Defence Ministers were taking questions in the Commons. Subjects
covered included... Cyber-attack Protection Defence
Co-operation Royal Navy: Fleet Size Defence Suppliers:
Innovation Strategic Threats Defence Co-operation
Armed Forces Covenant Conditions of Service NATO
Modernisation Pay...Request free
trial
Defence Ministers were taking questions in the Commons. Subjects
covered included...
To view any of these in greater detail, either click on the link or
read below.
Cyber-attack Protection
-
(Strangford) (DUP)
1. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness
of his Department’s policies on protecting the UK from
cyber-attack. [904151]
-
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)
We take the cyber threat very seriously. We are
strengthening our defences against increasingly
sophisticated attacks. Our approach to cyber-defence
includes a wide range of technical, operational and
administrative measures, as well as close co-operation with
the National Cyber Security Centre. Indeed, this week we
are opening a dedicated state-of-the-art cyber-defence
school at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham to enhance the
cyber skills of our defence personnel.
-
With the National Cyber Security Centre recording 34 C2
attacks and 762 slightly less serious C3 attacks, will the
Secretary of State outline the steps his Department is
taking to shore up our defences as best as humanly possible
against an attack that some watchdogs have described as
“imminent” in light of rising Russian aggression?
-
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to highlight this
increasing threat, which is why we have set out plans to
spend £1.9 billion over a five-year period on making sure
that our cyber-defence is right and that we develop the
capabilities not just to defend against attacks but to be
able to operationalise this ourselves.
-
(Newbury) (Con)
Britain’s forces are a major part of the enhanced forward
presence in the Baltic states. At a recent meeting of the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly, we heard of some of the malign
attacks on those forces, particularly on the German
deployment in Lithuania. I am not asking my right hon.
Friend to give me any great detail, because that is
necessarily secret, but can he assure the House that we are
learning from every attack and that we are training people,
down to quite a low level, to make sure that our forces are
best equipped to deal with this?
-
That is a very important point, because it is not just
about the work that we do centrally; it is about training
our forces to best understand the threats to which they
will potentially be exposed as they operate in sometimes
increasingly hostile fields. We have done that for all
troops engaged in NATO operations, and more globally.
-
(East Dunbartonshire)
(LD)
Local authorities can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks. One
in four councils, including East Dunbartonshire, have
experienced cyber-security incidents, yet many do not even
provide mandatory training in cyber-security. What
discussions has the Secretary of State had with colleagues
in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government, and indeed with the devolved Administrations,
to make sure our local authorities do not become a soft
target for cyber-attack?
-
Part of the reason why we set up the National Cyber
Security Centre was to make sure that all elements of
government are working together to tackle this issue. I
will take up the hon. Lady’s point with the Secretary of
State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to
highlight the threats and challenges that local government
faces.
-
Mr (Kettering)
(Con)
Young men and women traditionally joined Her Majesty’s
armed forces, in large part, because of the physical
challenge and the desire for combat experience. Should we
not increasingly be recruiting young men and women because
of their digital and IT proficiency, so that we can develop
an elite cadre of cyber specialists?
-
As we face new challenges, we have to be realistic that we
need a whole different range of skills—not just the
traditional skills that have been the backbone of our armed
forces, but new skills—and we are looking at how we can
best recruit those skills into our armed forces, and not
just into the regulars but also into the reserves to boot.
-
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Surely the Secretary of State knows that what Mr Putin
announced a few days ago is basically a new cold war, and
it is not just cyber-warfare but every kind of warfare. At
a time when Europe seems to be fragmenting, our commitment
to NATO is deeply hurt by Donald Trump moving into a new
phase of withdrawal. What are we going to do about all
this?
-
Putin has made it quite clear that he has hostile intent
towards this country, and we have been seeing the build-up
of his forces across the eastern front. Given what they
have been doing over many years, we have to wake up to that
threat and respond to it. Not just through nuclear
weapons—although our continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent is
absolutely integral to maintaining the peace—but through
conventional armed forces, we have to match what Putin is
doing with his Russian forces. We have to be aware of the
challenges we face, which is very much why we are engaging
in the modernising defence programme to ensure that we can
match the Russians.
Defence Co-operation
-
(Aberdeen South)
(Con)
2. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in the US Administration on strengthening defence
co-operation. [904152]
-
(Lichfield)
(Con)
7. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in the US Administration on strengthening defence
co-operation; and if he will make a statement. [904157]
-
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)
The US and UK enjoy a strategic global partnership, which
was forged through shared values and the belief in freedom
and the rule of law and order, and reinforced by mutual
history, partnership and military co-operation. UK-US
defence co-operation is today the broadest, deepest and
most advanced of any two countries. Our collaboration
extends across the full spectrum of defence, including
operations and flagship capability programmes. Our troops
have fought alongside each other for more than 100 years,
and 2018 will be another busy year.
-
I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Currently, the
UK’s defence trade partnership with the US is worth more
than $3 billion and includes collaboration on projects such
as the F-35 programme, as well as a common compartment for
UK-US ballistic missile submarines. Does he agree that with
the UK regaining its ability to strike free trade deals
across the globe post Brexit, we have the opportunity to
deepen the bonds of our special relationship with the US
when it comes to our national defence interests?
-
We are already one of the world-leading countries in
defence exports, and we have to seize the opportunity that
exiting the European Union provides to expand our ability
to export right around the world, making sure it is
absolutely clear that Britain is a world leader in
technology and science. So much of what we have
historically done with the US we can do more and more right
around the globe.
-
May I implore my right hon. Friend not to listen to the
Trump-bashing from Opposition Members? There is absolutely
no indication that President Trump is attenuating his
commitment to NATO. Furthermore, NATO, not the European
Union, is the backbone of this nation’s defence, and my
right hon. Friend should be—I know that he is—going out
there to Washington and speaking to his counterparts. Will
he talk about precisely what he has achieved?
[Interruption.] Sorry about that.
