring some
positivity around procurement contracts?
Mr Wallace
The reason why I am confident about the 2025 timetable is that
the expected bidders in the new medium-lift helicopter programme
are expected to bid mature products that have been in production
not only in the United Kingdom, but in Europe and around the
world. The only negotiation would therefore be around European
content and European build and all the other factors that are
very important to hon. Members. I am pretty confident about 2025,
but it does of course depend on what extras the services want to
have added on. On the issue of 10 and 20-year programmes, it is,
as hon. Members who have served in the Ministry will know, that
if we change the plans half way through, we incur costs or
delays. That has been part of the problem for many, many decades,
but it does not change the fact that defence procurement
programmes are decades long, which has a greater impact than if
we were just going out there and buying a car.
(Angus) (SNP)
If the defence procurement landscape were a bit more positive, we
might have some more confidence in the Secretary of State’s
reassurances, but 2025 is not far away. Can he prompt the
procurement exercise for the new medium-lift helicopter to
replace the ageing Puma fleet, or at least clarify the pedestrian
progress of this operational priority to date? Multiple “primes”,
including Airbus with its 175M and Leonardo, will be looking to
compete for this work as well as US contractors. We need to be
able to scrutinise these contractors and their bids sooner rather
than later to ensure that, no matter who wins this contract, the
economic impact is enjoyed across these islands and not simply,
for example, in the south-west of England.
Mr Wallace
I hear what the hon. Gentleman says. He will know from the
shipbuilding industry in Scotland that there is a huge benefit
for shipbuilding in Govan, Scotstoun and Rosyth. I am very keen
to make sure that all the prosperity of the defence pound is
spread around the United Kingdom. Lots of jobs are attached to
all different types of projects whether they are “primes” or
supporting contracts through things such as radar and sonar.
Afghanistan: Inquiry into UK Withdrawal
(East Renfrewshire)
(SNP)
8. If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of an
independent inquiry into the UK withdrawal of personnel from
Afghanistan.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
The Ministry of Defence has carried out extensive and robust
lessons-learned exercises in response to events in Afghanistan,
including for Op Pitting, the non-combatant evacuation operation,
and those lessons have already been recycled into our NEO plans.
It has also done the same with the decisions to withdraw from
Afghanistan in the first place. Moreover, numerous inquiries are
already taking place across Government to scrutinise both the
UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and our campaign in Afghanistan
more generally, including the inquiry being undertaken by the
House of Commons Defence Committee, which the Secretary of State
gave evidence to on 26 October.
Does the Minister accept, though, that there is confusion and
contradiction in the UK Government’s portrayal of the withdrawal
from Afghanistan, with the former Foreign Secretary saying that
the Taliban takeover was “faster than anyone anticipated” while
the Prime Minister was saying that it had been “clear for many
months” that the situation could change quickly? Army personnel
faced the heart-breaking task of turning back thousands of Afghan
citizens, including many who worked with groups such as the
British Council. Surely this House and our constituents have a
right to know what went wrong and why. Does the Minister not
appreciate that only an independent inquiry can tell us that?
The hon. Lady conflates two issues. The first is the
decision-making process around why British forces left
Afghanistan. I do not think there is much to unearth there; the
Doha agreement that was signed by President Trump put us in a
position where a decision would need to be made this year, either
to re-engage the Taliban in full-on fighting or to leave. That
was the deal that was done, and we have been very clear with the
House about that at every opportunity. As for the delivery of Op
Pitting itself, I do not recognise the hon. Lady’s
characterisation of what I think was an extraordinarily
successful military operation.
(North Wiltshire) (Con)
I very much agree with the Minister that Op Pitting was a
superbly successful operation, no matter what else one might say
about Afghanistan. It is only right that we in this House and
across the Palace should thank and welcome the people who carried
out that operation, and Members of all parties and staff
throughout the Palace will be able to do so on Wednesday 24
November, immediately after Prime Minister’s Question Time, when
150 soldiers who carried out that brilliant operation will march
through Carriage Gates and halt outside the great north
door of Westminster Hall. I hope that all Members will be there
to welcome them and thank them for what they did.
I did not spot a question in there, but I think that we are all
looking forward to that event as much as my hon. Friend.
