Defence Procurement System Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull
North) (Lab) 1. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of
the defence procurement system.(902068) The Secretary of State for
Defence (Mr Ben Wallace) Defence procurement is some of the most
complex in Government, but our defence and security industrial
strategy, published last year, represents a step change that will
see industry, Government and academia working ever closer
together,...Request free trial
Defence Procurement System
(Kingston upon Hull North)
(Lab)
1. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the
defence procurement system.(902068)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
Defence procurement is some of the most complex in Government,
but our defence and security industrial strategy, published last
year, represents a step change that will see industry, Government
and academia working ever closer together, while fundamentally
reforming regulations to improve the speed of acquisition and
ensure we incentivise innovation and productivity.
It has been reported that the Ministry of Defence has wasted £15
billion of taxpayers’ money on mismanaged procurement since 2010,
with £5 billion of it since 2019. Might the Secretary of State
just set out in a little bit more detail how he is going to deal
with that type of waste and stop it happening in the future?
Mr Wallace
I am afraid that the right hon. Lady has obviously lapped up the
Labour Front Benchers’ dodgy dossier on defence procurement. Of
course, over half of the figure she used was under the previous
Labour Government. Labour double-counted, including in that
dossier, and indeed made no reference to the fact that the top 15
projects under Labour, in its last period of power, produced a
£4.5 billion overspend and a 339-month out-of-date period for
projects.
As I said, these are very complex processes. We often make sure
that we try to meet the demand and the threat, but some of these
projects last 20 years. We have made significant steps to change
and reform that, and the right hon. Lady will be glad to know
that this year—or last year and the year before—the MOD came in
on budget for its overall budget, with a balanced budget for the
first time for decades.
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
The Type 26 frigate is literally a world-beating design, which we
have exported to both Canada and Australia, and we all want to
see it in service as soon as possible. So it is doubly
disappointing that, last week, the Department issued a written
ministerial statement to say her entry into service is now
delayed a further year from October 2027 to October 2028 and the
lifetime cost to the programme will be over a quarter of a
billion pounds more of taxpayers’ money. Given the defence budget
is likely to come under great pressure, why does it take BAE
Systems 11 years to build a ship the Japs can build in four?
Mr Speaker
Just before the Secretary of State answers, may I say that we
even have the Speaker of Canada here, which is very
appropriate.
Mr Wallace
First, just like in Canada, industrial complexes are facing
post-covid skills challenges and indeed supply chain
challenges—because our ships, just like everybody else’s ships,
use international supply chains—and that has got involved in the
timetable, which obviously has a knock-on effect on cost.
However, where there have been supply chain problems, my team and
I have personally made sure I have not only visited the
manufacturer to grip the situation, but discussed it with the
prime. It is incredibly important when we place these contracts,
and the contracts are for billions of pounds, that the prime
contractors, be they British or foreign, deliver in accordance
with them. That is why, in future contracts, I have made sure not
only that we do as much as we can to build in Britain, but that
we get the primes to invest in the infrastructure of British
yards and the skills base of British people to ensure this does
not happen again.
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
General Dynamics reports strong progress on the troubled Ajax
programme, so can the Secretary of State confirm that a solution
to the noise and vibration issues has now been found?
Mr Wallace
First, we expect General Dynamics to stick within the terms of
its contract, and we will stick to our side of the contract. The
user validation trials, which are the first steps in getting this
Ajax programme back on track, have now been completed. We are
looking at the results and hope to start the next phase soon,
which is good news all round.
(Filton and Bradley Stoke)
(Con)
What plans does my right hon. Friend have to further invest in
and enhance our sovereign defence manufacturing capability, which
not only provides us with a massive strategic benefit but is
great for jobs and apprenticeships?
Mr Wallace
When we published the defence Command Paper, we committed to
invest £23 billion in our land capabilities over the next 10
years—a significant investment in land. That was accompanied by a
land industrial strategy. It has also been accompanied by a
defence and security industrial strategy that puts a lot of
weight on ensuring that we support a sovereign supply chain where
possible, and that we invest in skills. A number of working
groups in Government are designed to do just that, and to both
improve the skills base, but also to ensure that, where possible,
we get the best social value and indeed a British supply
chain.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
It was an honour to join you, Mr Speaker, the Canadian Speaker,
the Defence Secretary and other Members of the House earlier
today for the opening of the constituency garden of remembrance.
At last week’s Defence Committee, the Secretary of State was
asked when the MOD would sign a contract to make the new
next-generation light anti-tank weapons that are needed both for
Ukraine and to restock the British Army. He said:
“We have signed the first contract for next year.”
If the Defence Secretary was correct, Saab would have notified
the market, but it has not. Would the Defence Secretary like to
correct the record, and will he confirm when the MOD will get its
act together and get that contract in place for new UK
production, as this is day 257 of Putin’s war on Ukraine?
Mr Wallace
I am sorry to disappoint the right hon. Gentleman, but I did not
say in my evidence that it was with Thales that I placed a
contract for NLAW replacement, and many other people can give us
access to NLAWs.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson, .
(Angus) (SNP)
Will the Secretary of State confirm the amount that the United
Kingdom has spent on the defence nuclear enterprise in the past
financial year 2021-22, and the equal but opposite cost of that
nuclear expenditure to operational capacity, conventional
equipment procurement, investment in service accommodation, and
all other underfunded UK defence priorities?
Mr Wallace
We need to try to ensure that we find the funding to fund all
those capabilities, and we must ensure at the time of placing a
contract that we have certainty in the costs overall, to make
sure there are no overruns.
The Secretary of State never answered my question, because he was
not listening to the question. The answer is £6.6 billion, and
that is to fund what we hear is the UK’s independent nuclear
deterrent. I have a fairly well honed view of what independence
looks like, and it does not look like the Secretary of State
going cap in hand to the United States to ask it to bring forward
its development of the W93 nuclear warhead. Will he explain what
is independent about the UK’s nuclear dependency on the United
States, except the cost in dollars for those weapons?
Mr Wallace
Where do I start? What is independent? I will tell the hon.
Gentleman what is not independent, which is the SNP Government in
Scotland placing a contract for ferries in Turkey. Supporting
Scottish yards? That is not very independent.