-
I thought my hon. Friend was incredibly eloquent.
Let us be clear that there is one reason why we have had
peace right across the continent of Europe since the second
world war: NATO, and the fact that it has acted as a
deterrent to those who wish to prosecute aggressive
campaigns against the west. I am very proud of the work
that has been done, and will be done in the future, with
our allies.
-
(Delyn) (Lab)
Will the Secretary of State tell me what the pound-dollar
rate was at the time of the commissioning of the F-35
programme, what it is now and how much extra taxpayers’
money is being paid as a result?
-
I am afraid I not have details of the exchange rates with
me, but I will write to the right hon. Gentleman with them.
I can tell him that exchange rate changes over the past few
years have cost us about a quarter of a billion pounds
extra for the defence budget, as a result of the movement
of the pound.
-
(Carmarthen East and
Dinefwr) (PC)
The US nuclear posture review was met with an equal level
of posturing by President Putin during his state of the
nation speech last Thursday. What is the British
Government’s policy response to these worrying
developments, as the world slides needlessly into a second
cold war? Does the Secretary of State believe the British
Government have a role to play in trying to de-escalate the
situation?
-
Let us be really clear: President Putin has been developing
a much more hostile and aggressive posture towards the UK,
the US and our allies for an awful lot longer than the past
12 months. Russia wants to assert its rights. We have seen
increased Russian activity in the north Atlantic—a tenfold
increase over the past few years. Do we sit submissively by
and just accept that President Putin can do whatever he
wishes to do? Or do we have to look at how we respond,
making it clear that we are willing to stand up to bullying
and the fact that nations are being subjected to attacks by
Russia? We need to deal with that, and that is what we will
do. That is why I am proud that we have the continuous
at-sea nuclear deterrent.
-
(Horsham) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend inform the House about what
discussions he has with his US counterpart so that we can
work together to ensure that our other NATO allies pay the
2% of GDP that they should be paying towards our collective
defence?
-
In this country, I am very proud that we are able to say
that we spend 2% of GDP on defence. But we cannot outsource
Europe’s defence to the United States: every European
country has to play its part in defending Europe. That
means spending the money required to defend the borders of
western Europe.
-
Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)
I begin by paying tribute to the members of the armed
forces who helped their country get moving, inasmuch as it
could, over the past week.
How confident can the Secretary of State, his US
counterpart or indeed any NATO counterpart be that we can
bring to the table what we say we can bring, given that
there is a £20 billion funding gap in his Department’s
equipment plan?
-
We are looking at exactly what resources and everything
else we need going forward. We carry considerable
contingencies in our equipment plan, and we are very
confident that we will be able to deliver everything we
need for our armed forces.
-
Stewart Malcolm McDonald
I am afraid that that is a bit of a “head still in the
sand” answer. The National Audit Office said that projects
will have to be delayed, scaled back or cancelled. Will the
Secretary of State ensure that no project in Scotland will
be delayed, scaled back or cancelled?
-
I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware that we are doing the
modernising defence programme. He will also be pleased to
hear that we will open up our public consultation as part
of that programme. We are going to be looking at all we
do—how best we can use our armed forces to deliver for the
whole United Kingdom, and how to make sure that we are best
protected against the threats from abroad. I look forward
to the hon. Gentleman’s contribution to that.
Royal Navy: Fleet Size
-
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster)
The Royal Navy is growing for the first time in a
generation, with the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft
carriers and new submarines, frigates, patrol vessels and
aircraft. The Royal Navy continues to meet the demands we
place on it and maintains its operational edge.
-
With the sale of HMS Ocean, Devonport and the nation have
lost a third of our Royal Navy amphibious assault ships. In
more and more uncertain times, can the Minister reassure
people in Plymouth that Devonport will not see any more
cuts to frigates, amphibious assault ships, and survey
ships such as HMS Scott in the upcoming review?
-
I certainly take this opportunity to underline our thanks
to the people of Plymouth for their age-old commitment to
and support for the Royal Navy. I absolutely assure the
hon. Gentleman that Devonport will continue to be one of
the cornerstone bases of the Royal Navy in future. As he
will be aware, we only recently allocated the location of
the Type 23 frigates. We are doing more work on the
location of the Type 26 frigates, and we hope to be able to
announce that shortly.
-
(South Dorset)
(Con)
I must declare an interest, Mr Speaker: my grandfather and
father both served in the Royal Navy, and both would be
turning in their graves at the size of the Royal Navy.
Although I quite accept the financial difficulty that the
Minister has, does he accept from me that the threats from
around the world—not least from China, which is talked
about too seldom—are growing? We are sending one ship, I
think, across the waters to the south of China. I ask the
Minister, please, for an assurance that the Royal Navy’s
size and capability will be increased.
-
My hon. Friend will be aware of the recent deployment of
HMS Sutherland, and there will be further such deployments
in future to that part of the world.
For the first time in a generation, the Royal Navy is
actually growing. It grew in manpower last year and will
continue to grow over the next couple of years, and not
just in manpower—the size of its surface fleet is also
growing. The latest of the offshore patrol vessels arrived
in Portsmouth only this weekend.
-
(Barrow and Furness)
(Lab/Co-op)
Given everything that the Minister’s boss has just said
about the importance of NATO, the deterrent and the threat
from Russia, it would be absolutely unthinkable, would it
not, not to order the full quota of seven Astute class
submarines?
-
The hon. Gentleman is a champion of his constituency and
repeatedly comes to the House to support the work that his
constituents have done for generations in building our
submarines. I am very confident that shortly he will have
the news that he wishes for.
-
(Cheltenham) (Con)
When HMS Queen Elizabeth puts to sea, it will need a fleet
of frigates and destroyers to escort and protect it. Will
my right hon. Friend reassure the House that the Royal Navy
has sufficient vessels to perform that vital task while
protecting our shores at home?