(Angus) (SNP)
There is no question that the bravery and professionalism of UK
armed forces personnel certainly got the Government out of a hole
when it came to Op Pitting, but one issue that we need an inquiry
to look at is why, in May, the French were so much better
prepared than the UK to the extent that they commenced evacuating
Afghans who supported the French efforts in Afghanistan, along
with their families, 90 days before the fall of Kabul. It is
quite clear that similar intelligence was available to NATO
allies in advance of operations commencing, so what went wrong
with the analysis of that intelligence in the United Kingdom? An
inquiry must establish whether the UK Government were guilty of
rose-tinted assessment, complacency or general dysfunction.
The hon. Gentleman might want to check the date on which the
Foreign Office advice to leave Afghanistan was changed to be
that, because it was actually very much aligned with the French
timeline that he mentioned. From that moment onwards, the
resettlement scheme for moving MOD-entitled civilian contractors
out of the country had commenced. It is a source of regret, I
think, for many who were eligible for the scheme that they chose
not to leave at the first opportunity and they waited, but the
MOD was not in a position forcibly to remove people from the
country. The scheme was open; we were bringing people back. From
memory, I think we removed about 1,500 people before Kabul fell.
I wish that more had taken the opportunity to leave when the
Foreign Office advice was changed, but the Foreign Office advice
was changed in a timely way and the MOD capacity to move people
was in place from the spring.
Support for Veterans
(North Devon) (Con)
9. What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy
of support available for veterans throughout the UK.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
The Government are committed to delivering a gold standard of
care for our veterans. We have made huge progress in recent
years, with tangible benefits such as the veterans railcard, the
bespoke mental health care pathway, tax breaks for those
employing veterans and guaranteed job interviews for veterans
applying to join the civil service. But there is more to do,
which is why we are putting the armed forces covenant into law
and why I will be announcing the veterans strategy next
month.
The Veterans Charity, which is based in North Devon, helps
hundreds of veterans across the UK each year, and would like to
thank the MOD for supporting its routes of remembrance event,
which involved many veterans and service personnel around the
nation. The Veterans Charity received many referrals from the
excellent Op Courage teams. Will the Minister clarify what plans
there are for more comprehensive coverage from this service
across North Devon and the south-west, where there are many
veterans living in remote areas who need and deserve greater
mental health support?
I am pleased to put on record my thanks to the Veterans Charity
for its amazing work. I was pleased to contribute to the routes
of remembrance event and to dispatch a wreath from Aldershot
along with the mayor and garrison commander. We are rightly
increasing the budget for Op Courage to more than £20 million
this year. An important component of that healthcare is the
accreditation of local GPs, so I hope that my hon. Friend is
exploring that prospect in North Devon.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
Last week it was revealed that hundreds of veterans face pension
cuts of up to £600 a year due to computer error, with no right to
appeal. As the cost of living rises under this Government, what
is the Minister doing to support those ex-forces personnel who
now cannot afford basics like heating and food due to
administrative incompetence?
I have absolute responsibility for that, and I am liaising
closely with Veterans UK to ensure that those people who have
served us get the support and encouragement they need.
Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
(Somerton and Frome)
(Con)
12. What steps his Department is taking to maintain the operation
of the Afghan relocations and assistance policy.
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
I thank my hon. Friend and neighbour for his question. Our Afghan
relocations and assistance policy remains open and a dedicated
team at the permanent joint headquarters continue to work with
all those eligible to ensure their safe passage to the UK. I
recently visited the region to identify what more we can do to
support both third-country and in-country applicants, and we are
working with a wide range of allies and partners to explore every
possible avenue.
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his response. I appreciate
that much of the information around the Government’s support for
those in Afghanistan is sensitive, but can he update the House on
whether the Government have made an assessment of how many people
still in Afghanistan qualify for the scheme and what steps the
Government are taking to ensure that they are able to leave
safely?
We estimate that about 800 principals plus their families might
be eligible to come to the UK through the ARAP route. However, we
should be clear that this is a very difficult process that relies
entirely at the moment on the co-operation of third countries,
and that regulates flow. We are doing our best to get people here
in the biggest numbers that we possibly can, but other countries
in the region get a vote. That is why all the ministerial team
and our colleagues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office continue to work hard to maintain those relationships and
maintain those permissions.
