Future Soldier Programme
(Bracknell) (Con)
1. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness
of the Army’s Future Soldier programme. (906291)
(Moray) (Con)
20. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness
of the Army’s Future Soldier programme. (906312)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
Future Soldier will see the largest transformation of the British
Army in more than 20 years. This change, which is only just
beginning, will create an Army that is more integrated, agile and
lethal; a modern force fit to face up to current and future
threats.
Can the Minister please assure me that the Army Future Soldier
programme will keep pace with any emerging doctrinal lessons from
Ukraine, and that the British Army will be structured and
equipped to meet associated threats?
I certainly can. The integrated review was based on operational
analysis of the land campaigns in northern Syria and
Nagorno-Karabakh. We are keenly watching the operational analysis
as it comes in with regard to what is going on in Ukraine. At the
moment, I think we would reflect that the nature of the land
battle is exactly as we expected it to be, but clearly if the
threat changes, the policy changes.
The Army Future Soldier programme was great news for Moray, an
area that has benefited significantly from UK Government
investment at RAF Lossiemouth. The Future Soldier programme
confirmed that Kinloss barracks will not only be retained, but
expanded. Will the Minister outline what plans he and the
Government have for Kinloss barracks, working with 39 Engineer
Regiment, which has been a valuable and integral part of the
Moray community since it moved there a decade ago?
My hon. Friend will be delighted at the £25 million of capital
investment in the single living accommodation at Kinloss before
2025, which is a reflection of just how important the base is to
the Army going forward. 39 Engineer Regiment will remain at
Kinloss and continue to play a key role in the Moray community.
As part of the Future Soldier order of battle, it will remain in
its current role as a force support air engineer regiment.
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
The infantry are the core of our Army, so why will most of the
cuts in the Department’s plans fall on the infantry?
As a former infanteer, I agree vigorously with the premise of the
hon. Gentleman’s question. The infantry are at the core of the
fighting force—they are—but the reality is that we need to change
our force design. The premium now is on dispersal and being able
to operate effectively in a dispersed way. “Hide to survive” is
the tag coming out of many war games and from what we are seeing
in real life in Ukraine. The vision is for a more agile, more
lethal infantry that is able to disperse and bring effect on to
the enemy. [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman says that, but he
will have seen, from the footage of Ukrainians interrupting the
activities of vast armoured columns, that small bands of
determined people with the right missile technology are far more
lethal than any opposing armoured force might prove to be.
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
I wonder if the Minister could advise the House on how
extensively the Department is consulting through the ranks on the
programme. Specifically, are serving personnel able to make
recommendations or express opinions outwith the rank
structure?
I am not sure I agree with the afterthought to the hon.
Gentleman’s question, but I know that the Chief of the General
Staff and his team were vigorous in the way that the Future Army
plans were communicated to the Army and that the Army chain of
command had an opportunity to contribute to them. I am not sure
that there is a mechanism quite as he envisages it, but the Army
is, certainly in my experience, the sort of organisation that
enjoys being challenged from within. I know there is plenty of
challenge going on, so that the Army can make sure it develops
the right plans for the future.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
Mr Speaker, we are proud to receive the letter, which you read
out, from the Ukrainian Speaker, and we are proud that President
Zelensky said last night:
“Britain is definitely on our side.”
The Government have Labour’s full support for the UK’s military
help to Ukraine. Putin’s brutal invasion surely reminds us that
the Army’s primary role must be to reinforce Europe’s deterrence
and defence against Russian aggression, so why do the Minister’s
Future Soldier plans risk leaving the British Army too small, too
thinly spread and too poorly equipped to deal with the threats
that the UK and our NATO allies face?
I fear that the right hon. Gentleman and I have been looking at
different sets of plans, because I see an Army that ends up being
better equipped, more lethal and more integrated. The choice that
was made to introduce the deep recce strike capability into the
third armoured division is absolutely game changing, and it is
what is required. The de-prioritisation of the close fight that
we have seen in Nagorno-Karabakh, in northern Syria and now in
Ukraine shows us that the key, defining characteristic of the
modern land battle is the ability to strike precisely and in
depth, and to attrit our enemy while they are moving towards us.
That is what the deep recce strike brigade is going to get
after.
The heart of our UK commitment to NATO is indeed a fully capable
war-fighting division, which the former Chief of the Defence
Staff has described as
“the standard whereby a credible army is judged.”
Why will this modernised war-fighting third division not be
delivered until 2030? Why did Ministers decide it would be built
around Ajax when they knew about the deep-seated problems? Why,
when it took the German Chancellor just three days to overturn
decades of defence policy and boost defence spending by €100
billion, does the National Audit Office say that UK Ministers
could take another nine months even to decide whether to stick
with or scrap Ajax?
The right hon. Gentleman knows that candour is the name of the
game whenever I am speaking. I think there are reasons why both
sides of the House could reflect on quite why our Army has the
age of kit that it has. Governments of both parties have missed a
number of opportunities to decide to renew the Army’s equipment
inventory over the last 20 or 30 years. The reality is that the
Army has to be redesigned to meet the threat as it now is, and I
think that two armoured infantry or strike brigades with a deep
recce strike brigade is exactly what a modern war-fighting
division should look like. Within NATO, there are discussions
about how the NATO force needs to transform to meet the modern
threat.
Defence Jobs
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
2. What steps his Department is taking to help support defence
jobs across the UK. (906292)
(Redcar) (Con)
6. What steps his Department is taking to help support defence
jobs across the UK. (906297)
(Banff and Buchan) (Con)
12. What steps his Department is taking to help support defence
jobs across the UK. (906304)
(Penistone and Stocksbridge)
(Con)
18. What steps his Department is taking to help support defence
jobs across the UK. (906310)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
Recent estimates shows MOD investment supporting over 200,000
jobs across the UK. Continued investment in defence, along with
the changes we are making as part of the defence and security
industrial strategy, will contribute to further economic growth
and prosperity, including jobs, across the Union.