The hon. Gentleman will know, as he seems to have a real interest
in the technology and development of the nuclear warhead, that
under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty we cannot ask the
Americans to develop a nuclear weapon for us. That has to be done
sovereignly, and if he read that treaty he would understand
that.
Nuclear Testing Veterans: Service Medals
(Salford and Eccles)
(Lab)
2. If he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure
that British nuclear testing veterans are awarded service medals.
(902069)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence ( )
I pay tribute to our nuclear test veterans in this 70th
anniversary year of our first nuclear test, and we look forward
to the commemorative event at the National Memorial Arboretum
later this month. The award of a medal to nuclear test veterans
is first a matter for the Committee on the Grant of Honours,
Decorations and Medals. The case is being considered through the
well-established process for reviewing historical medal cases,
and the outcome will be announced in due course.
A Cabinet Office source reportedly told the Daily Mirror that the
Advisory Military Sub-Committee has recommended to the main
Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals that
there be no medal for nuclear testing veterans, despite a
Government scientist reporting in February that atomic troops
were more likely to die, and to die from cancer, than other
servicemen. Given that the Sir John Holmes military medal review
in 2012 states clearly that the Prime Minister can personally
make a direct recommendation to the sovereign on a medal issue,
will he now recommend that those servicemen finally receive the
medal they deserve?
Dr Murrison
I am grateful to the hon. Lady, but she really ought not believe
everything she sees in the pages of the Daily Mirror. The
procedure is for the Advisory Military Sub-Committee to make a
recommendation to the HD Committee, which will make a
determination on that matter. She will know well that in June
this year the then Prime Minister decided to review the case, and
asked the HD Committee to look at it again. She will also be
aware of all the money that the Government are putting into
nuclear test veterans, in particular the £450,000 project to
commemorate and build public understanding of the contribution to
our country made by those important veterans.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister, .
(Luton South) (Lab)
As we approach Armistice Day, I pay tribute to our armed forces
personnel, veterans, forces families and all those lost through
conflict over the years. Theirs is the ultimate public
service.
As the Minister said, this month marks 70 years since the first
British atomic tests in the Pacific. We are the only atomic
nation that has not provided recognition of or compensation to
nuclear test veterans. As well as the warm words, will the
Minister commit to ending that scandal by setting out a clear
timetable for nuclear test veterans to receive medallic
recognition? Will he back Labour’s call for a complete review of
the medals system to make it easier to recognise exemplary
service personnel and veterans of unusual operations, such as
those who took part in the Afghanistan withdrawal and nuclear
test vets?
Dr Murrison
The hon. Lady has fallen into the same trap as the hon. Member
for Salford and Eccles (). She really must not
take what she reads in the press at face value. I gave the
timetable in my opening remarks, and I said that it is for the HD
committee to make a determination, which it will. She must not
confuse commemorative coins and medallions with medals. Medals
are worn on uniform; medallions and commemorative coins of the
sort that other countries have issued cannot be worn.
Veterans: Cost of Living Crisis
(Blaydon) (Lab)
3. What assessment he has made of the impact of the cost of
living crisis on veterans. (902070)
(Ogmore) (Lab)
8. What assessment he has made of the impact of the cost of
living crisis on veterans. (902075)
(Wakefield)
(Lab/Co-op)
16. What assessment he has made of the impact of the cost of
living crisis on veterans. (902083)
(Lewisham, Deptford)
(Lab)
19. What assessment he has made of the impact of the cost of
living crisis on veterans. (902086)
(Sunderland Central)
(Lab)
25. What assessment he has made of the impact of the cost of
living crisis on veterans. (902092)
Dr Murrison
With permission, Mr Speaker, I should like to answer these
remarkably similar questions together.
The Government are committed to supporting all households with
the current cost of living through initiatives such as the energy
price guarantee, cost of living payments—
Mr Speaker
Order. May I help the Minister? These questions are grouped by
the Government, not by anybody else.
Dr Murrison
I absolutely accept that, Mr Speaker—I was simply pointing out
that they are very similar.
Mr Speaker
Yes, but you are pointing it out to yourself.
Dr Murrison
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
We are working at pace across Government and the service charity
sector to understand how the veterans community may be impacted,
including in the forthcoming national veterans survey and in the
recent Cobseo-led survey relating specifically to the cost of
living.
With up to 80,000 veterans currently in receipt of universal
credit—a benefit that was, like others, uprated by only 3.1% in
April, which was far below the rate of inflation—what are
Ministers doing to step up to support our veterans and their
families?
Dr Murrison
I am grateful to the hon. Lady. It is important to understand the
extent of this, which is why the Government have backed Cobseo to
do a deep dive in October on how the cost of living is impacting
on our veterans. In advance of the outcome—the Secretary of State
and I will have meetings to discuss that shortly—I point out that
we have accepted the armed forces pay review body’s
recommendations in full, we have frozen the daily food charge to
our personnel, we are limiting the increase in accommodation
charges, we have increased the availability of wraparound
childcare, which is vital for families, and we intend to have a
cost of living roundtable before the end of the year.
The Royal British Legion has identified a 20% increase in
requests for support from veterans in urgent need—that is a
deeply concerning figure. The RBL has also put forward
information stating that veterans who receive sickness and
disability benefits now face extra costs of £500 per month as a
consequence of the cost of living crisis. What are Ministers
doing to support veterans in this country, who are, frankly,
being let down by this Conservative Government?
Dr Murrison
I do not accept that. I have just explained what we are doing to
address that. We are trying to understand how the cost of living
crisis is impacting on our service and veteran community, and we
have already put in place a large number of interventions that
will go some way to addressing it. I expect to meet my right hon.
Friend the Secretary of State shortly, with representatives of
the service community, to discuss the matter further.
During the cost of living crisis, veterans need to access support
such as the war pension scheme and the armed forces compensation
scheme, but the latest veterans satisfaction survey shows huge
dissatisfaction with Veterans UK, and I have been contacted by a
number of constituents who are struggling to make claims. What
will the Minister do to address those concerns?
Dr Murrison
There have been issues with some applications for both schemes,
but I think the position has improved since last year.
Nevertheless, the Government have injected further funds to
ensure that matters are expedited. I urge veterans who are
concerned to contact the welfare office provided through the
veterans agency, to help them to fill out the claims, which can
sometimes be complicated. The hon. Gentleman will be very pleased
to hear that the Secretary of State is expediting the
quinquennial review on the armed forces pension scheme, which
will hopefully give him some reassurance on the seriousness with
which we are taking that issue.