(Newport East) (Lab)
Afghan interpreters who previously settled in Newport East are
still waiting to be reunited with their families who have been
stuck in bridging hotels waiting for biometric resident permits
for some months now. What are Defence Ministers doing to impress
upon Home Office Ministers the need to sort this out?
I meet Home Office Ministers regularly, and so does my hon.
Friend the Minister for Defence People and Veterans, who is
leading on the reception of ARAP personnel within the UK. If the
hon. Lady would like to write to him with the detail of the
people she is representing, we will make sure that that is passed
to Home Office Ministers.
Armed Forces: Technological Capabilities
(Wolverhampton South West)
(Con)
13. What steps his Department is taking to improve the
technological capabilities of the armed forces.
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
Defence will invest at least £6.6 billion in research and
development over the next four years in areas including space,
directed energy weapons, and artificial intelligence. This will
help to secure our military edge by ensuring that we can adopt
modern technologies at scale and produce game-changing
advantage.
With the significant rise in AI being used in defence, what steps
are being taken to ensure that there is transparency of
calculations that show both an ethical and moral approach to
defence?
My hon. Friend asks a very good question that needs to be
addressed. I am pleased to confirm that we are producing a
defence AI strategy that will cover how we will get an
operational advantage. That work is ongoing and it will be
published in due course.
Former Service Personnel: Mental Health Services
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
14. What steps he is taking to improve provision of mental health
services for former service personnel.
(Stockport) (Lab)
21. What steps he is taking to improve provision of mental health
services for former service personnel.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
We are committed to providing veterans with a gold standard of
support. This year we increased the budget of Op Courage from
£17.8 million to more than £20 million. We are committed to
supporting third-sector armed forces charities. That is why this
year we are putting a record amount of money—£25 million—into
that sector.
Yesterday we honoured our armed forces and their incredible
service, but we know that this service comes at a cost. Over the
past five years, the number of personnel medically discharged due
to mental health issues has doubled. We are not offering them
enough support. On the commitment of just £20 million a year,
Labour has pledged to increase that by £35 million. Will the
Minister match that commitment today?
I think we are putting our money where our mouth is, but I make
the broader point that it is about reducing stigma around mental
health and ensuring that, during service, service people
understand that dealing with their mental health is a
professional responsibility. That is why we have introduced an
annual mandatory mental health care brief. It is very important
that service people see mental health as resilience and
professional capability. We are trying to change the entire
culture around it.
The Government are currently missing a range of targets for the
mental health care of veterans, and sadly veterans continue to
face a postcode lottery when accessing services. We know that
veterans face a wait of 37 days for face-to-face appointments
offered through the transition intervention and liaison service,
against a target of 14 days. The average wait time for treatment
is 70 days, a jump from 57 days in 2018-19. We also know that
there was an increase in the wait time for appointments through
the complex treatment service—now at 33 days, up from 18 in
2018-19. The Government have missed targets on mental health care
for veterans across all services in England. In light of that,
will the Minister commit to reviewing these services to ensure
that our former serving personnel get the best standards of
care?
I do not accept that characterisation from the hon. Member. Op
Courage is very successful. Clearly there is always more to do,
which is why we are putting more money into it. Importantly, we
are putting veterans themselves at the heart of Op Courage as
peer support workers.
(Brecon and Radnorshire)
(Con)
Veterans mental health services in Wales could be greatly
improved if we had a veterans’ commissioner. We are the only
nation in the UK not to have one. The UK Government have agreed
to create and fund the post, but the Welsh Government have not
yet agreed to recognise it and work with it. Will the Minister
join me in urging them to do so, so that veterans in Wales can
benefit from the same support as their counterparts in the rest
of the UK?
I am delighted that we will have an independent veterans’
commissioner in Wales, and I thank my hon. Friend for the
campaigning she has done on this. We look forward to positive
working with the Welsh Government to ensure a very positive
outcome for veterans in Wales.
Topical Questions
(Glenrothes) (SNP)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
In September, I notified the House of data breaches relating to
the MOD’s Afghanistan relocations and assistance policy, or ARAP.
An internal investigation has now concluded, and I have laid a
written ministerial statement of its findings before the House.
While the breaches were attributed to human error, they should
have been prevented by better operating procedures and training.