BAE Systems at RAF Valley in my constituency of Ynys Môn is
hoping to hear news about a long-term contract, providing
security to hundreds of workers. These are high-value jobs that
underpin our sovereign UK defence capability. These technical and
engineering roles provide maintenance to the RAF Hawk T2 fleet
and support our future fighter pilots. Does my hon. Friend agree
that this forthcoming contract is great news for Anglesey and
great news for our UK security in these challenging times?
I cannot comment on specific contracts, but I can confirm that
those are indeed high-value jobs performing an important role for
our armed forces. My hon. Friend has been assiduous in pushing
the case for defence jobs in her constituency, and I hope to be
making an announcement shortly.
Does the Minister agree that the current dreadful situation in
Ukraine means that we need to be very focused on our defence
supply chains, buying and using British where possible and
further supporting the economies of areas such as Redcar and
Cleveland?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We were already focused on
securing our critical defence supply chains, but DSIS has
provided renewed impetus. Specifically on steel, as he mentions
his home patch, it is for the prime contractors to place orders
but they are all flagged well in advance with UK industry.
Unfortunately, there are occasions—we have had this recently—when
specific types of steel that we require are not being produced in
the UK. I would urge UK manufacturers to really explore these
opportunities. We are very keen to see them do so.
The Minister will be familiar with the company Score in my
constituency. It is a major supplier of valves across different
industries, including for naval vessels. May I invite him to see
for himself the fantastic facilities, technology and expertise,
including the award-winning apprenticeship schemes, utilised by
the single largest employer in my constituency of Banff and
Buchan?
Our increase in naval procurement benefits jobs throughout the
UK. I am delighted to hear of the Score Group’s apprenticeship
scheme to build talent for the future and I am keen to visit. The
UK Government’s shipbuilding programme is proving a great success
in supporting Scottish jobs unlike, it appears, that of other
Governments with which my hon. Friend, as a Scottish Member, may
be familiar.
Given the MOD’s recently acquired stake in Sheffield
Forgemasters, I know that my hon. Friend understands the
important role of the UK steel industry in our national security.
What consideration has he given to the opportunities for greater
integration and collaboration on defence manufacturing between
Sheffield Forgemasters and other steel producers, such as
Stocksbridge’s Speciality Steel in my constituency, which he is
also welcome to visit? That collaboration could benefit jobs and
security.
I am aware of the company in my hon. Friend’s constituency. We
took the unusual decision—it is unusual—to acquire Sheffield
Forgemasters to secure its unique capability to supply specialist
large-scale, high-integrity steel components, which are vital to
defence programmes. Ultimately, it is for companies to manage
commercial decisions for their future, but to improve engagement,
the Business Secretary reformed the UK Steel Council in 2021,
which offers a forum for the Government, industry and trade
unions to work in partnership on what is absolutely a shared
objective for UK steel to have a competitive and sustainable
future.
(Bedford) (Lab)
The Aircraft Research Association in Bedford is the only UK-based
facility capable of testing our future military aircraft and
components, but it is at risk of closure due to the change in
electricity costs. Ofgem has stated that only the Government can
introduce an exemption scheme to save the company and prevent the
UK being reliant on foreign states to test our aircraft. Will the
Minister urgently meet me and the ARA to discuss a way forward
that protects our national security?
I am willing to meet the hon. Gentleman if that is helpful. I
warn him that we are aware of the situation and of the
capabilities that we need. I am happy to meet him and speak to
him and I will take it from there.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
Many hon. Members have been surprised or enlightened by the
performance of the Bayraktar TB2 in Ukraine. What sort of message
does that send to UK strategy and procurement?
Happily, we were ahead of the game. It is part of the discussion
that we had as part of the integrated review. There are active
processes in place to test UAVs—unmanned aerial vehicles—and
counter-UAV technologies. We are aware of them. This conflict and
previous ones have thrown into sharp relief how effective those
weapon systems can be.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
I have some important manufacturers that supply the defence
sector, such as David Brown Santasalo and Reliance Precision,
that would like to know what the future of their business is,
given that the Government are going to reduce the size of our
armed forces to 72,000 and that last week’s mini-Budget gave no
extra funding to defence. If Vladimir Putin is watching the
parliamentary channel, what does the Minister think he will be
thinking?
I do not know whether Mr Putin is watching us today; I would like
to say some robust things if he is. I give some reassurance to
the hon. Gentleman: last time I visited David Brown Santasalo, it
was hard at work on components for the Type 26, to which
programme we are committed, as he knows, and on many export
orders. It is hard at work producing really valuable bits of kit
for the UK and in due course, I hope, our allies.
Mr Speaker
We come to shadow Minister .
(Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op)
UK shipbuilding accounts for 42,600 jobs, yet the Government
continue to fail to protect that vital industry and those highly
skilled jobs by refusing to build British by default. Can the
Minister give me one good reason why we cannot guarantee that all
future naval ships procured by this Government will be built in
Britain using British steel?
Yes, I can give the hon. Gentleman many more than one good reason
for why we have the strategy that we do. To name one, let us look
at Type 31, which is a fantastic British export success to Poland
and Indonesia; I am convinced that there will be others in due
course. It was built with the support of an international
consortium and we got the best in the world. It is now based
firmly in the UK with a lot of it in the UK supply chain, which
is giving the best opportunity for UK jobs and for UK
shipbuilders to thrive internationally and competitively.