-
Yes, indeed, I can reassure my hon. Friend that the Royal
Navy continues to meet all its operational requirements. As
I said a few moments ago, the size of our fleet will
increase in the years to come.
-
(Caerphilly) (Lab)
The Minister will be aware that the National Audit Office
has produced a scathing report on the Ministry of Defence’s
equipment plan for 2017 to 2027. It says that there is a
£20.8 billion gaping black hole in the MOD’s budget. Can
the Minister tell me why the Type 31e frigate is not even
referred to in the equipment plan?
-
It is a little bit rich when the hon. Gentleman comes to
the Dispatch Box to criticise this Government over supposed
black holes in defence spending, given the previous Labour
Government’s record in this area, but I am sure the Defence
Procurement Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for
Aberconwy (Guto Bebb), will write to him to explain why
that is the case.
Defence Suppliers: Innovation
-
(Erewash) (Con)
4. What steps he is taking to encourage innovation by
defence suppliers. [904154]
-
(Thornbury and Yate)
(Con)
11. What steps he is taking to encourage innovation by
defence suppliers. [904162]
-
(Chelmsford) (Con)
20. What steps he is taking to encourage innovation by
defence suppliers. [904172]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
(Guto Bebb)
With an equipment plan worth £180 billion over 10 years, a
rising defence budget and an £800 million innovation fund,
there are great opportunities for innovative suppliers to
work with the Ministry of Defence. The Department recently
took part in a Pitch@Palace event, reaching out to defence
sector entrepreneurs, and the open call for innovation has
been changed to increase opportunities to work with
Government.
-
Baltex, which is based in my constituency, is a leading
supplier of high-performance fabrics, meshes and nets that
are designed to keep our service personnel safe and
well-protected in the field. What is my hon. Friend doing
to support businesses in the defence supply chain that
manufacture technical textiles, and will he and the
Secretary of State consider visiting Baltex to see the
innovative work that is being carried out in Erewash in
support of our armed forces?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Indeed, I would
like to take her up on her kind offer of a visit to Baltex,
which is an important provider of services to the Ministry
of Defence. It is a classic example of a company that is
generating key supplies for the Ministry of Defence and for
our armed services, and that is being innovative in the way
that it does that. Indeed, we see that innovation across
the board with Ministry of Defence contractors—they are
innovative for the UK economy in addition to supplying our
armed forces.
-
Does the Minister agree that the launch of the RAF’s first
satellite, Carbonite-2, using British technology, is to be
welcomed, and can he update the House on whether space
technology will be part of the combat air strategy?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I am very
disappointed not to have been able to visit Survey
Satellite Technology, which developed that facility.
Unfortunately, my visit did not take place last Thursday
owing to the weather.
This is a significant development. From my perspective, it
is an example of innovative thinking being developed by the
MOD and the Air Force. Even more importantly, it was a
concept only 10 months ago and it has now been procured.
Obviously, as part of our combat air strategy, the way in
which we interlink with satellite technology will be a key
consideration for the Ministry of Defence.
-
The Minister’s predecessor recently paid a very welcome
visit to BAE in Chelmsford, which has played a critical
role in developing Britain’s radar capacity through the
generations. Does the Minister agree that, when it comes to
the next generation of ballistic missile defence radar, it
is vital to maintain British capacity and make sure that
these skills stay in Britain?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for her question and pay tribute to
BAE for the work that is being done in her constituency.
She is absolutely right to highlight the importance of
keeping skills in the United Kingdom. Members from all
parts of the House should be proud that the Ministry of
Defence is responsible for more than 20,000 apprenticeship
opportunities throughout the United Kingdom, as it
highlights again that Ministry of Defence procurement leads
to high-quality, skilled jobs in all parts of the UK,
including Chelmsford.
-
(Bridgend) (Lab)
What impact does the Minister see coming from his attempts
to increase innovation in defence suppliers if the UK
withdraws from REACH, the European regulation on the
registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of
chemicals, and if the free movement of scientists and
engineers is not part of the Brexit agreement? Certainly
defence companies have expressed grave concerns to me about
that.
-
This Government want to continue the free movement of
people with relevant skills. The MOD is already engaging
with the REACH issue. As it happens, I will be meeting
relevant companies tomorrow to discuss the matter. I fully
understand the hon. Lady’s concerns, but the MOD is on top
of the issue and is looking at it closely. I am confident
that we will have an agreement that will benefit both the
United Kingdom and our European Union partners.
-
(Cardiff South and
Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)
BCB International is a fantastic and innovative defence
company, also supplying the civilian and humanitarian
sectors, based in my constituency and in that of my hon.
Friend the Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith). Indeed, I
have eaten ration packs cooked on its fantastic FireDragon
fuel. The company needs support from all Government
Departments to be able to export effectively. Will the
Minister commit to speaking with his colleagues at the
Department for Transport, and perhaps to meeting me, in
order to ensure that it gets support from the whole of
Government to be able to export to other markets, including
the United States?
-
I would be more than delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman
to discuss the issue in more detail. I was very pleased to
visit the company in question in my previous position as a
Wales Office Minister, and it is difficult not to be
impressed by what it provides for our armed services. I am
more than happy to take any opportunity to support the
company and Welsh businesses.
-
(Belfast East)
(DUP)
The portfolio management agreement that the Ministry of
Defence struck with MBDA offers the framework through which
we can achieve innovation with defence suppliers. Is the
Minister considering agreeing more portfolio agreements,
and does he envisage that that will be any time soon?
-
The hon. Gentleman makes a very important point. One of the
first meetings that I had in my new position was with MBDA.
Indeed, I also met its chief executive in Paris recently.
The agreement is an example of what can be done to embed
innovation in the way in which we do procurement. It shows
support for UK-based companies, and a degree of partnership
between the MOD and the companies in question.
-
(Witney) (Con)
May I also welcome the combat air strategy? Will the
Minister please give a commitment that the review will look
not only to ensure that the RAF has the aircraft that it
needs to fight the conflicts of the future, but at how
British industry will deliver them?