It perhaps might help the Minister if I give him a real-life
example. My constituent, Leslie Constable, is an Army veteran who
receives a state pension, war pension, Army pension and
attendance allowance. He tells me he is finding it increasingly
difficult to heat his home and feed himself when prices are
rising so quickly. He relies on charity shops and a coat given to
him nearly 40 years ago. What is the Minister doing to ensure
that veterans such as Mr Constable are receiving the support they
need for a dignified retirement, and will he finally commit to
keeping the triple lock?
Dr Murrison
The hon. Lady will know that that is not in my gift, but I point
her to the veterans’ strategy action plan published in January
2020, which contained over 60 policy commitments at a price of
more than £70 million. I just think it is not right for her to
suggest that the Government are not exercised by the situation
faced not just by veterans, but by people across the country at
this extremely difficult time in the economic cycle. We will
continue to do what we can to alleviate the pressure on veterans
in particular. It is just a pity that in office the Labour party
did not come anywhere close to designing an action plan of the
sort we published in January.
Veterans in Crisis Sunderland is a brilliant organisation that
supports veterans in Sunderland, the city I represent and one
that sends a huge number of people into the armed forces. The
cost of living crisis is having a huge detrimental effect on the
mental health of veterans, and many are using food banks. One big
issue is people receiving forces pensions who then have to pay
that money to universal credit. Will the Minister look at whether
leeway can be given for people who have gained their pensions
fighting for our country and who are having to pay it back
because of the universal credit rules?
Dr Murrison
Universal credit is paid right the way up the income scale
depending, as the hon. Lady will well know, on circumstances,
number of children and the cost of accommodation. She mentions
mental health, which is important to me, too. She will therefore
presumably approve of the extra money going into the Armed Forces
Covenant Trust to support people with mental health issues. She
will also, I hope, approve of the £17.8 million going into Op
Courage.
(North Wiltshire) (Con)
I welcome my right hon. and gallant Friend to his well-deserved
place on the Front Bench. I look forward to working with him over
the years.
My right hon. and gallant Friend will know that in Wiltshire
alone we have 7,000 service children in our schools and that some
96% of all schools in Wiltshire have service kids in them, many
of whom benefit from the services pupil premium. That is great,
but it ends at age 16. Surely there is an argument in favour of
continuing to help those children from 16 to 18, as we have
changed the education system as a whole and education at 18 has
become the norm.
Dr Murrison
I am very grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend and near
neighbour. He invites me to ensure that Wiltshire gets more cash,
in particular the excellent Wiltshire College. That is very
tempting indeed. I hear what he says, and nobody is keener than I
am on improving skills, particularly post 16. I am more than
happy to discuss the issue with him, but I suspect that what he
suggests would have a significant price tag and our colleagues in
the Treasury would rather I did not commit.
Defence Technology Development
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
4. What steps his Department is taking to develop innovative
defence technology. (902071)
(Bracknell) (Con)
23. What steps his Department is taking to develop innovative
defence technology. (902090)
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence ()
Successful innovation delivers military effectiveness and
advantage, which is why the Ministry of Defence works closely
with UK industry and academia, including small and medium-sized
enterprises, to identify and invest in innovative technologies
that address our most pressing capability challenges, as well as
publishing our future priorities to incentivise investment. We
are already testing and deploying those technologies, building on
the work I saw last week at MOD Abbey Wood.
It is very good to see my hon. and learned Friend in his place. I
welcome the world-leading investments the Government have made in
new technology to combat the threats in the space and cyber
realms, but can he assure me that the necessary investment in
those new areas acts to complement, not replace, our conventional
forces, and that they are also seeing record investment,
modernisation and improvement?
Our forces must be able to adapt to meet the threats set out in
the integrated review. As my hon. Friend rightly said, that
includes those relating to the space and cyber domains. The £6.6
billion being invested in research and development over the four
years of this spending review period provides the opportunity to
modernise and adapt to meet these new threats, while
complementing and in some cases even enhancing the lethality of
our conventional forces.
Does the Minister share my concern that any reduction in defence
spending will harm our nascent defence manufacturing industry?
What steps can be taken to safeguard our future innovation,
development and exports?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who speaks with such authority
on these matters. The UK is the largest defence spender in NATO
in Europe. That commitment provides the capacity to invest in
decisive battle-winning technology now and in the future. The
defence and security industrial strategy sets the framework for a
strategic relationship with industry, including the need to
regard our defence and security industries as strategic
capabilities in their own right. We are already seeing a shift
towards increasing weight being given to industrial implications
ahead of investment decisions.
(Halton) (Lab)
Reductions in defence spending are not what is hampering our
security and defence; it is the fact that we need an increase in
defence spending to ensure that we have better security and
defence in this country. That is particularly important if we are
to develop and keep ahead of our competitors on new technology,
not least artificial intelligence. Is the Minister confident
that, through the negotiations that we discussed with the
Secretary of State last week in the Defence Committee, we will
get some sort of increase in the defence budget and that that
will be inflation-proofed?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that we need to allocate
proper resources to keep this country safe. The Prime Minister
was absolutely clear when he was campaigning and since he has
been in office that he will give this country what it needs to
keep our people and our allies safe. It is important not to lose
sight of the fact that we are the largest defence spender in NATO
in Europe. That position serves this country and our allies.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
I welcome the Minister to his place. Following the Defence
Committee’s findings that the lack of progress in the space
domain in the UK is unacceptable, what are Ministers doing to
prioritise the publication of the space-based positioning,
navigation and timing programme’s conclusions?
This country is ahead of the game. We have published the space
strategy. We will continue to ensure that work in these new
domains—we have spoken about cyber, but space is included—is in
place so that we can support and enhance the capability of our
conventional forces, and we will ensure that we lead the way in
space.
Armistice Day
(Erewash) (Con)
5. What plans his Department has to commemorate Armistice Day.
(902072)
(Hyndburn) (Con)
20. What plans his Department has to commemorate Armistice Day.
(902087)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
I am pleased to confirm that commemorations across the UK will
take place as normal to mark remembrance. I will attend the
ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday, and
Ministers will attend services at war memorials across the United
Kingdom and in the Falklands.