Violence against Women: Armed Forces
(North East Fife)
(LD)
3. What steps he is taking to help tackle violence against women
in the armed forces. (906293)
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
Of course, we have a zero-tolerance approach to violence against
women across Defence, and our actions across education, training
and the service justice system reflect that. Women can and do
have brilliant careers right across Defence, and the role models
of senior women leaders across all three services reflect
that.
My constituent had been living in the armed forces base in my
constituency with her partner and her children, for whom she was
the primary carer. During that time, she experienced continued
domestic abuse and when she took the brave step of leaving her
partner, she was told by the base that she would be required to
leave. As a result, she was made homeless and, concerningly, she
has had to leave her two very small children with her partner at
the base. Although commitments to end violence in the first place
are of course crucial, there will always be circumstances where
it takes place. So what support can the Department put in place
for those who suffer domestic abuse, and their dependants, while
living within the armed forces community?
I am very moved to hear about the experiences of the hon. Lady’s
constituent, and if she would like to approach me with more
details, I would certainly be happy to look at that case again. I
reassure her that we have had a countering domestic abuse
strategy across Defence since 2018, and I look forward to
updating the House in due course about our strategy for tackling
rape and serious sexual offences across Defence.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Con)
Does the Minister agree that we train all our military personnel
to be able to be extremely violent when the situation requires
but we also train them to have the self-discipline to control
that aggression and that any breach of that discipline, whether
perpetrated against male or female victims, needs to be dealt
with expeditiously and seriously through military law?
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and this is all the more
the case given that women occupy every role right across Defence,
quite rightly.
Russian Aggression: Support for NATO Allies
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
4. What steps the Government are taking to support NATO allies in
response to Russian aggression. (906294)
(Rochdale) (Lab)
16. What steps the Government are taking to support NATO allies
in response to Russian aggression. (906308)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
We are currently supplying significant air power to NATO’s
eastern flank, as well as sending ships to the eastern
Mediterranean. We have a well-established and enduring
contribution to the NATO enhanced forward presence battle group
in the Baltics and in Poland—in recent weeks we have almost
doubled our military forces in Estonia to demonstrate that
capability and our resolve to support that region.
I thank the Minister, because the UK is right to bolster support
to our NATO allies bordering Russia, and NATO is right in
condemning Putin’s illegal and atrocious actions in Ukraine.
Opposition Members stand shoulder to shoulder in upholding
democracy, freedom, the rule of law and security. Of course,
modern warfare is not just about troops, weapons and equipment,
so what more are we doing to work with our allies across NATO in
strengthening cyber-resilience in the alliance?
NATO is acutely aware that the threat has evolved beyond the
three conventional domains and into space and cyber-space as
well, which is why that is a key part of NATO’s transformation
plans. The UK is to the fore in that, because we have invested
ahead of many of our allies in both defensive and offensive
cyber-capabilities. So the UK voice is very much to the fore in
discussing with NATO how we develop a cyber-capability for the
alliance.
Is not one lesson of the brutal aggression of Russia in Ukraine
that the decision by the Baltic states to join NATO was the right
one? Aggression in Ukraine is not a vindication of NATO’s
expansion; it is a vindication of the Baltic states’ joining our
military alliance. Is there not a lesson for all NATO powers,
including our own: we have to think again about how much we are
prepared to spend on defence?
Make no mistake: the NATO membership of our great friends and
allies in the Baltic represents one of the great strengthening
moments of the alliance generally. Nobody is prouder to fly the
NATO flag than Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, and we stand
four-square behind them and behind what it would mean if
President Putin were to try to compromise the territorial
integrity of those countries in any way. As for the hon.
Gentleman’s wider question about resourcing defence across the
alliance adequately, I strongly agree; we are one of only a few
countries that has been routinely spending the 2% of GDP target.
It is fantastic that this moment of challenge within the
euro-Atlantic has meant that other countries have now increased
their spending to meet that target, too. If there are arguments
for more money for defence, no Defence Minister is ever going to
object, but we should reflect that the UK has been spending 2%
for a while and was given a very significant uplift from the
Treasury only 12 months ago.
(South Dorset) (Con)
I commend the United Kingdom for all it is doing to help our NATO
allies, but I make this point to the Minister, from one soldier
to another. He said earlier that, if circumstances change, the
policy changes. I do not excuse myself for again asking the
Government to rethink the cut to the Army. He was referring to
out of area-type operations, and we are now looking potentially,
God forbid, at a conventional war, where mass will be important.
We no longer have that mass and it must be retained.
My hon. Friend and I will debate keenly the future of the land
battle, but I am not sure that what we have seen on our TV
screens over the past few weeks has been a justification for
large amounts of massed armour. I think it is entirely a
vindication of a change in the way in which the land battle is
prosecuted. If forces are massed, they are vulnerable to missile
technologies, which are absolutely in the ascendancy. I think
that Future Soldier and the integrated review, which gave birth
to that, are exactly the right way to develop the Army to meet
the requirements of the land battle as it is now and not perhaps
how we thought it was 20 years ago.
(Elmet and Rothwell)
(Con)
Supporting NATO allies is about not just the eastern front and
the situation in and around Russia, but the threat from Russian
naval activity. Does my hon. Friend agree that the focus must
equally be on the activities of Russian submarines in the north
Atlantic, around our allied coast, and that the Navy must be
given equal consideration in regard to our strategic strength
moving forward?
Submarine operations in the north Atlantic are not routinely
spoken about in public, but my right hon. Friend will be
reassured to know that we are acutely aware that we must maintain
awareness of what Russia is doing in the whole Euro-Atlantic and
that the focus should not just be on the obvious point of
conflict in Ukraine. There is a belligerence to the way in which
Russia is doing its business right now, which means that this is
the time for maximum vigilance for the UK and the alliance, so
that we make sure that all threats to the homeland are properly
countered.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow minister, .