-
My hon. Friend is a great champion for the RAF and for his
constituency. I believe that he called for the combat air
strategy before the announcement was made by my right hon.
Friend the Secretary of State. This is indeed about
capability, but it is also about embedding the ability of
UK industry to respond to the needs of the 21st century,
and the combat air strategy will do just that.
-
(Llanelli) (Lab)
There is crippling uncertainty about the customs
arrangements that our defence suppliers will face after
Brexit. This is threatening their ability to innovate and
invest. Just today, Airbus, the RAF’s biggest supplier of
large aircraft, has warned that trade barriers will
seriously impede its ability to move parts across borders.
It is clear that only a comprehensive customs union with
the EU can guarantee frictionless trade, so will the
Minister explain why the Government have ruled out this
option?
-
The Government have been very clear that we want the most
comprehensive free trade agreements possible with the
European Union. A free trade agreement of that nature will
respond to the concerns of industry, especially the
industry supplying the defence sector.
-
The fact of the matter is that ADS, the trade body, has
said that the Government’s preferred options are either
incomplete or so complex that they simply will not be
viable. Why will this Government not listen to the voices
of industry such as ADS and the CBI? Why are they ignoring
those voices and their support for a customs union? Is it
not the case that the Government are putting ideology above
the interests of defence suppliers and pursuing an extreme
Brexit that will damage jobs, our sovereign capability and,
ultimately, our national security?
-
I find it interesting that only a few weeks ago the hon.
Lady was voting against a proposition from her own Back
Benchers for the United Kingdom to stay within the customs
union. It is also the case that the announcement made by
the Leader of the Opposition was about staying within a
customs union, not the customs union; in terms of listening
to the voice of industry, there is not much in common
between what was said by the Leader of the Opposition and
the CBI.
Strategic Threats
-
(Rochdale) (Lab)
Q5. What recent assessment he has made of the preparedness
of the armed forces to adapt to new and changing strategic
threats. [904155]
-
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)
Our armed forces are among the very best in the world.
Through the modernising defence programme we will assess
the ever-changing threats that this country faces, and
understand what we can do to make them ever more effective
at keeping us safe today and into the future.
-
The Defence Secretary will recognise, given his earlier
answers, that the threats that we face—both conventional
and from new forms of technology—are massive and varied,
and come not simply from Russia, but from many different
sources. In that context, he talks about a fiscally
non-neutral defence review. Will he tell us whether the
Chancellor has agreed to sign up to that process?
-
When the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and I met and
agreed the terms of reference of the modernising defence
programme, we were absolutely clear that it was not to be
fiscally neutral. We were to understand what the threats
were and understand the capabilities that were needed, and
make sure that the Ministry of Defence leads a study to
make sure that we are best equipped to deal with those
threats.
-
(Harrow East)
(Con)
Will my right hon. Friend update the House on what progress
has been made on the modernising defence review so that we
can implement what is needed to ensure the defence of the
realm?
-
I assure my hon. Friend that we are making good progress.
As I said earlier, we are opening this up to public
consultation. We are very eager to report back to the House
as quickly as possible, and we hope that that can be done
by June/July, before the NATO summit.
-
We have seen in this past week how our armed forces rise to
the challenge in any weather, but despite our increased
commitment to the Baltic states, cuts to training have left
the Royal Marines with fewer opportunities to develop their
cold weather warfare skills. In January, the Minister for
the Armed Forces said of cuts to training exercises in
Norway:
“I am confident that that was a one-off in-year saving.”
Can the Secretary of State confirm that training will
return to normal levels this year?
-
We have already had 500 Royal Marines training out in
Norway this year, and we look forward to continuing that
collaboration going forward. It is absolutely right to say
that our armed forces are always ready to serve, and when
things are difficult, it is our armed forces who always
step up to the plate.
Defence Co-operation
-
Julia Lopez (Hornchurch and Upminster) (Con)
6. What recent discussions he has had with his European and
US counterparts on maintaining defence co-operation between
the EU and NATO. [904156]
-
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)
I was trying to offload various questions on to my
ministerial colleagues, Mr Speaker. Sadly, they were not
willing to take them. [Interruption.] God loves a trier.
I have regular conversations with my European and US
counterparts on maintaining defence co-operation between
the European Union and NATO. EU-NATO co-operation is key to
combating the breadth of challenges we face, and the
institutions must work together in a way that is
complementary and prevents duplication. The UK will
continue to support better working between the EU and NATO
while we remain in the EU and after we leave.
-
Julia Lopez
I thank the Secretary of State for taking my question.
Following the recent signing of the permanent structured
co-operation pact between 25 EU nations, what role does he
envisage for the UK after Brexit in ensuring that the EU’s
future defence co-operation plans enhance NATO rather than
detract from it?
-
There have always been traditional tensions within the
European Union as to which way it would like to take its
role in defence. We want to work with our European Union
partners. We must not forget, however, that 80% of NATO’s
defence is provided by countries outside the European
Union. We should not see leaving the European Union as a
step towards making the continent of Europe less safe.
Indeed, it is fair to say that in the decades before the
European Union was invented, NATO was already keeping the
continent safe, incredibly successfully. We want to have
the opportunity to work closely with our European Union
partners, but equally we want to make sure that that does
not detract from the amazing work that NATO does.
-
(East Lothian)
(Lab)
The European Defence Agency does not envisage third-party
countries joining, so is that one of the agencies that the
Government will be seeking an administrative arrangement
with?
-
We are very happy to discuss how best we can work with our
European partners, but we do not want to do anything that
diminishes what we agreed to on 23 June 2016, which is
exiting the European Union. If we can work in a pragmatic
way with European partners, that is good, but let us not
forget that most of what we do in, say, equipment
programmes is done through bilateral relationships, not
through the European Union.