Significant remedial actions were taken, and I am confident that
their application is sufficient to prevent recurrence.
We are not aware of anyone who has come to harm as a result of
these breaches, but continue to support all families awaiting
relocation to the United Kingdom. As I said earlier, of the 311
ARAP-eligible Afghan families unable to board a flight who had
been called forward before the end of Op Pitting, fewer than 200
remain, and we will continue with those relocations. The scale of
that task should not be underestimated. More than 89,000
applications have already been received and more than 7,000
people relocated to the UK. I apologise again for the data
breaches, recommit to efforts preventing recurrence and thank all
those in the MOD whose ongoing work is honouring our debt of
gratitude to those Afghan nationals who supported our efforts in
the country.
As the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois)
referred to earlier, and may well be planning to refer to again
in a few minutes, we have seen report after report from the
National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee
highlighting the fact that the Ministry of Defence does not have
an adequately funded and affordable equipment programme. It has
weaknesses in its management of major defence projects. There is
not even a proper funding mechanism to match the long-term nature
of the contracts. This is causing delays in critically important
frontline equipment. How much longer will it be before our
service personnel can guarantee that they will always be equipped
with the best equipment available?
Mr Wallace
I understand the hon. Member’s concern, but I say to him first
that we will publish our equipment programme soon, and that it is
not the case that the projects are unfunded—that is an incorrect
assertion. Like him, I am absolutely determined to get to grips
with some of the issues. That is why we took some decisions to
cancel or not proceed with programmes. We took some tough
decisions to ensure that the equipment programme is affordable.
It is also why the Prime Minister gave us a record capital
departmental expenditure limit settlement for our equipment
programme, to ensure that we can deliver the equipment for our
forces.
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
Hello, it’s me again.
I will gladly take the Secretary of State up on his offer of a
meeting about procurement, but there is an old Army saying: if it
ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This is broke—it is official. This is
the worst report on MOD procurement in living memory, Ben. We
both know it is, so can we please do something about it and put
it right?
Mr Speaker
The Secretary of State, I think you meant to call him.
Mr Wallace
I understand my right hon. Friend’s frustration; I am equally
frustrated. He will know from his time in the Department that one
of the biggest challenges was that people’s appetites often
outstretched their pockets. We also have to adapt to threats when
they change, and that causes an impact, as do things such as
dollar fluctuations. There are a lot of factors in complicated
procurement, but that is not to say that we do not need a lot of
things to go right. I would be delighted to talk to him about
some of the simple changes that could make a big difference.
The other issue is ensuring that Ministers are on top of all the
detail, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement
is on that detail and ensuring that we get a grip of this. It is
also about having not part-time but dedicated senior responsible
officers—I am not sure why no one has done that for decades. We
should then hold those people more responsible.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
I was disappointed to get the Defence Secretary’s written
ministerial statement on the ARAP data breach and general update
just before I left for these questions in the Chamber, which was
too late to put to him the many concerns felt on all sides of the
House. It should have been an oral statement. I hope that he will
consider making such a statement.
The Defence Secretary has pledged to assist investigations into
the grave allegations about the murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Kenya
nine years ago by a British solider. Why has he not launched an
MOD inquiry into the separate serious allegations that the
killing was an open secret in the regiment and that senior
officers suppressed the information?
Mr Wallace
While I have not opened a formal investigation, I have absolutely
asked the question of the Army to get the bottom of what happened
with the original allegations and where we got with that. At the
same time, I am respecting the judicial process. The right hon.
Member and I will know that we can comment only so far on what is
ongoing with that incident and others that appear in the service
justice scheme, or indeed on any foreign assistance required.
(Thirsk and Malton)
(Con)
T3. Will the Minister provide some clarity on the future of
the RAF Linton-on-Ouse base? As well as having played an
important role in defence of the realm, it is a key part of the
local economy, yet local residents are still unclear about its
future and the MOD’s plans for its disposal. Some months after a
previous request for information, we are still at a loss.
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
I assure my hon. Friend that, as he is aware, there is no longer
a military requirement for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The timing of the
site’s disposal is under active consideration. There will be an
announcement and I will write to him as soon as it is made. I
expect to do so shortly.