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
Labour’s commitment to NATO is unshakeable. We support the
provision of lethal aid to Ukraine and we back the bolstering of
defences for our allies on NATO’s eastern front. The Government
have already deployed various assets, including Royal Navy ships
from Devonport, which I am proud to represent, but will the
Minister set out what further forces are being prepared for
deployment to our NATO allies? Can he say whether the cost of
that deployment is coming from already strained Ministry of
Defence budgets, or whether it will be met from the Treasury
reserve, as was the case during the last Labour Government?
There is a constant regeneration of forces. As two battle groups
are committed to Estonia, more battle groups need to embark on
the training pipeline to make sure that we have contingent land
forces at readiness. Similarly, ships have been deployed to the
two NATO standing maritime groups and to Exercise Cold Response.
We continue to generate further ships to give more choice and
options thereafter, if requested by the Supreme Allied Commander
Europe. Similarly, with the Typhoons and F-35s, a large amount
has been committed as part of the initial response force, but we
are generating more to have them at our disposal, if SACEUR asks
for more.
The hon. Gentleman asks about the money right now. All of it
seems to be being met by the Treasury; long may that
continue.
(New Forest East) (Con)
Given that we should help the Ukrainian armed forces by all
legitimate means short of war, will Ministers press our NATO
allies on the fact that the rather artificial distinction between
defensive and offensive weaponry should be swept away when
requests for equipment are received, because when a country is
fighting on its own territory, having been invaded, all its
weaponry is defensive?
My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point. It suits our
purpose to refer to the equipment that we are providing in the
context of the defensive role it can play, but defence
intelligence over the weekend reflected on the fact that the
armoured column to the north-west of Kyiv has been pushed back in
recent days, because small bands of determined people are
manoeuvring with lethal weapons systems. That is forcing the
Russians to move back into a place where they feel that they can
defend themselves better. These are defensive bits of equipment.
That, I think, is the right message to send to the Kremlin. If,
in the ingenuity of the Ukrainian armed forces, they do something
more, that is good on Ukraine.
Mr Speaker
We now come to the SNP spokesperson.
(Glasgow South)
(SNP)
On behalf of the Scottish National party, may I, too, welcome the
letter from Speaker Stefanchuk to this House?
My last exchange with the Secretary of State, who cannot be with
us this afternoon, was in relation to the NATO strategic concept.
When I asked about the Government’s—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. May I just remind people that they have to stay for two
full questions after the question that they have asked? Too many
Members have asked a question and left. I remind people: please
wait for two full questions and show courtesy to the House when
you have had the benefit of a question. I am sorry to interrupt,
but I need to get that on record.
Especially when I am on my feet, Mr Speaker.
When I last spoke to the Secretary of State across the Floor of
the House, I asked about the upcoming NATO strategic concept,
which is second in importance only to the Washington treaty
itself. May I ask the Minister specifically about that? Is it
still planned to happen in June, or will the timetable for it
move because of Russia’s war on Ukraine? In terms of what we can
expect to see from it, will we have the Government’s Arctic
strategy before then? In terms of containing Russia, the
Secretary of State said at our last exchange that he planned to
have a conversation with SACEUR about that very issue. Can the
Government tell us what their priorities will be for containment
of Russia going forward?
The hon. Gentleman will have to accept my apologies, but so
important is the NATO strategic concept that I am afraid it is
something that the Secretary of State works on with the team
immediately around him. He will need to write to the hon.
Gentleman with the detail that he asks for.
I am always happy to write, but perhaps I could take the Minister
on from that to an important issue. NATO is clearly focused on
bolstering its own defences and on supporting Ukraine militarily.
Several NATO and non-NATO member states are focused on doing the
same, plus supporting Ukraine economically. But Ukraine will
require Marshall plan levels of rebuilding and international
co-operation and support across NATO countries, EU countries and
countries further afield. Will the Minister enlighten the House
as to what discussions are taking place in NATO specifically with
a focus on helping the country to rebuild? The war will come to
an end eventually and our friendship must continue the day
after.
The discussions in NATO very much focus on the Euro-Atlantic
security implications of the conflict and on what the situation
may be after it is completed. The wider geopolitical discussion
and the economic plan, among other things that the hon. Gentleman
rightly asks for, may be discussed within NATO, but I do not
think that they are the focus of NATO discussions; I think that
they are much more the focus of discussions within the G7, the EU
and other ad hoc groupings that are coming together in order to
worry about exactly what is next.
NATO Members: Co-operation
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
7. What steps he is taking to help strengthen co-operation
between NATO members. (906298)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
In recent months, the Secretary of State has met his NATO
counterparts twice in Brussels and travelled to over a dozen
European capitals. The UK is standing by its commitments to our
NATO allies, acting to provide reassurance to allies and
partners. The UK has doubled its NATO presence in Estonia, and a
deployment of Royal Marines is now in Poland on a bilateral
basis.
Will the Government co-operate with NATO allies to continue the
flow of lethal aid to the Ukrainian armed forces, including
weapons such as Starstreak to defend against aircraft
attacks?
I did not take the opportunity in my answer to a previous
question to make an important distinction, but my right hon.
Friend gives me that opportunity now. NATO is not the provider of
lethal aid into the conflict in Ukraine. NATO is looking at how
it doubles down on its eastern flank in order to contain the
violence within Ukraine and show the resolve of NATO countries to
stand up for article 5. Those who are donating lethal aid and
non-lethal aid to Ukraine are doing so bilaterally, and it is
through UK leadership that a lot of it is being co-ordinated and
delivered. The next donor conference convened by the Secretary of
State will happen later this week. We are ambitious for even more
countries to join the donor group at that stage.