Armed Forces Covenant
-
(Corby) (Con)
8. What steps he is taking to encourage more organisations
to participate in the armed forces covenant. [904159]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr
Tobias Ellwood)
The armed forces covenant annual report was published in
December 2017. I am pleased to say that more than 2,000
organisations and companies are now signed up. The new
cross-Whitehall body, the veterans board, chaired by the
Defence Secretary, is used to ensure that all Government
Departments meet their covenant commitments.
-
I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer.
What conversations has he had with colleagues in the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about
ensuring that there is better understanding in local
government of their duties and obligations and what they
need to be doing under the covenant?
-
Mr Ellwood
My hon. Friend raises an important point. It is important
that each Department understands its commitments. That is
why I stressed the importance of the veterans board, on
which the Secretaries of State of all the Departments are
represented. We now have proper assessment techniques to
make sure that Departments’ commitments—in that case, to do
with housing—are met.
-
(Merthyr Tydfil and
Rhymney) (Lab)
Members across the House and people across the country were
horrified to read last week that the Ministry of Defence
had taken money raised from the LIBOR funds that was
supposed to benefit forces charities and support the
delivery of the armed forces covenant, and instead spent it
on projects—albeit worthy ones—that should be part of
routine departmental spending. We know that things are bad
in the MOD, but it can hardly consider itself a charity.
Can the Minister tell the House how that was allowed to
happen? More importantly, will the Ministry be paying the
money back?
-
Mr Ellwood
I also saw those comments in the press. It is important to
understand that LIBOR grants are there for additional
facilities. The MOD has a responsibility to provide core
activities. Obviously there is a grey area between a core
activity and an additional facility. I am more than happy
to look at the details of what the hon. Gentleman raises,
and I will write to him.
Conditions of Service
-
(Angus)
(Con)
17. What plans he has to introduce greater flexibility in
the conditions of service for the armed forces. [904168]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr
Tobias Ellwood)
Members will recall that the Armed Forces (Flexible
Working) Bill passed its Third Reading on 29 January 2018
and has now received Royal Assent. It will allow Regular
armed forces personnel to work part time for a temporary
period, subject to the operational capability of the
applicant’s unit.
-
I thank the Minister for his reply. In order to recruit and
retain people in the armed services these days, it is
important to have more flexible terms and conditions. How
rapidly does he think that will happen? Will it be
implemented now or in two or three months?
-
Mr Ellwood
I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s question. It is
important to recognise that we need to reflect the needs
and aspirations of civilian society. Flexible capability
has already been introduced, and the process is ongoing.
The Bill has received Royal Assent, as I mentioned, and
will come into force in April 2019.
-
It is extremely important that we continue to make careers
in the armed forces desirable through measures such as
flexible working. However, in Scotland, due to the SNP
Government, personnel will be paying higher taxes than
their colleagues south of the border. Will my right hon.
Friend do all he can to clear up the ill-thought-out mess
that the SNP has created?
-
Mr Ellwood
I am not sure there is much more to add than
“ill-thought-out mess”.
-
(Great Grimsby)
(Lab)
On the conditions of service, it is also right that
servicemen and women who become unfit for duty should have
a system that supports them that is fit for purpose. We
know that currently, it is not. The Minister said that his
Department would publish a response to the February 2017
review of the armed forces compensation scheme a year after
publication. Where is it?
-
Mr Ellwood
I will certainly write to the hon. Lady with the details of
that. She is absolutely right; we want to see people
recuperate, recover and get back on to the frontline. One
of the big changes last year was our mental health and
wellbeing strategy, which does exactly that—it removes the
stigma that sometimes is attached to people coming forward,
to make it clear when there is an issue that needs to be
dealt with, so that they can get back on to the frontline.
I will write to her.
-
(Torfaen)
(Lab)
Many constituents who have given outstanding service to our
country have come to me with mental health problems. How
can we ensure that the conditions of service also include
post-service follow-up, to give these people the care they
need?
-
Mr Ellwood
That leads on nicely from the answer that I just gave. The
mental health strategy was brought in. It was not working
well before, and people were reluctant to come forward. We
now have 11 major departments across Britain established in
the main hubs of where our armed forces are based that are
designed to assist people in stepping forward and dealing
with mental health issues. We should also recognise that
the armed forces 24/7 military mental health helpline,
which allows direct access to support 24/7, was launched
last week.
NATO Modernisation
-
Mr (Yeovil) (Con)
10. What recent discussions he has had with his
international counterparts on NATO modernisation. [904161]
-
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)
At last month’s NATO defence ministerial, we discussed NATO
modernisation. This is a UK priority, and my ambition is
for a modern NATO, fit to face the new global challenges
and delivering against its commitments. We will take
further decisions to modernise the alliance when Defence
Ministers next meet in June and at the next NATO summit in
Brussels in July.
-
Mr Fysh
UK defence equipment manufacturers can bolt on to EU
defence programmes. For example, with its unmanned systems
project with the MOD, Leonardo in Yeovil is well placed to
help Leonardo in Italy with its recently awarded EU defence
project in multinational unmanned systems integration. Can
my right hon. Friend assure us that such co-operation will
happen without the UK submitting to EU defence operational
and equipment investment governance that may risk
undermining NATO?
-
Yes, I can.
Pay and Retention
-
Mr (Coventry South)
(Lab)
12. What assessment he has made of the effect of the
delayed pay increase on retention in the armed forces.
[904163]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr
Tobias Ellwood)
Pay rates are recommended by the independent Armed Forces
Pay Review Body. We look forward to receiving its next set
of recommendations later in the spring. We have made clear
to all personnel that any award, once announced, will be
backdated to 1 April 2018.
-
Mr Cunningham
Is the Minister actually saying that the pay increase for
the armed forces has been delayed, and if so, when does he
intend to implement it?
-
Mr Ellwood
As I say, we are waiting for the report to come through. It
is unfortunate that we have had to introduce this pay
restraint, but we should not lose sight of why pay
restraint was introduced in the first place. It was because
the previous Government were living beyond their means.