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
T10. Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that
the world’s militaries combined contribute 6% of all global
carbon emissions, and they have been left off the negotiating
agenda of successive United Nations framework convention on
climate change conferences of the parties. Will the Government
work to ensure that military missions are included in next year’s
COP27?
I cannot comment on that, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that,
as I think he is aware, the MOD looks seriously at that area. In
March, we published our sustainability strategy, and we are
regarded as a leader in NATO for our work on reducing emissions
in military operations. We want to be best in class—that is what
we are working towards—and I hope that we will see a further
reduction in our carbon emissions in the years to come.
(East Devon) (Con)
T4. Last week, the Royal Marines commando training centre
in Lympstone in East Devon officially opened a new £10 million
state-of-the-art building to rehabilitate recruits who have been
injured during training. Will my hon. Friend join me in
congratulating the Royal Marines, the Defence Infrastructure
Organisation and contractors on creating this superb facility for
our brave armed forces? I cannot wait to visit it.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
I certainly do congratulate the Royal Marines on this magnificent
new facility. I am delighted that this 181-bed block for the
rehabilitation of trainees was completed on budget and ahead of
schedule. I am really impressed, and I think that does real
justice to the magnificent fighting spirit of the Royal
Marines.
(Gower) (Lab)
This June, in Swansea, the British Training Board opened the
national armed forces training hub, supported by the Welsh
Government, the local authority and the University of Wales
Trinity Saint David, which provides a full career development
programme to veterans, with university qualifications. Does the
Minister agree that, thanks to organisations such as the BTB, the
majority of service personnel go on to fantastic careers in
civilian life? What more can be done to provide our personnel
during their military training with the complete range of
universally recognised life skills that they need?
What we can do is ensure is that when someone gets a military
qualification, it has civilian equivalents. We are doing that,
and that is important because military service does give people
skills for life.
(Heywood and Middleton)
(Con)
T6. Heywood-based charity Veterans into Logistics has had
great success in ensuring that service leavers have the necessary
skills and qualifications to take advantage of excellent paying
jobs in the local economy. Does my hon. Friend agree that service
leavers have a unique skillset that will be essential to ensuring
our continued recovery from covid, and will he agree to meet
Veterans into Logistics to see how the work it has done could be
applied to other service leavers around the country?
I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend and Veterans into
Logistics. He is right: military service does give people skills
for life, and I was very pleased recently to announce an increase
in the number of HGV licence places for service leavers.
(Rhondda) (Lab)
The Secretary of State knows that lots of armed forces personnel
have suffered brain injuries while they have been on active
service. The temptation is always to try to deal with that solely
within the Ministry of Defence, but when they leave the services
they often have to rely on the Department of Health and Social
Care, local government and many other Departments of Government,
so is it not time that we had a whole-Government strategy for
dealing with acquired brain injury? The good news for the
Secretary of State—I am sure he will be answering now I have said
that—is that he will be able to join the campaign for a
whole-Government approach to acquired brain injury by supporting
my Acquired Brain Injury Bill on 3 December.
Mr Wallace
First, I would be absolutely delighted not only to talk to the
hon. Member about this, but to look at his Bill. He is right:
obviously some of these brain injuries are with people for life.
We should therefore make sure that they are managed when they
leave service and are dealt with outside, and make sure that that
is a seamless changeover. I would be very happy to look at the
Bill, and he can explain the details to me.
(Truro and Falmouth)
(Con)
T7. The port of Falmouth has a history of long association
with the Royal Navy and is regularly home to Royal Navy vessels,
including the greenest vessel, HMS Tamar. As such, this
relationship provides a significant contribution to the Cornish
marine sector and the local economy in Falmouth. Can my hon.
Friend assure me that Falmouth will benefit from this
Government’s record investment in our defence programme?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Falmouth has always had a
vital role in the defence of the UK. A&P Falmouth’s
in-service support contract, awarded in 2018, is worth some £239
million over 10 years. Given our strong investment in the Royal
Navy, to which she referred, I have no doubt there will be future
opportunities.
(Birmingham, Yardley)
(Lab)
Can the Secretary of State tell me, first, what contact he has
had with the Home Office regarding the murder of Agnes Wanjiru to
ensure that at least there has been effective monitoring of a man
accused of murdering a woman? An answer from his Department last
week stated:
“At present, the sexual exploitation of any person is not
recorded as an offence in its own right”.