Integrated Review 2021: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
(Ludlow) (Con)
8. With reference to the integrated review 2021, what assessment
he has made of the implications for his policies on force
structure in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(906299)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
The integrated review explained that Defence’s forces must
prepare for the most persistent global engagement and constant
campaigning to counter emerging threats. We are continuing to
monitor the situation in Ukraine to ensure that we remain
threat-led and, in line with the agile planning and delivery
mechanisms developed following the IR, we will continue to review
our capabilities and readiness levels accordingly.
Last week, NATO nations committed force deployments to four
member states in eastern Europe to help to demonstrate resolve to
Russia at this dangerous time. Does my hon. Friend not agree that
now is not the time to reduce the force strength of the British
Army by 9,500 regular soldiers, and that this aspect of the
conclusions of the integrated review should be at the very least
deferred and at best reversed?
My right hon. Friend is an expert in the field. I acknowledge
that this issue will be keenly debated and that he has a strong
view on it. My own view is that this is the right time to
accelerate the acquisition of the lethality that has been missing
from the field Army for too long. We are outranged on our
artillery, we lack the land precision fires that are now
essential and, if I had to choose—and I think that the Ministry
of Defence has had to choose—I would choose to have a land force
that has been modernised and made relevant to the modern battle
again, rather than necessarily standing behind larger
numbers.
Veterans Strategy Action Plan: 2022 to 2024
Dame (Gosport) (Con)
9. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
the “Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan: 2022 to 2024.”(906301)
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
I am pleased to have regular discussions with colleagues across
Government on our veterans’ strategy action plan, which contains
more than 60 policy commitments amounting to £70 million of
additional investment on priorities, including employment, data,
skills and healthcare. We continue to work closely with other
Departments, research academics and service charities at all
levels to deliver its commitments.
Dame
Just under 10% of the working-age population of Gosport are
veterans, so we take a keen interest in this excellent action
plan. However, although 96% of our veterans make a successful
transition to a civilian career within six months of leaving the
forces, it is not until page 32 that the plan talks about
promoting a positive image of them. Can we change the headline
here to “Service veterans are excellent people to employ”?
My hon. Friend has afforded me a useful opportunity to make
exactly that point, but I must first thank her for the
magnificent work that she does in support of her armed forces
community and veterans in Gosport. The reason there is such high
demand for veterans in all sectors is that they make brilliant
employees: military service does indeed give members of the armed
forces skills for life.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
I am sure that pursuing a Commonwealth veteran for 36 grand in
NHS costs is not part of the MOD’s strategy. Does the Minister
agree that it is wrong for someone who has served our country and
risked his life in Iraq and Afghanistan to be treated in this way
and, if he does, will he work with me and with others to put it
right?
I do agree that it is wrong and I look forward to updating the
hon. Gentleman personally about that case in particular.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister, .
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
The veterans strategy commits the Government to ending veteran
rough sleeping by the end of 2024. Can the Minister tell the
House how many veterans are currently sleeping rough and, if he
cannot, how does he intend to meet that target with no plan, no
resources and no data?
We do have a plan and it is reflected in the fact that the armed
forces covenant is now deliverable by all local authorities. It
has teeth as a result of the statutory guidance that we have
delivered, and for which we have legislated for the first time
ever. At local authority level, which is where these services are
delivered, we have brought real, tangible change of which we can
be very proud.
Support to Ukraine’s Military
(Bolsover) (Con)
10. What support his Department is providing to Ukraine’s
military. (906302)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
Britain was the first European country to supply lethal aid to
Ukraine. The UK has so far delivered more than 4,000
next-generation light anti-tank weapons, as well as Javelin
anti-tank systems, and is committed to providing Starstreak
missiles. We will continue to deliver more. We have also
delivered non-lethal aid in the form of body armour, helmets,
boots, ration packs, rangefinders and communications
equipment.
I welcome the recent announcement that 6,000 additional missiles
will go to Ukraine. Indeed, I think we have led the way in terms
of providing support for that country. As the conflict evolves,
however, many scenarios may play out. What steps is the
Department taking to plan for future support that the Ukrainians
may need?
The Secretary of State and I both speak to our counterparts in
the Ukrainian MOD numerous times each week. It is apparent, as I
am sure it would be if we were in these circumstances, that the
thing that starts every conversation is resourcing the fight
tomorrow. The great advantage of the partnership and trust
between the UK and Ukrainian MODs is that we are able to do some
of the thinking about what they might need next week, the week
after and in three months’ time, and we are working hard to
ensure that we are cueing up industry to deliver those
capabilities as quickly as we can.
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
How much of the MOD’s spending on that kind of relief in Ukraine
will be counted as official development assistance?
I will need to write to the hon. Gentleman about that, but I am
not sure that it would be very much at all.
Defence Estate Optimisation Programme
(Winchester) (Con)
11. What recent progress he has made on the Defence estate
optimisation programme. (906303)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The MOD continues to deliver on its 25-year strategy to modernise
its estate. In the last year, the Defence estate optimisation
portfolio has completed construction at three Defence sites, with
another six in construction, and completed the sale of seven
surplus MOD sites, generating £141 million in receipts to
re-invest in modem and sustainable facilities for our armed
forces.
The Minister knows that the Sir John Moore barracks in my
constituency is marked for disposal under the programme. He also
knows that what will be put in its place is causing anxiety. As
we reduce the size of the Army in pursuit of the Future Soldier
proposals in the integrated review, it is obvious that some
consolidation will be needed around the training estate, but does
the Minister share my concern about losing what is a good
facility in good order at the Army Training Regiment in
Winchester, given that the conflict at present—and, I suspect,
for some time to come—looks very 20th century, not necessarily in
terms of offensive ground operations, but in terms of all the
other things, including boots on the ground, that we require of
our armed forces?
