(Wentworth and Dearne) (Lab):
As we mark the start of Armed Forces Week, the Labour leader and
I had the privilege of visiting NATO’s maritime command and our
UK Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood this morning. We
wanted to thank our personnel for the service they give to our
national and NATO commitments. However, there are serious growing
concerns about the UK meeting its NATO commitments, with the
failure to reboot defence plans in response to Ukraine, delays to
a fully modern warfighting division until 2030, continued
uncertainty over AJAX and,
of course, further deep cuts to Army numbers...
(Angus) (SNP): Given the
evolution of the war in Ukraine, what lessons has the Ministry of
Defence learned about the enduring need for infantry to take,
hold and/or defend territory? Will those lessons be input to a
refresh of MOD thinking and operational strategy that drove the
much-derided 10,000 cut in Army numbers in the integrated review?
Those infantry will require to be supported by heavy armour and
armoured fighting vehicles, but, given that the UK’s decade-old
solution to the latter—Ajax—is an unfathomably
challenged £5.5 billion project that is surely now on the brink
of being cancelled, how has the war in Ukraine focused the
Department’s attention in that regard?
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans ():...The hon. Gentleman
mentioned AJAX
The House will be interested to know that we are looking at it
with urgent focus, and I am sure that the Minister for Defence
Procurement will update the House in due course.
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