Can he explain why not, and can he tell the House when it will be
an offence for a British soldier to partake in the sexual
exploitation of prostituted adults?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Lady will know that, where a judicial investigation by
another police force is going on, we stand ready to support and
help them, and we do that. I cannot give this House a running
commentary on any investigation for fear of jeopardising that
investigation. What I can say to her is that not only have I said
that our support is available, but I have even, on a similar type
of investigation, told the provost marshal that if there were any
barriers I would seek to remove them. I am determined to make
sure that both legacy or older investigations and indeed
investigations into current offences get all the support we
can give—we have extra members of the military police in Kenya to
make sure of that—but I cannot give her a running commentary.
On the hon. Lady’s other issue, about exploitation, I have made
clear, first, the points about respect for women overall;
secondly, that there are already some sanctions in place in the
armed forces should people go against that; and, thirdly, that I
am absolutely looking at the whole section about prostitution and
the exploitation of women.
(Broadland) (Con)
While an aircraft carrier is the ultimate expression of hard
power, does the Secretary of State agree with me that the soft
power expressed by HMS Queen Elizabeth and the carrier strike
group, through strengthening relationships and reassuring old
friends and new friends alike, shows global Britain in action?
[Interruption.]
Mr Wallace
I love listening to Scottish National party Members heckle, when
they cannot even run the Ferguson yards and commission their own
ships.
The carrier strike group has not only visited and worked with
over 44 nations on its tour, but has had visits from 63
Ministers. It is great convenor and a great presence that, made
in Britain, definitely does go around the world showing that
Britain can do both soft and hard power, and do it with
quality.
(North East Fife)
(LD)
Prior to entering Parliament I worked for the Career Transition
Partnership at its Scottish resettlement centre and saw the vital
work done in assisting service personnel prepare for civilian
life through training, needs assessment and care support. Will
the Minister commit to ensuring that funding for such
resettlement programmes does not fall in the period covered by
the spending review?
We provide support for resettlement for two priors to the end of
people’s service and for two years after. That is a very
important component of our offer to service people.
(Banff and Buchan) (Con)
Does my hon. Friend agree that the new AUKUS partnership will not
only help keep our people safe by preserving security and
stability in the Indo-Pacific but will also help deliver this
Government’s ambitions to level-up across the whole United
Kingdom, including through the creation of hundreds of jobs in
Scotland?
I very much hope so. We spend over £20 billion a year on UK
defence and over 10% of that goes to Scotland. We have increased
the number of direct Scottish defence jobs by a fifth over the
last three years, and that goes right the way across Scotland
including Score Marine in my hon. Friend’s constituency. Other
opportunities will arise over the next few years and AUKUS is a
great basis for the future, not only for defence but for our
joint security and for prosperity.
(North Durham) (Lab)
At his last outing before the Defence Committee, the Minister for
Defence Procurement would not give a commitment that the future
solid support ships would be built in Britain; he just said that
the integration would take place here. Can he say today what
percentage of the content of those vessels will be UK-sourced to
protect not just jobs but technology in the UK?
As I recall, I said we expected a substantial amount of that
build to be in the UK, and as the right hon. Gentleman well knows
I cannot go much further on an ongoing procurement process.
(Wrexham) (Con)
Hightown barracks in Wrexham is the spiritual home of the Royal
Welch Fusiliers. Ten years ago it was destined to be a housing
estate but now it contains the Defence Mental Health Clinic, a
reserve field detachment, cadets, a preparation college, support
for transport and an inspiring anti-tank company. So will the
Secretary of State agree to visit the barracks with me and thank
Colonel Nick Lock and his team?
Mr Speaker
Yes.
Mr Wallace
Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is the hon. Lady’s birthday, and I am
not sure if she would think it a birthday present or not but I
will be delighted to visit it with her.
(Oldham East and
Saddleworth) (Lab)
Thousands of disabled war veterans are being denied the
compensation and support they need and are entitled to, so will
the Secretary of State say how many people are waiting over a
year for a tribunal decision on a war pension or an armed forces
compensation scheme appeal, and if he does not know the details,
will he write to me?
Mr Wallace
I will write to the hon. Lady with the details.