[Interruption.] Only with the return to a strong economy
can we responsibly increase public sector pay.
-
(Leeds North East)
(Lab)
Last week, we saw how our armed forces stepped up to help
with the chaos caused by the very challenging weather
conditions. Does the Minister not agree that these brave
men and women therefore deserve more than a 1% pay rise—it
is, in fact, a real-terms pay cut—and will he make that
clear to the pay review body?
-
Mr Ellwood
It actually works the other way around, but I agree with
the hon. Gentleman in that I would like to see an increase
of more than 1%. However, I go back to the rather delicate
point, which was received with a bit of hostility by
Opposition Members, that we cannot lose sight of the fact
that they must have a sense of responsibility in making
sure we have a strong economy so that we can increase
public sector pay across the board.
If I may, I will just underline the wider point I made last
week that without strong defence in this fast-changing and,
indeed, dangerous world, a strong economy cannot in fact be
guaranteed. That is why I said that 2% of GDP on defence is
not enough. Thanks to the efforts of this Defence
Secretary, we now have an opportunity to make the case and
to put the argument through the defence modernisation
programme for the more robust defence posture that will
ensure we retain access to the very vital international
markets that will help our economy.
NATO Operations: Estonia and Poland
-
(Braintree)
(Con)
13. What contribution the UK is making to NATO reassurance
operations in Estonia and Poland. [904164]
-
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster)
The UK has a key role in NATO’s enhanced forward presence
by leading a battlegroup in Estonia and contributing to a
US-led battlegroup in Poland. We have deployed about 800
personnel to Estonia and about 150 to Poland. These
deployments are but part of our broader commitment to NATO
and its assurance measures on the alliance’s eastern flank.
-
I thank the Minister for that response. Does he agree with
me that both our security and our economy rely on the
confidence placed in us by our NATO allies that we will, in
the event of an article 5 situation, be both ready and
willing to support our eastern flank NATO allies?
-
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. It is
absolutely right that hard power is an important part of
maintaining our defence and security. Indeed, the
vice-chief of the defence staff said the same last week,
and he made a strong case for spending more on defence. Our
armed forces and our civilians in defence must and do work
in partnership with other Departments in international
development and, indeed, diplomacy.
Recruitment Partnership Project
-
Recruiting people into our armed forces today is more
important than ever. The Defence Secretary said recently:
“We’re working closely with Capita to make the contract
work better”. Can the Minister give some specific examples
of that work? How will he assess whether performance has
improved, and in what timeframe?
-
Defence has been working closely with Capita on a
recruitment improvement plan, which is now being
implemented. Initial signs are promising. We now expect
Capita to deliver on improvements in converting applicants
to enlistees. We will monitor progress closely in the
coming months, including ensuring that the new defence
recruiting system reaches full operating capability as
quickly as possible.
-
Mr (Basildon and
Billericay) (Con)
23. Although many of us believe that the Regular Army
should be closer to 100,000 in strength, it appears that we
are struggling to reach even the reduced figure of 82,000.
What more can our Government do to ensure that we increase
recruitment, and maintain at those levels, to get closer to
82,000? [904175]
-
There is an awful lot going on at the moment. We are
working closely with Capita. It would be wrong to say that
there have not been challenges in implementing the defence
recruiting system. There is also a change in demographics
in the UK. That is why we are working so hard to widen our
recruiting base and have set targets to recruit from both
the BAME—black, Asian and minority ethnic—and female
populations. There has been an increase of some 2.6% over
the year, but we must do all we can to continue to ensure
that joining the armed forces is an attractive occupation.
I am particularly proud that the Army is now the largest
employer of apprentices in the UK, which is something that
we intend to continue.
Mental Health Support
-
(Southport) (Con)
15. What steps he is taking to improve mental health
support for members of the armed forces and veterans.
[904166]
-
(Dudley South) (Con)
16. What steps he is taking to improve mental health
support for members of the armed forces and veterans.
[904167]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr
Tobias Ellwood)
The Ministry of Defence works with a range of partners to
ensure that service personnel and veterans receive the best
mental health support possible. There has been a
comprehensive overhaul of our approach to mental health, as
I mentioned earlier, with our mental health and wellbeing
strategy. However, I stress that the number of mental
health cases dealt with in the armed forces is smaller than
in the general civilian population.
-
Does my right hon. Friend agree that organisations such as
SSAFA, which runs a weekly support group in my constituency
of Southport, play an essential role in providing help and
support to veterans, including any mental health support
they may need?
-
Mr Ellwood
There are over 400 military charities that support not just
our armed forces and the veterans, but the whole veterans
family—the community—and SSAFA is just one of them. It does
immensely important work in providing the support that our
armed forces and veterans not only deserve, but request.
-
Mental health problems place a great strain on
relationships, while family breakdown can worsen mental
health issues. Will the Minister ensure that mental health
support extends to service personnel families, with a
particular focus on providing support to keep military
families together?
-
Mr Ellwood
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is often not the
person themselves who steps forward to recognise there is a
mental health concern, but the partner, or the husband or
wife, a family member or maybe a comrade in their unit. It
is important that we provide the necessary support, which
we are doing. It is a very macho environment, and
unfortunately there has been a stigma attached to putting
one’s hand up and saying there is issue, but we are moving
forward, not just in society but in the armed forces, in
challenging that.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
Order. I am sure the House will want to join me in
welcoming the visit of a delegation of distinguished
Canadian parliamentarians here in the House today: our very
good friends from Canada—thank you—who are accompanied by,
among others, the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew
Percy).
-
Mr (Jarrow) (Lab)
I am dealing with the sad case of a young man in my
constituency who was injured out of the Army, but did not
get the treatment he needed. Apparently he slipped through
the net because of his junior rank. Will the Minister
review his systems to make sure that this does not happen
in future?