On Armistice Day, we remember generations of brave servicemen and
women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of our
democracy—the same freedoms that the Ukrainian people are
fighting for today. Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking
the Long Eaton and Ilkeston branches of the Royal British Legion
and, indeed, branches up and down the country who facilitate this
act of remembrance each year and who work tirelessly in support
of our veterans day in, day out in our communities?
Mr Wallace
Yes, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Our armed forces have
fought throughout time for the safety and security of our country
and they continue to do so today against all aggressors. Each
year, this country unites to remember their sacrifice. I am
grateful to all branches of the Royal British Legion who work
tirelessly in the community to help to keep Armistice Day in the
public conscience.
The battle of the Somme and the wider theatre of world war one
were devastating for northern communities. I am sure that the
Secretary of State will be aware of the Accrington Pals, the
700-plus strong battalion that was effectively wiped out on the
first day in the Somme. I grew up at a time when living veterans
still provided a direct link. As the younger generation today
will not have that direct link, what can the Secretary of State
do to ensure that the sacrifice and legacy of those brave men is
remembered not just on Armistice Day, but more generally?
Mr Speaker
I remind the Secretary of State that the Chorley Pals were part
of that Accrington contingent.
Mr Wallace
Never forget the Chorley Pals, Mr Speaker. The Accrington Pals
played a hugely significant role on the frontline as part of the
94th Infantry Brigade. In many areas, they bore the brunt of the
casualties that the British Army suffered. Of the 700-plus men
who went over the top that morning, 585 became casualties, with
230 killed in the first 30 minutes. It is only right that that
immense sacrifice continues to be remembered in communities
across the United Kingdom. All of us have a role in doing that,
whether that is through supporting our British Legion, buying a
poppy or attending a parade, but it is also about recognising
that we remember these people best by investing in today’s armed
forces.
(Newport East) (Lab)
I am sure the Secretary of State agrees that at this time of year
it is important that we honour the sacrifice of the merchant
navy, which endured such a high proportion of fatalities in
conflict. Will he join me in paying tribute to the Merchant Navy
Association, including active branches such as ours in Newport,
which does so much to commemorate and support the families of
those who undertook such critical and dangerous service?
Mr Wallace
Every year, when I write my wreath, I write “Lest we forget,” not
only because we must not forget the lessons of the war, but
because we must not forget that war involves our whole population
and all our armed services—not just the Army, Navy and Air Force,
but groups such as the merchant navy and the women who helped and
supported on the civil front. That is what we should never
forget: that all of us—all our families, in different ways—stood
to defend this country from fascism.
Ukraine: Support for NATO Allies
(Heywood and Middleton)
(Con)
6. What steps his Department is taking to support NATO allies in
response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (902073)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
The United Kingdom has provided substantial support to NATO
allies. We temporarily doubled our enhanced forward presence
battlegroup in Estonia, with additional enhancements to that
battlegroup planned for the longer term. We deployed an aviation
taskforce to Lithuania, are contributing to NATO air activity
across Europe, are supporting air-to-air refuelling and have
bolstered our presence in Poland, as well as Army activity in
Bulgaria and Romania.
It is absolutely right that our commitments on defence spending
and deployments to NATO allies change in the light of the threat
posed by increased Russian aggression and the very real threat of
a war on European soil. Does my right hon. Friend agree that our
increased deployments show that we remain fully committed to
defending every inch of NATO territory, as well as Sweden and
Finland, and that that is a clear statement of intent on behalf
of this country?
My hon. Friend invites me to make two points. First, one of
Putin’s greatest failures of the past nine months is how he has
reinvigorated the NATO alliance and restored the raison d’être of
article 5. Secondly, through their work with many of our allies
across the Baltic, the Nordic countries and the high north, our
armed forces increasingly have environmental expertise on NATO’s
northern flank. They are very much enjoying working with the
Finns and the Swedes, every inch of whose territory, as they join
NATO, is protected by article 5 just like everywhere else.
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
We saw reports at the weekend that almost one third of military
accommodation is in need of repair: just shy of 14,000 homes,
many with leaks and rot. The Ministry of Defence has apologised
but has not yet said what it will do to fix the problem. Over
half a billion pounds of taxpayers’ money is spent on contracts,
subcontracts—
Mr Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman’s supplementary is not linked to the
question. It has to be linked. I am sorry, but we have to let it
go. I call the Labour Front-Bench spokesperson.
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
Putin’s criminal invasion of Ukraine has led many NATO members to
reboot their defence plans. The Defence Secretary now agrees with
Labour that the integrated review needs updating. Would it not be
absurd to cut the Army any further when Ukraine and our NATO
allies are facing such clear and rising hostility? Can the
Minister tell us which cuts he wants to reverse? Can he tell us
whether further Army cuts will finally be halted, as Labour has
consistently argued for?
The integrated review is indeed being refreshed—quite rightly,
because in the past nine months we have seen war in Europe and
growing belligerence by China in the far east. Exactly what the
shape of our nation’s armed forces must look like must be a
consequence of those new threats. I am not going to rule anything
in or out at the Dispatch Box today, because we need to look at
what those competitions with Russia in the immediate term and
China in the longer term look like, and what our armed forces
therefore need to look like.
Support for Veterans
(North East Fife)
(LD)
9. What steps his Department is taking to support veterans.
(902076)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence ( )
The Department, through Veterans UK, provides information and
advice to our veterans on statutory benefits, pensions and jobs,
one-to-one welfare support, and administers service pensions.
Under the veterans’ strategy action plan, the UK aims to be the
best place in the world to be a veteran by 2080.
As someone who worked for the career transition partnership, I
know how much many employers value veterans and the service that
they provide in employment. Too often, charities are the ones
left picking up the pieces, such as Only A Pavement Away, which I
met a few weeks ago. It specifically focuses on getting veterans
who are a long way from the job market into hard-to-fill
vacancies. What more can the Government do to support charities
such as that?
Dr Murrison
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question. Given her
background, she will be aware of the efforts that the Government
are putting in to get people into jobs in the public sector. We
start in the Departments where perhaps we have some control over:
the health and care sector and the prisons service, notably, are
good examples, but there are others, including the civil service.