I know from the meetings we have had that my hon. Friend is very
engaged with this MOD site, which is due to close in 2026. The
rationale for the closure is to concentrate all phase 1
non-infantry training at Pirbright to provide a bespoke training
environment embracing digitalisation. The numbers trained could
be flexed, but I will continue to engage with him on what he has
impressed on me is an important issue for his constituents.
Ukraine: Protection of Territorial Integrity
(Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch
and Strathspey) (SNP)
14. What steps his Department is taking to help protect the
territorial integrity of Ukraine. (906306)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
Defence continues to play a central role in helping Ukraine to
defend its territorial integrity, working with allies and
partners to uphold international law. We are also providing
lethal and non-lethal military aid to meet the Ukrainian armed
forces’ requests for assistance and co-ordinating the provision
of additional military support from our allies and partners to
enable Ukraine to repel Russian aggression.
The UK Government’s preparation for this war evidently
anticipated a quick lightning strike on Kyiv by Putin’s forces,
followed by attempted regime change, rather than military
resource allocation for a protracted ground war crisis. Why was
this the case? What lessons, if any, have been learned?
I think there are two points to make to that. First, the UK
Government were able to anticipate what has happened because our
intelligence services did an extraordinary job in understanding
what the threat was, and our alliances with other intelligence
services around the world worked brilliantly. That is a useful
correction to 20 years of doubting intelligence when making
decisions in this place, because our intelligence services remain
among the best in the world. To the hon. Gentleman’s question
about whether the right or wrong kit was given, I think that,
absent any decision a decade ago to begin Ukraine’s transition to
NATO-calibre weapons systems, which would have been an overt step
on the way to Ukrainian NATO membership—we can discuss whether or
not that is a good thing—the right thing to do in those
circumstances was to grab stuff that was on the shelf and
available to be brought to bear immediately in the defence of
Ukraine. That is exactly what we did.
Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Aggression
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
15. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness
of Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression. (906307)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
Ukrainian armed forces have robustly resisted all Russian axes of
invasion, conducting effective ambush and artillery strikes on
Russian military convoys and maintaining air defences that are
limiting Russian air superiority. Ukrainian resistance is
significantly restricting Russia’s ability to deploy combat power
against Kyiv. It is unlikely that Russia has achieved its planned
objectives at this stage of the invasion.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. My constituents have told
me that they want to see the Government continue to support the
Ukrainian resistance in three ways: humanitarian assistance in
the region; welcoming refugees here; and military aid. We have
seen the news that the Ukrainian army is retaking parts of its
area from the Russians, so as the Ukrainian need evolves, will he
ensure that our support evolves to meet that changing need?
I certainly can assure my hon. Friend that that is the case. As I
said in response to an earlier question, we are looking a week,
two weeks, two months and three months ahead in order to give the
Ukrainians strategic depth and in order to bring to bear our
technological and industrial advantages and to provide them with
the kit we think they will need, not just in the next few days
but in three months’ time, so that they can continue to ensure
that President Putin fails in his endeavours in Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine’s Military: British Equipment
(North Devon) (Con)
17. Whether his Department is taking steps to procure British
equipment to support Ukraine’s military. (906309)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
I emphasise that decisions on equipment are in response to
requests from Ukraine, and we consider how best to address
Ukraine’s needs. The anti-tank weapons provided to the Ukrainian
armed forces thus far have been taken from existing UK stocks, to
ensure speed of delivery. The MOD continues to pursue options to
meet Ukrainian requirements rapidly, including through UK
industry and by actively convening our global partners.
I have been contacted by manufacturers of military hardware in
North Devon that work with the MOD and can rapidly move to
provide items such as helmets and body armour. Are there any
plans for a streamlined emergency procurement process to help
speed this up?
I emphasise that these are Ukrainian decisions. I urge UK
companies to contact the Ukrainian embassy, as well as using
other routes. In parallel, the Department for International Trade
is meeting defence-ready trade associations such as ADS and Make
UK on a weekly basis to rapidly consider industry offers to
Ukraine and how they can be assisted. UK manufacturers of
military hardware may also wish to forward offers to their trade
association.
Topical Questions
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(906316)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
You are aware of this, Mr Speaker, but a number of hon. Members
have inquired and the Defence Secretary would not want it to be
thought that he means any discourtesy to the House: he has had a
brief brush with covid, and I can assure the House on behalf of
the Department, the armed forces and the Ministers here present
that it has neither stopped him nor slowed him down. He has had a
second negative test today, and I am assured that by this evening
he will be as present physically as he has been virtually over
the last few days.
The Ministry of Defence continues to deliver against the
objectives of the integrated review and the defence Command
Paper, which recognise that Russia remains the most acute threat
to our security. We remain on course to deliver a more modernised
and threat-focused defence alongside our international allies,
just as we have worked with them on Ukraine.
Recent weeks have only reinforced the need to invest in our
defence, which is important for our economy and vital for our
security. With that in mind, why will Ministers not give a clear
commitment to British-built by default in defence
procurement?
The events of the last few weeks show the critical importance of
having the right kit in the hands of our armed forces. On many
occasions the need can be met by British supply, but I would not
write off the kit we can procure from our US and NATO allies, nor
would I wish them to write off the prospect of buying kit from
us. We are part of an alliance, and I am convinced that our
approach of supporting British industry, supporting British
investment and supporting capability through the defence and
security industrial strategy, while keeping a weather eye on what
else is available to ensure our armed forces are well armed, is
the right one.
(Kettering) (Con)
T2. The Secretary of State’s decision to send lethal defensive
military aid to Ukraine before Russia’s invasion was inspired,
and it is probably one of the best decisions he has ever taken.