-
Mr Ellwood
The hon. Gentleman is very pertinent in what he says. We
should have a robust system that can ensure that no person
is left behind in any way. I would be more than happy to
speak to him afterwards to see what more can be done to
help that individual.
In the light of who our guests are, may I say thank you to
the Canadians? We held a “Five Eyes” conference on mental
health and veterans issues last year, where we compared
notes from the “Five Eyes” community to improve all our
contributions and better support for our armed forces
personnel and veterans.
-
(Kingston upon Hull West
and Hessle) (Lab)
Sadly, some veterans return from service with mental health
conditions and are faced with a shameful lack of resources
to help them transition back into civilian life and find
employment. I am very proud that a local Hull charity
founded by Paul Matson, Hull 4 Heroes, provides them with
that much needed support network and voice. Will the
Minister join me in celebrating its work, and will he
commit to providing our veterans with all the support for
transition they desperately need?
-
Mr Ellwood
The hon. Lady is absolutely right. Our transition
intervention liaison service works specifically to ensure
that the needs of individuals are met as they make the
transition from being in the armed forces to being a
veteran. I join her in paying tribute to that charity. All
such charities across the country—some small, some large—do
a huge amount of very important work.
Topical Questions
-
Dr (Sleaford and North
Hykeham) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities. [904176]
-
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)
I thank our armed forces for doing an incredible job to
support those affected by the recent treacherous weather
across the United Kingdom. From Devon to Scotland, 328
service personnel, 124 vehicles and a Chinook helicopter,
which is currently operating in Cumbria, have transported
staff delivering critical care and services to and from
hospitals, delivered medicines to vulnerable people in the
community and assisted police in evacuating members of the
public stranded in vehicles. My Department and the armed
forces stand ready to assist with any further calls for
support.
-
Dr Johnson
I would like to put on record my thanks to the armed forces
who came out in Lincolnshire over the past few days to
support us.
The physical fitness of our servicemen and servicewomen is
extremely important, yet sports facilities at RAF Cranwell,
used by the military and local communities alike, are
currently in a poor state of repair. I have received
correspondence from constituents with particular regard to
the lights for the astroturf. Will my right hon. Friend
confirm when they will be repaired, and will he ask the
Minister responsible for the Defence Infrastructure
Organisation to come and see for himself the fitness
training and other facilities at RAF Cranwell that require
repair?
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
Order. I gently remind colleagues that topical questions
must be shorter. Forgive me. I am sure it was a very good
question, but if people are going to have a script it needs
to be much shorter. We have a lot to get through.
-
I can absolutely promise that the Under-Secretary of State
for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for
Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) is going to visit and take
part in the assault course. Let me make it clear to Hansard
that we are talking about my right hon. Friend the Member
for Bournemouth East doing the assault course, not the
right hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Gavin
Williamson).
-
Mr Speaker
I am sure that is very reassuring to the nation.
-
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(LD)
T2. After the Secretary of State’s statement that
terrorists cannot harm us and his ministry was forced to
admit that its drone policy was misleading and erroneously
drafted, will the Secretary of State tell the House whether
it is the policy of the UK Government to kill people
outside warzones? [904177]
-
Our Department and our armed forces always operate within
the letter of UK and international law. Do our armed forces
step up to keep our country safe from terrorist threats?
Yes they do, and they will continue to do so. I am very
proud of the amazing work they do to keep this country
safe. I hope the right hon. Gentleman is also proud.
-
(Morecambe and
Lunesdale) (Con)
T6. Will my right hon. Friend congratulate the British Army
for all the work it has done, in conjunction with the
Malawi Government, to protect elephants in Malawi? The
ivory trade has seen a reduction in the number of elephants
from 4,000 10 years ago to 2,000 now. Something must be
done and thankfully the British Army is helping. [904181]
-
Our armed forces play an incredibly important role in
training rangers to stop the vile trade of ivory poaching.
I am very pleased that we have been able to extend the
scheme and continue the amazing work with Governments
across Africa to ensure that majestic animals such as
elephants are protected.
-
(Ilford North)
(Lab)
T3. Uniformed cadets, like 241 Squadron air cadets in my
constituency, do an amazing job of producing well-rounded,
empowered young people. I invite the Minister to look at
the funding provided across government to our uniformed
cadets, which clearly offer much better value for money
than some other Government-funded youth programmes.
[904178]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr
Tobias Ellwood)
I hope that the hon. Gentleman will join me in paying
tribute to the 126,000 cadets that we have in this country.
Being a cadet provides a wonderful introduction to our
armed forces and what they can do, giving confidence to
youngsters. I will certainly look at that individual case.
Charities are involved in different ways in supporting our
cadets and I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman
afterwards.
-
(Chippenham)
(Con)
T7. I look forward to hearing the details this week of the
new scheme offering £40,000-worth of bursaries to military
veterans to retrain as teachers. Does the Minister agree
that focusing on priority subjects is another example of
how we are trying to plug the STEM skills gap? [904182]
-
We have the most amazing resource in the armed forces—our
people—and we want to give them the very best opportunities
as they leave the armed forces. The bursary scheme offering
up to £40,000 for them to train as teachers is a great
opportunity. Our armed forces often have some amazing
technical expertise that they will be able to bring
straight to schools to benefit future generations.
-
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
T4. Under “A Better Defence Estate,” the Secretary of State
plans to close the state-of-the-art medical facilities in
York and the upgraded First Division headquarters. Can he
say how much this is costing the taxpayer? [904179]
-
Mr Ellwood
The hon. Lady will be aware that the MOD owns 2% of the
land in the United Kingdom. There is a rationalisation
programme to make sure that we can provide the housing for
the future, and therefore, bases are being closed. Others
are being opened and being invested in as well. I am happy
to look at the individual case and discuss what can be done
for the future.
-
Mr Speaker
Succinctness personified—I call Sir .
-
Sir (New Forest West)
(Con)
T10. What personnel have been reassigned to recruitment?