The Government will work with charities and others—the Office for
Veterans’ Affairs has primacy in that—to ensure that, across
Government, we are doing our very best to get people who have a
great skill set into jobs.
Fleet Solid Support Ships
(Stockton North) (Lab)
10. If he will take steps to build the fleet solid support ships
in the UK. (902077)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
The initial phase of awarding the contract for fleet solid
support ships is due very soon. As that is market-sensitive, I
will limit my response to saying that what I expect from whoever
is successful is investment in our yards, in British jobs and in
British supply chains.
As a reporter for Radio Clyde in 1979, I remember standing
underneath the two ships built for the Polish navy as they were
launched into the river—I needed to catch the sound effects. In
those days, the UK and other Governments had tremendous pride in
our shipbuilding industry, but the Thatcher Government devastated
it. Why do today’s Tory Government not restore that pride? Why do
they not commit, as the Secretary of State suggested, to building
those ships in British yards, as the Labour party would do, to
provide those 6,000 jobs that could benefit communities across
the country?
Mr Wallace
I will certainly ignore the rewriting of history other than to
say that we still take pride in the ships that we build in this
country. Some of our ships are the very best in the world. We
will continue that, unlike the Scottish Government, who seem to
think that they cannot make their own ships in Scottish yards and
make them in foreign yards.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister, .
(Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op)
I welcome the Minister for Defence Procurement, the hon. and
learned Member for Cheltenham () to his place. I know his
constituency very well, having finished a distant third there in
2005. I have only warm memories of it. I pay tribute to him; we
have worked together in the past on issues such as Down syndrome,
which have affected us both. I look forward to continuing to work
with him.
The fleet solid support contract presents a huge opportunity to
the British shipbuilding industry, as well as providing a shot in
the arm for British steel if the Government commit to building
British by default. However, the GMB union has raised concerns
that only significant parts of the build and assembly work will
be carried out in this country rather than all the work. Will the
Secretary of State address what “significant” means in the
practical sense? If a foreign manufacturer wins the contract, how
will our sovereign defence manufacturing capabilities be
protected?
Mr Wallace
If the hon. Gentleman can point to a single complex military
contract, whether in air, land or sea, that has not used
international or partner supplier chains, I will be amazed.
Typhoon, made in Lancashire, uses partners from Italy, Spain and
Germany to create one of the most successful fighter programmes
in the world. Our aircraft carrier, though entirely assembled in
Rosyth in Fife, will have involved the use of foreign
components.
Complex military machines that keep us at the cutting edge of the
world involve international collaboration. That is the difference
between us and Russia, which has the Stalin taxi factory attitude
and ends up with rubbish equipment. We end up with the best
because I have the duty of giving the best to the men and women
of the Royal Navy. I will find a contract that delivers the best
and supports the civil base and British manufacturing, but I will
not cut corners for party political ideology from the
Opposition.
Radioactive Material: Dalgety Bay
(Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
(Alba)
11. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of
the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on plans to remove
radioactive material from Dalgety Bay. (902078)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The Ministry of Defence remains committed to delivering the
planned remediation to Dalgety Bay and has worked closely with
its partners in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and
Fife Council to facilitate this work. MOD and SEPA officials last
met formally on 24 November last year to discuss this matter, and
the intent is to hold another meeting before the end of the
year.
The people of Dalgety Bay in my constituency have been living
with radioactive waste on their shoreline since the second world
war. The Ministry promised the community, me and the Scottish
Environment Protection Agency that remediation would be complete
by September this year, yet we continue to hear nothing from the
MOD. Can the Minister update me as a matter of urgency on
operational progress and ensure that the interests of my
constituents are not lost in the chaos of this Tory
Government?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question, although
perhaps not the bit right at the end. Work has begun. It was
suspended to take account of the nesting season but I can say
that this project, which incidentally is being undertaken at a
cost of several million pounds, is expected to be completed by
September 2023. I am happy to liaise with him if he wants to
discuss it with me.
Armed Forces Families: “Living in our Shoes” Report
(South West Bedfordshire)
(Con)
12. What steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of
the “Living in our Shoes” report. (902079)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence ( )
May I first pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his excellent,
comprehensive report? Families are an integral part of the armed
forces community, and our evolving assistance to them includes
funding wraparound childcare, supporting children’s education and
the employment of partners as societal expectations evolve and
change. The armed forces families strategy, published in January,
sets out the Government’s response to “Living in our Shoes” and
sets the framework for the delivery of more sympathetic policies
in relation to armed forces families that are fit for the
future.
Will the Government make public each of the six monthly service
family steering group meetings and the progress that has been
made on each of the 106 accepted recommendations, and ensure that
we have parity of esteem in the way that we look after both
veterans and service families—a wonderful group of people on whom
the defence of the nation depends?
Dr Murrison
I am very sympathetic to my hon. Friend. We owe so much to our
families and he highlights that very well in his report. Of
course we meet service families all the time and I am more than
happy to meet him at any time to update him on what we intend to
do as a result of his report and indeed the veterans strategy,
published earlier this year, which covered many service families
and members of the service community.
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
With regard to the report, we learned in the pursuit of a recent
constituency case that the Ministry of Defence was not able to
decide whether to deduct earnings from service personnel in child
maintenance cases, which is leaving some service families in a
difficult situation. Can the Minister advise me on how the
Ministry of Defence is ensuring that families get the support
they are entitled to?
Dr Murrison
I did of course outline some of the ways in which we have been
supporting families in my earlier remarks. I would urge anybody
in the service community who is concerned about their situation
and who wants help to contact their welfare officer through the
Veterans Agency. The veterans gateway is an extremely good place
to start.
Ukraine: Military Response to Russian Invasion
(Gedling) (Con)
13. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness
of the Ukrainian military response to Russia’s invasion.
(902080)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
We work closely with international partners and Ukraine to ensure
that Ukraine receives the right equipment at the right time.
Meetings such as those of the Ukraine defence contact group and
the international defence co-ordination centre help to prioritise
and co-ordinate efforts. The UK and international partners also
train Ukrainian recruits in the UK, and we receive regular
feedback from the armed forces in Ukraine that allows us to
tailor courses to best meet requirements.
The whole House will have been moved by the heroic bravery of the
tens of thousands of Ukrainians who have stepped up to defend
their homeland, but they will need the right kit to defeat the
Russians. I know that the supply of western weapons has been
plentiful, but can my right hon. Friend confirm that the UK is
working closely with our NATO allies and the Ukrainians to ensure
that the training and equipment received is as useful as
possible?