What is the initial assessment of the Minister for the Armed
Forces of the operational effectiveness in theatre of the next
generation light anti-tank weapons we have sent to
Ukraine?(906317)
The Minister for the Armed Forces ()
One pauses because these weapon systems, every time they are
effective, kill the entire crew of an armoured vehicle. My hon.
Friend will take no pleasure from it, but he will be interested
to note that these weapon systems have been prolific in their
success. The Ukrainian armed forces value them enormously. They
are accurate, reliable and deadly.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State, .
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
The UK’s anti-tank and anti-air weapons are proving vital to the
Ukrainians in fighting the Russian invasion. The Prime Minister
pledged at NATO last week that we will supply a further 6,000
missiles. Both NLAW and Starstreak are made in Britain by British
workers, as the Minister for Defence Procurement said in response
to the hon. Member for North Devon () on Question 17, but has
production started to replace the British stockpiles of these
missiles?
We are working closely with industry. Some lines have continued,
but I would rather not get into operational details of as and
when stockpiles will be replenished. Suffice it to say that we
are in active conversations with industry, as the right hon.
Gentleman would expect.
(Romford) (Con)
T3. It is 40 years this coming week since the invasion of the
Falkland Islands and the violation of British sovereignty by
Argentina. It is five weeks since the violation of Ukrainian
sovereignty by Russia. As China eyes up Taiwan, does the Minister
agree that it is time that the Government started to plan for an
increase in defence spending, maybe to 3% of GDP?(906318)
I hear what my hon. Friend says and I note his concern. As the
integrated review made clear, we always look at spending on a
threat basis: what is required, we fund. I also remind him that
we are the biggest defence spender in Europe and the second
biggest in NATO, and we were pleased to receive a £24 billion
uplift in the current spending period.
(North East Fife)
(LD)
T9. As a member of the Scottish Affairs Committee, I had the
pleasure of visiting Lossiemouth earlier this year. Leuchars
airfield in my constituency is still maintained as a back-up site
for operations. Given the current situation, can the Minister
advise on sonar and radar upgrades? It is important that back-up
facilities are also fit for purpose.(906324)
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I think I wrote to her
last in November of last year on that issue. I am afraid we have
not moved on yet and we are still studying exactly what radar
configurations will be required, but it is actively being looked
at and I certainly commit to updating her when I can give her an
assurance one way or the other.
(New Forest East) (Con)
T4. Fleeing for their lives when Kabul fell, some Afghans with UK
connections entered Pakistan without documentation. Will
Ministers urgently devise a practical plan safely to bring to the
UK those Afghans who have entry visas to come to this country,
but who are still being hunted by the Pakistani police, whose
Government apparently want to hand them back to the
Taliban?(906319)
My right hon. Friend knows that I have been engaged in this
matter for him for some time. I am told from my phone that the
high commissioner has now reached out to explain the situation.
For the benefit of the wider House, the challenge is that for
those who arrive in Pakistan with eligibility to come to the UK
under whichever Government scheme they are intending to use, but
have not entered Pakistan legally, the Pakistan Government are
taking a view on limiting our ability to process those people. We
are working hard to persuade the Pakistan Government to take a
different approach.
(Coventry South) (Lab)
Joram is a veteran and constituent who came to Britain in 2001
and served in the armed forces, with tours in Afghanistan and
Iraq. That left scars: he suffered from post-traumatic stress
disorder and took to drinking, and as a result served time in
prison. He turned his life around and is now a painter and
decorator and a father of two, but the Home Office is seeking to
deport him to Zimbabwe, where he has no connections and where,
when he was last there 15 years ago, he was tortured for having
served in our armed forces. That risks happening again. Will the
Minister intervene to stop Joram, a veteran, being deported?
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ()
I would be very pleased to review the details of the case and
correspond directly with the hon. Lady.
(Dewsbury) (Con)
T5. It is vital that we protect our veterans from vexatious legal
claims, something that we have already put in place for those who
have served overseas. Will the Minister agree to work with the
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Government to
ensure that legislation is also urgently brought forward to help
to protect our Northern Ireland veterans?(906320)
We are grateful to all veterans of Operation Banner and seek to
give them closure with honour and finality. I am pleased that the
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will in due course bring
forward the requisite Bill.
(Caithness, Sutherland and
Easter Ross) (LD)
The most effective deployment of our submarine forces in response
to Russian deployment is surely intelligence-dependent.
Membership of the joint expeditionary force is not synonymous
with that of NATO. I press the Minister: are we making every
effort to glean intelligence on Russian naval deployment from
those other countries?
Our intelligence on Russian submarine movements is, as the hon.
Gentleman can imagine, some of the most sensitive, but he will be
reassured to know that we are absolutely working with allies to
ensure that our understanding of where Russian submarines are is
the best it can possibly be, and that we are postured to ensure
that we meet whatever threat there may be as a consequence.
(Milton Keynes North)
(Con)
T6. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that Poland’s recent
decision to award Babcock the contract for the Arrowhead frigates
for the Polish navy is a brilliant example of British
shipbuilding capabilities being used to support our NATO
allies.(906321)
I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in welcoming that
downselection. There is still a process to go, but if it has
finally got over the line, as I hope, that will be great news for
Babcock, great news for Scotland and great news for British
shipbuilding. I have on multiple occasions been to see my
opposite number in Poland and hosted them here in the UK. I think
they are making a great choice.
(Lewisham West and Penge)
(Lab)
In June last year, one of my constituents, a British-Afghan dual
national, travelled to Afghanistan to visit his wife and three
children aged under 10. During the evacuation, they were advised
to proceed to Baron Hotel but were not processed before the
suicide attack. Since then they have been trying to get to the
UK, but the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says
they need a visa and the Home Office says they are ineligible for
the resettlement scheme. What urgent action can the Minister
take, with colleagues in the Home Office, to ensure that my
constituent can return safely to the UK with his young
family?