[904185]
-
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster)
There is a contingency plan, which we are looking at very
closely, where we will be moving probably about 150
personnel to act as role models on the frontline for
recruiting.
-
(Portsmouth South)
(Lab)
T5. There is a still a great deal of confusion and concern
around the future basing arrangements for the Army Reserve.
Could the Minister tell us when we might expect more
information to be published on this important matter?
[904180]
-
One of the complexities of the Reserve estate is that much
of it is owned not by the Ministry of Defence, but by the
Reserve forces themselves. This is adding some complexity,
but we hope to be able to update the House in due course.
-
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the further set of
defence commitments reached by the Prime Minister and
President Macron at the summit in January represents not
just the deepening of this important bilateral
relationship, but a strengthening of NATO?
-
The co-operation that our country has with France is second
to none. The Anglo-French summit signposts an important
development in that relationship—not just in terms of
operations going forward, but about how best we can
collaborate in terms of our defence industries.
-
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
T8. How well is the latest Army recruitment campaign going?
[904183]
-
As I mentioned earlier, we have seen some improvement in
recent weeks. The numbers are increasing and that is a
positive sign.
-
(Havant) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating
Lockheed Martin, which is based in Havant, on having just
been awarded the contract to build the new missile defence
system for the Type 26 frigate?
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
(Guto Bebb)
I am very pleased to join my hon. Friend in congratulating
the company. The Type 26 is a fantastic ship for the Navy,
and I think the fact that, again, we see UK industry
providing components for the Type 26 is an example of the
way in which the Ministry of Defence is contributing to
innovation and growth in the UK economy.
-
Mr Speaker
I call —[Hon. Members: “Hear,
hear!] The hon. Lady just did not how popular she was.
-
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
T9. I am enjoying the recognition, Mr Speaker. The National
Audit Office has revealed that the cost of the Dreadnought
and Astute programmes has now risen by nearly £1 billion.
Can the Secretary of State confirm that there will be no
further cuts to conventional forces to meet the rising
costs of Trident? [904184]
-
I can assure the hon. Lady that our at-sea continuous
nuclear defence programme is within budget, and there will
be no impact on the rest of the defence budget as a result
of the work that we are doing in relation to our submarine
capability.
-
(Aldershot) (Con)
Today’s Daily Telegraph continues to report grave concerns
about the Iraq fatality investigations unit. Will the
Minister agree to urgently review the case of Major Robert
Campbell and offer reassurance to our service community
that the bond of trust between soldiers and the Government
remains intact?
-
My hon. Friend makes a powerful point. This is not about
process but about people and the Government’s obligation to
look after them, and a balance needs to be struck between
supporting our service personnel and veterans and the right
of Iraqi families to find out what happened to their loved
ones. I should add that an Iraq fatality investigation
cannot lead to a criminal conviction, but I will look
carefully at what he has said.
-
(Edinburgh West)
(LD)
Can the Minister confirm that Carillion was the largest
provider of facilities and management services for the MOD
and whether there are any gaps in services at the 360 UK
defence sites and establishments it reportedly had
contracts for?
-
Mr Ellwood
Our joint ventures included agreements put forward ahead of
time to make sure that if one partner was to step back, the
other would continue to work, and that is exactly what has
happened right across the MOD.
-
(Stafford) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend pay tribute to UK peacekeepers in
South Sudan and elsewhere across the world?
-
I would very much like to pay tribute to the amazing
peacekeeping work that our armed forces do in so many
areas, South Sudan being a perfect example. It goes to show
what an amazing impact our armed forces have in projecting
Britain’s influence in all parts of the globe.
-
(Bristol West)
(Lab)
What assessment has the Secretary of State carried out of
the preparedness of our armed forces for any expansion in
the Syrian war, given the proxy conflict between Russia and
America in that zone?
-
Conservative Members have always recognised the importance
of being fully engaged in what is happening in Syria and
Iraq, and we will continue to look at that exceptionally
closely. I am incredibly honoured that our armed forces are
playing a vital role in degrading the Daesh terror cult,
and that is what we will continue to do going forward.
-
(Witney) (Con)
What assessment have Ministers made of the contribution of
defence to UK plc in protecting the trade that forms such
an important part of our economy?
-
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight that issue.
The MOD is one of the largest customers of UK plc and
supports over 20,000 apprenticeships throughout the UK. It
is clear that the MOD contributes significantly to the
prosperity agenda across the UK.
-
(Rhondda) (Lab)
The incidence of traumatic brain injury among the armed
forces is much higher than it is even in the general
population. How will we make sure that every single member
of the armed forces who has such an injury gets the full
rehabilitation they require?
-
Mr Ellwood
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. We want to make
sure we provide the necessary support to all those
affected, although I would question whether the incidence
is higher than among the general population. The new
process we are putting forward, including the helpline
launched last week by the Defence Secretary, will make sure
that we can meet our covenant promise.
-
Mr (Basildon and
Billericay) (Con)
Reports suggest that of the near 100,000 who wanted to join
the Army last year, only 7,500 actually made it, in part
because of time delays. What can be done to streamline the
recruitment process?
-
My hon. Friend makes a valuable point. We have identified
as a key problem the time of flight between application and
enlisting in the Army. Shortening this period and making
sure we get the maximum number of people through the system
is the main focus of our work at the moment.
-
Mr Speaker
For a short single-sentence question without commas or
semicolons, I call .
-
(Newcastle upon Tyne
Central) (Lab)
Why has the mechanised infantry vehicle programme not got
an acquisitions strategy—never mind that the contract has
only three years to go—when it could bring mechanised
vehicles back to Newcastle?
-
I can assure the hon. Lady that announcements will be made
before the end of the financial year.
-
Mrs (Washington and
Sunderland West) (Lab)
The parents of Corporal Simon Miller are yet to receive
justice for their son, one of the Red Caps murdered in Iraq
in 2003. I have written to Ministers over many years on
this issue. Will the Minister agree to meet me and the
Millers to find some justice for their son?
|