Mr Wallace
Almost within days of the invasion, I convened a donor
conference. At the first conference we had nearly 30 nations, and
three conferences later, when the United States chaired it in
Germany, we had more than 50 nations. We constantly work on that
co-ordination and we have set up the international donor
co-ordination cell, which is well populated by United Kingdom
forces, to make sure that we get the right equipment to the right
people in time.
(Warley) (Lab)
Does our ability to resupply the Ukrainians not depend on our
having a robust defence industry? Does that not depend on both
facilities and skilled manpower? And does that not depend on
orders being placed in this country? Does this not absolutely
demonstrate the folly of the Secretary of State’s proposal to
offshore the purchase of the fleet solid support ships to Spanish
shipyards?
Mr Wallace
The right hon. Gentleman never answered the question that I put
to him at the Defence Committee. As he says, surely the most
important thing is that whoever bids for these contracts commits
to investing in skills in Britain. If they do not invest in
skills, what is the point of awarding the contract? When I asked
him whether he would choose someone who invested in skills, there
was no answer from him. This is classic union-paid claptrap.
Armed Forces Recruitment
(North Norfolk) (Con)
14. What steps his Department is taking to recruit armed forces
personnel. (902081)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence ( )
We continue to apply an array of measures to support recruitment
and retention and refine the armed forces’ offer. These include
financial incentives, flexible service, and an improved
accommodation offer. A career in the armed forces provides all
recruits with a wide range of opportunities to succeed. As one of
the UK’s largest apprenticeship providers, with over 80% of all
recruits enrolling in apprenticeship programmes, we ensure that
those recruits have the right skills to carry out their role
throughout their career and into civilian life.
With war on the continent and a fragile peace in many parts of
the world, our armed forces are more important than ever. My
constituency of North Norfolk has a very proud military history,
with a large number of veterans who care deeply about this.
However, in the past 22 years, the inflow of personnel into UK
regular forces has been higher than outflow in only six years.
Can my right hon. Friend assure me that for the armed forces the
retention of personnel, which he mentioned in his answer, is as
important as the recruitment?
Dr Murrison
My hon. Friend is right about this. Not recruiting is bad, but
recruiting and then not retaining is even worse, for very obvious
reasons. Defence recognises the need to improve matters, both for
the regulars and the reserves, where the issue of inflow and
outflow is pretty much the same. I have already this afternoon
outlined a range of measures that are being put in place to
improve retention, and I look forward very much to the
Haythornthwaite review for incentivisation that we expect in the
spring.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
The very youngest recruits into the armed forces, the 16 and
17-year-olds, will attend the Army Foundation College in
Harrogate. However, there have been very concerning reports that
an instructor at the college has been charged with more than 20
offences, including at least five sexual assaults against
16-year-old girls. Can the Minister detail to Members here today
how these young recruits will be properly safeguarded at the
college?
Mr Speaker
I am just a little bit concerned about this. If somebody has been
charged, we should not be mentioning them. It could be sub
judice.
The issue of safeguarding?
Mr Speaker
The general issue of safeguarding, yes.
Dr Murrison
I can assure the hon. Lady that the matter is under review. I
cannot comment much further than that. I hope that that will
satisfy her.
Topical Questions
(Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
(Alba)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(902093)
The Secretary of State for Defence ( )
First, let me pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for
Elmet and Rothwell () and my hon. Friend the
Member for Wrexham () who served time on the
Treasury Bench for the Department. They will be greatly missed,
and I thank them for their effort and passion. I know that my
hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham will continue to hold the
Department to account on women in the armed forces. Her report is
incredibly important.
I wish to announce to the House the decision to accelerate the
procurement of the Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship. In the
face of an illegal and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine and
Putin’s reckless disregard for international arrangements
designed to keep world order, it is right that we prioritise
delivering capabilities that safeguard our national
infrastructure. It is clear that effectively to address the
current and future threats, we will now invest in MROSS ships
that protect sensitive defence and civil infrastructure to
improve our ability to detect threats to the seabed and to
cables. I have also therefore directed the termination of the
national flagship competition with immediate effect to bring
forward the first MROSS in its place. I shall make further
announcements on our continued naval investment in the coming
weeks.
Our whistleblower has alleged that staff from HM Naval Base Clyde
were recently moved from building 201 in Coulport, where warheads
are managed, to building 41 elsewhere, due to a serious radiation
breach. Can the Minister advise me about the following? How many
such events have been registered in the past three years? How
many such incidents have been reported to the public? If he
cannot do so, can he please set out why the people of Scotland,
who are overwhelmingly opposed to weapons of mass destruction,
are ignored by the Westminster parties, including his?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Member has read out a list of claims. I will be happy to
write to him to answer those claims. I suspect the people of
Scotland are now rather thankful they have a nuclear deterrent,
in the face of a very provocative Putin.
Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con)
T2. I recently met Help for Heroes, and we spoke about the
routine health assessment at the point of military discharge. Is
there more that can be done at this point to pick up on mental
health issues? It is a defining moment.(902094)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence ( )
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. Help for Heroes
is one of our key charities, which I visited a while back in its
premises near Salisbury, and I plan to meet it again very soon.
It is now mandatory for all armed forces personnel leaving the
services to have a structured mental health assessment at their
discharge medical examination. I am pleased to say that that will
highlight any unknown mental health needs and enable signposting
and referral where necessary, and my hon. Friend will of course
be aware of Operation Courage within the national health
service.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
I welcome the Defence Secretary’s news that the vanity project of
the previous Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Uxbridge
and South Ruislip ()—the flagship—will be
scrapped, and the spending switched to purposes that will help
defend the country. Ahead of the Chancellor’s autumn statement,
the Defence Secretary told the Select Committee last week
“I need money to protect me from inflation”,
yet in the current spending settlement, Defence is the only
Department with a real-terms cut in its revenue budget. Why did
he ever agree to that?
Mr Wallace
First, on that particular question, the right hon. Gentleman will
know that when I got my defence review—a year earlier than
everyone else in the spending review—the figure for GDP inflation
used by the Treasury was different from that used now. He will be
aware that inflation has gone up since the basis of that
calculation was made, which is why I said at the Select Committee
that I would like to be insulated from that inflation. I will
have my discussions with the Chancellor and the Prime Minister
this week, and then we will see where we get to.