The hon. Lady’s question implies, I think, that her constituent
was not eligible to come under the Ministry of
Defence-administered Afghan relocations and assistance policy. I
know that will be of no consolation to him or his family in
Afghanistan. We are working hard with other Government
Departments to make sure that those who were called forward under
the leave outside the rules scheme that was in operation during
Operation Pitting are still looked after. However, I will need to
have this discussion with other Ministers, and I will ask one of
them to write to her with an update on the case.
(Kensington) (Con)
T7. I understand that Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles are being
made available to Ukraine. Could this kit be used to protect
humanitarian corridors and nuclear power plants?(906322)
It certainly could be—it is a highly effective weapons system—but
we are not seeking to be in any way prescriptive with the
Ukrainians about how it is employed, as they will understand
their plan better than we do. We give them these weapons systems
confident that they will bring them to good use, and thus far
that has proved correct.
(City of Chester)
(Lab)
Does the Minister share my concern that the agility and mobility
hoped for in the Future Soldier programme will be thwarted if
those soldiers are stuck in traffic on the M6 near Weeton
barracks? Would it not be much better to keep Dale barracks in
Chester open and have a wider operational footprint for our
future soldiers?
That is an ingenious construction. We always think about this,
but I am afraid we do not have any plans to change that element
of the defence estate optimisation portfolio at this point.
Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)
T8. Ukraine is becoming one of the most contaminated countries
in the world, with explosive weapons, land-mines, cluster
munitions and unexploded ordnance posing a threat to military and
civilians alike. Will the Minister meet me and leaders of EOD UK,
a mine action community, to discuss how we can plan for the
enormous decontamination task ahead of us?(906323)
I certainly will. I have had the opportunity—I am not sure if it
is the misfortune or good fortune—to visit a number of countries
that have been heavily mined in the past. We see the tragic human
cost that comes in countries that have been heavily mined, but
also the hope that comes with a meaningful demining programme. I
would be delighted to meet the organisation my hon. Friend
suggests.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
The national security vetting services have never played such an
important role, and the skill there is incredibly high. When will
the Minister announce that they will remain in York when the MOD
moves forward with its plans for the Imphal barracks site?
I cannot give any form of commitment on that right now, but I
will write to the hon. Lady.
(Vale of Clwyd) (Con)
T10. Over the weekend I was pleased to see two Royal Navy vessels
join five other joint expeditionary force nations in escorting
British and Danish supply ships. They successfully delivered
military vehicles and equipment to the UK-led NATO battle group
in Estonia. Does my hon. Friend agree that as well as playing a
vital role in NATO, it is important for the UK to continue to
lead the joint expeditionary force?(906325)
I certainly do. NATO has been the absolute cornerstone of
Euro-Atlantic security since the end of the second world war, and
long may it continue to be so. Neither the JEF, the EU nor
anything else should be seen as an alternative. However, there is
a market for complementary organisations such as the JEF, which
do not require consensus. The JEF is absolutely showing its value
in the way that it is being used at the moment.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
The veterans strategy action plan includes a commitment to
address the historical hurt or disadvantage that sections of the
veteran community have experienced. Will that include
compensation for LGBT veterans?
I look forward to announcing further progress on the review in
due course. I do not want to pre-empt the terms and conditions of
the chair, but I think that they will be reassuringly broad.
(North Wiltshire) (Con)
While it is perfectly true that any sensible person in the west
would rather President Putin were not the President of the
Russian republic, does the Minister agree that it is vital that
we reiterate at every second that we can that NATO is a defensive
alliance among 30 members and that we will react if one boot goes
over the line on to NATO land, but the presidency of Russia must
be a matter for the Russian people, not for us?
My hon. Friend is correct. NATO is a defensive alliance, and we
are working closely together. As my hon. Friend the Minister for
the Armed Forces said, we are undertaking measures to ensure that
NATO retains that deterrence and defensive posture that is
appropriate in these times. However, we are focused bilaterally
on Ukraine and on supporting Ukraine—that is the focus of our
policy.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
At the last Defence questions, I got what I hoped was an
encouraging answer on behalf of the nuclear test veterans for
what will be the 70th anniversary of the first nuclear tests.
Will the Minister update us on where we are in recognising those
veterans and their families for their sacrifice?
This continues to be under review. I look forward to updating the
hon. Member in due course.
(Lichfield) (Con)
Ministers have said that we have supplied 4,000 NLAWs and other
equipment and deployments, and that we are supplying 6,000 more.
Meanwhile, Germany says that it will supply 1,000 and France has
not stated what it will supply—as far as I know, nothing has been
supplied—so what advice do we give to our colleagues in Europe
about how to get their equipment into Ukraine?
It is not just advice; we offer a service whereby we will go to
countries around Europe and pick up stuff and ensure that it gets
to Ukraine. At the international donor co-ordination centre in
Stuttgart, which I had the pleasure of visiting last week, the
UK’s 104 Brigade headquarters is the global lead on co-ordinating
how all that lethal and non-lethal aid arrives in countries that
neighbour Ukraine and how it is moved on thereafter.
(North West Durham)
(Con)
With the next generation Challenger 3 turrets being built in the
north-east, supporting hundreds of jobs, the Defence Science and
Technology Laboratory working with Newcastle and other local
universities and Cook Defence Systems in my constituency
providing armoured vehicle tracks for not just British tanks but
those of NATO and European allies, will my hon. Friend ensure
that the north-east’s firms and workers remain at the heart of
British defence procurement?
They are. Last Thursday, I had a great day opening the AI hub for
DSTL in Newcastle and pressing the button to start production of
the turrets for our Challenger 3 tanks, to which my hon. Friend
referred. There is a great history of defence manufacturing in
the north-east, and it will have an even greater future.
