(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op): This risks our frontline forces going
without the kit and equipment they need to fight, and risks our
ability to field full-strength units. There are real questions to
be asked about this at the heart of the Government’s incredibly
poorly handled AJAX programme.
We ask these questions because we want the armed forces to have
the best equipment, and for it to be delivered on time with the
capabilities that they ordered. However, increasingly with some
of those large programmes, the equipment is delivered late and in
a poor condition, which, as we have seen with AJAX
could potentially be dangerous to our soldiers through hearing
loss, vibration problems and other issues. The UK’s defence
industry is incredibly important, and standing next to my hon.
Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney today, who
represents a constituency where defence manufacturing is very
important, it is worth saying that we want to see this got right,
because there are jobs, as well as national security, on the
line...
Sir (Scarborough and Whitby)
(Con): We have sidestepped the issue of AJAX
which was raised by the Opposition. Have other countries that use
the same platform—it was built in Spain before it was assembled
in Merthyr Tydfil—had the same problems, and what have their
solutions been?
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (): I was going to come
to AJAX
but I will cover the points off in sequence. The hon. Member for
Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport made a good point about energy
bills. We are striving to be lethal yet green. I know that the
permanent secretary is leading a huge amount of work on ways that
we can better utilise our estates to capture solar energy and so
on. We take that seriously because our energy bill is very
significant.
Ajax is, again, an MDP lead, but I will say
simply that further updates will come, as we have said all along.
However, we will not accept a vehicle that is not fit for
purpose. The resolve and integrity of the Defence Secretary and
the MDP on that is unquestionable...
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