When the Secretary of State agreed that budget, it was a £1.7
billion real-terms cut in the revenue budget. Now, he says that
inflationary pressures on his budget for the next two years are
about £8 billion. How much does Defence actually need from the
Chancellor on the 17th to plug this budget black hole that has
opened up on the Secretary of State’s watch?
Mr Wallace
First, I do not agree with the premise that I agreed to a £1.6
billion reduction of the resource departmental expenditure limit.
At the time, it would have reduced in the fourth year of its
profile—it was a four-year profile, if the right hon. Gentleman
remembers—but after a £24 billion increase, which is nothing that
the Labour party has ever committed to. It would have shown a
reduction in the last year, yes, but a real-terms freeze.
However, inflation is significantly higher than it was all those
years ago, and that is why I am going to see the Treasury, the
Chancellor and the Prime Minister to see what I can get to make
sure we protect our armed forces and our current plans from
inflation.
(Harrow East) (Con)
T3. The recently announced defence accommodation strategy is
worth £1.6 billion of investment, which will bring better
facilities for our servicemen and women. Equally, it will create
thousands of jobs across the United Kingdom. Can my right hon.
Friend confirm that, notwithstanding the budget pressures, the
strategy will still be proceeded with?(902095)
Dr Murrison
I am exceptionally grateful to my hon. Friend, who takes a close
interest in these matters. Having spent four decades occupying
pretty shoddy accommodation across the defence estate, it gives
me great pleasure to say that the new strategy will definitely
improve the quality of life of our personnel. The defence
accommodation strategy commits to increasing the quality of
homes, plus a fairer allocation process, and that will be
game-changing. A safe, comfortable home is paramount to people’s
wellbeing, and these improvements will directly increase the
quality of life for servicepeople.
(Sunderland Central)
(Lab)
T6. The scandal of the state of military accommodation continues
with almost a third of UK military homes needing repair.
Contracts worth £650 million were let six months ago to resolve
that, but they have not worked. When will the Government bring
these outsourced companies into line and repair the homes that
our servicepeople are living in?(902099)
Dr Murrison
What is more important to servicepeople is the quality of homes
that they occupy, rather than who runs them. I have to say that
the value of the future defence infrastructure services contract
is £2.9 billion, and that is just the core contract. That will
sustain jobs across the UK and will most definitely improve the
quality of the housing that members of our service community
occupy. I hope that will come as some comfort to the hon. Member,
because it represents a significant investment indeed.
(Colne Valley) (Con)
T4. Will the Secretary of State please join me in thanking the
3,500 NATO troops, many of them British, who took part in
Exercise Iron Wolf II in Lithuania to defend our democratic
freedoms against hostile foreign powers? Does he agree that the
United Kingdom’s future defence is best served by our continuing
partnership with our NATO allies?(902097)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I join him in
congratulating all the UK troops and those from countries
throughout NATO who participated in Exercise Iron Wolf in
Lithuania. It has been fantastic to see over the past few months
how much British soldiers, sailors and aviators are enjoying
being part of the NATO alliance and getting to know those from
other NATO countries. That alliance remains the cornerstone of UK
and European security.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
T7. What progress has been made to replicate the new method used
by the Office for National Statistics for recording and reporting
cases of suicide in the veteran community in Scotland and
Northern Ireland?(902100)
Dr Murrison
I am glad the hon. Lady raised this issue. She will be aware that
the ONS has worked closely with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs
so that for the first time we can record the number of
servicepeople who have committed suicide. Her question gives me
an opportunity to say that, although we are incredibly concerned
about anybody who ends up in such a tragic situation—really, we
are—it would be wrong to say that the statistics we currently
have available suggest that the service population is
particularly at risk. There may, though, be some granularity
within that, which I am keen to explore.
(Gedling) (Con)
T5. Poland is one of our oldest allies and we will never forget
the support of Polish fighter pilots, who saved so many British
lives during the second world war. Will my right hon. Friend the
Secretary of State update the House on the steps he is taking to
strengthen the alliance with Poland and help to modernise its
armed forces?(902098)
Mr Wallace
Poland is one of our oldest allies—we have been allies for more
than 150 years—and we currently have a squadron of Challenger 2
tanks and a squadron of Light Dragoons light reconnaissance based
in that country. Over the past three years I have worked
incredibly closely with my Polish counterparts, including by
sending a squadron of Royal Engineers to help at the time of the
Belarusian migrant crisis. I recently visited again to sign a
multibillion-pound deal with Poland on medium-range air defence.
There are also the beginnings of an agreement on the Arrowhead
Type 31 shipbuilding.
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
Figures from the MOD show that more than half of veterans rate
their experience of the armed forces compensation scheme as one
out of 10. Last week, I and my co-chairs of the all-party
parliamentary group on veterans—the hon. Members for Midlothian
(), for Bracknell () and for Tiverton and
Honiton ()—launched a survey to enable
those affected to share their experiences of the compensation
scheme. Will the Minister agree to meet us when that survey
concludes?
Dr Murrison
I would be most happy to meet the hon. Lady.
(Bosworth) (Con)
T8. Last week the Russian ambassador to the UK toured the studios
saying that the UK was involved in various nefarious plans. He
also purported to have handed in to the embassy a report saying
that the UK had been up to no good. What are the Secretary of
State’s comments on this? Has he seen that information? What does
the evidence from the Russians show?(902102)
Mr Wallace
In recent days, Russia has made a range of allegations against
the UK and other international partners that are clearly designed
to distract from the attention on Russia’s illegal invasion of
Ukraine. I did indeed receive a letter from the Russians that
seemed to demonstrate everything that has been announced by the
Government either in this House or in the media going way back to
the times of Op Orbital. As yet, I still await the groundbreaking
evidence, but I do not expect it to come because we know for sure
that Russia is involved in misinformation.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
It is the right thing to do to refresh the integrated review. The
Minister said earlier that he was not ruling anything in or out
from a capability point of view, but does he agree that it would
be wise not to make any cuts to capability until the integrated
review refresh reports, hopefully before Christmas?
Mr Wallace
The hon. Gentleman knows that there are lots of types of
capabilities: there are numbers, there is equipment that is going
out of service to be replaced by other equipment, and there is
modernisation. We will look at all that in the round. I know that
the hon. Gentleman takes particular interest in the A400 and
C-130 fleet; I am glad to tell him that I have brought forward by
more than two years the ability for people to parachute from the
A400 at significant scale, at both high and low altitude. I hope
we will have good news by next year. The availability of the A400
fleet is now increasing.
(Wrexham) (Con)
Campaigns and equipment rely on people, and people need to be at
the centre of future defence planning. However, last week there
was an urgent question on conduct towards women in the Royal
Navy. The urgent priority to address unacceptable behaviour and
culture has been stretched to a five-year vision, so will the
Secretary of State give further reassurances that service
personnel will be at the heart of the integrated review and
defence Command Paper refresh?
Mr Wallace
First, let me say how grateful I am to my hon. Friend for the
time and effort she gave, even before she entered the Department.
She will be a loss to the Department. If I had more Ministers, I
would desperately have liked her to have remained to continue her
work on women in the armed forces. Like her, I know that there is
urgency. We are working at pace. We have already introduced some
secondary legislation. We are going to set up soon all the things
promised in our report, and I would be delighted if she would
like to accompany me on any of those steps.
(North Antrim) (DUP)
The Secretary of State will be aware that in March 2020 Russian
reconnaissance bombers entered the Rathlin sector of UK airspace.
Six Typhoons had to be scrambled in order to escort those
reconnaissance bombers out of our airspace. Given the likelihood
of an anti-NATO Government being elected in the Republic of
Ireland, and given that the UK Government had to seek Republic of
Ireland support to enter its airspace in order to escort those
bombers out, what actions will the Secretary of State take to
ensure that a proper assessment is made of these national
security interests?
We have an excellent relationship with the Irish Government on
security matters. It is clearly not for me, at the Dispatch Box
of the UK Parliament, to talk about Irish policy over the use of
its airspace. The hon. Gentleman will know, however, that RAF
jets have deployed into Irish airspace on occasion. It is for the
Irish Government to set out their policy on why, when and
how.
Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)
The armed forces are a major employer across Lincolnshire—so much
so that it is the ambition of the Greater Lincolnshire local
enterprise partnership to become a nationally recognised cluster
of innovation-focused defence companies, and to ensure that
Greater Lincolnshire and Lincoln are a highly attractive
first-choice destination for defence-related industries, service
leaders and their families. Will Ministers assure me that
Lincolnshire, including busy RAF Waddington, which now has the
Red Arrows on base in my constituency, will continue to be a key
area for defence investment?
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
I reassure my hon. Friend that Greater Lincolnshire continues to
be a major investment hub for the MOD and the wider defence
industry. RAF Waddington is one of the RAF’s busiest locations
and will remain a base for the foreseeable future. I very much
welcome the creation this year of the Greater Lincolnshire
Defence and Security Network.
(Glasgow North) (Ind)
Do the Government recognise that while the practice of
double-counting spending towards the targets for overseas
development assistance and for NATO defence might be a neat
trick, it is a false economy?
Maybe, but we have not accounted any money against ODA in the MOD
thus far this year.
(Gower) (Lab)
Recently I met Richard Morgan from 65 Degrees North, a charity
that seeks to help in the rehabilitation of wounded, injured and
sick service personnel and veterans by giving them the
opportunity to participate in challenging adventure. Do Ministers
agree that there is a need to change the perception of physical
and mental disabilities through this spirt of adventure, and will
they congratulate the charity on the work it does?
Dr Murrison
I most certainly do congratulate it on the work it does. I am
very positive about disability in the armed forces. I point the
hon. Lady to the diversity and inclusion strategy, which sets out
the blueprint for how we can do much better. I would be more than
happy to meet the charity that she has cited, and I congratulate
it on the work it does.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee, .
(Bournemouth East) (Con)
The defence Command Paper states:
“China poses a complex, systemic challenge.”
But we recently learned that RAF veterans have been lured to
China to assist with its own air force training, and today’s
response to my written parliamentary question confirms that
Chinese officer cadets have recently been attending courses at
Sandhurst, Shrivenham and Cranwell. Will the Secretary of State
confirm that we will update our security strategy towards China,
and will the law be changed to prevent former RAF pilots from
being recruited by the Chinese military?
It is a couple of days since I signed off the response to my
right hon. Friend’s question, but from memory it related to a few
years ago, albeit within the five that his question referred to.
We have since revised our policy on Chinese attendance on key
courses, but it is important to note that in none of those
courses is anything taught or compromised that might be above the
threshold of the Official Secrets Act.
(New Forest East) (Con)
In this remembrance period, does the Minister recall the two very
constructive meetings held by the War Widows’ Association with
our hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (), when he was veterans
Minister, about the 200 to 300 people who lost their widow’s
pension on remarriage? Will the progress made towards an ex
gratia payment for that small cohort now be rapidly brought to a
conclusion?
Dr Murrison
I thank my right hon. Friend for that question. I am acutely
aware of the position of the pre-2015 war widows. The Treasury is
absolutely against retrospection, and that has been the case over
consecutive Governments. Ex gratia payments, however, are a
different matter. I cannot give any commitments, but I can tell
my right hon. Friend that the matter is under active
consideration.
(North Shropshire) (LD)
On Friday, I had the honour of visiting the brand-new specialist
veterans orthopaedic centre at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt
Orthopaedic Hospital near Oswestry. It is going to be a
world-class facility built to provide NHS care for veterans
across the UK, as well as working with military charities to
provide other support. Will the Secretary of State join me in
congratulating staff there on their achievement and agree to
consider extending such centres across the UK?
Mr Wallace
The marrying-up over the years between the MOD, the health
service and the charities has gone from strength to strength. The
example that the hon. Lady has used is something that we should
embrace and do more of.
(Witney) (Con)
Will the integrated review refresh include consideration of the
resilience of the RAF’s main operating bases, particularly when
it comes to dispersal?
As my hon. Friend knows well, although the RAF’s main operating
bases are incredible centres of excellence for the aircraft they
operate, there do indeed need to be well rehearsed plans for
dispersing the Air Force across civilian airfields around the
country. The RAF is developing and refining those plans as we
speak.
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