Nuclear-powered Submarines

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Helen Grant

Monday 18th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

Does the Secretary of State agree that this is great news for British defence generally?

[Mr Hammond]

I agree with my hon. Friend.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Helen Grant

Monday 11th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

I am not aware of a request from the hon. Lady, but the Army and MOD officials have engaged with a number of Members of Parliament who have sought a briefing. She is welcome to come to the Ministry of Defence at any time for a detailed briefing. There appear to be a very small number of her constituents who are opposed to the proposal, and there has equally been significant support from other areas. There is no risk to residents of the building. The water tower at Bow quarter was selected on military advice, because it is the right place to locate this particular defensive equipment.

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

What has been done to keep local people informed about the deployment of those assets in their communities during the Olympic period?

[Mr Hammond]

The Army has engaged with local authorities in the first place, and more recently with local community groups. We have a standing Army capability to go out and engage with any groups that want to be engaged with, and to brief Members of Parliament. I am very happy to brief any Members who are affected by the proposals.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Helen Grant

Monday 26th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

The right hon. Gentleman makes a reasonable point. The United Kingdom’s intention is always to get that balance right. The UAE is a strong and reliable ally and partner. It fought alongside us in Libya and is working alongside us in Afghanistan. In an increasingly fragile security situation in the Gulf, it is a significant ally of the United Kingdom. We always seek to balance the concerns that he has set out against the United Kingdom’s security concerns when making such judgments.

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

3. How much he plans to invest in improving the welfare of families of service personnel in the next year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Helen Grant

Thursday 23rd June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

6. What progress his Department has made on its consultation on High Speed 2.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Philip Hammond)]

I launched the national consultation on high speed rail on 28 February. It will close at midnight on 29 July and decisions will follow by December. The Government consider that a high-speed rail network between London and Birmingham and onward to Manchester and Leeds would drive economic growth and prosperity as well as providing vital new capacity on the west coast corridor.

[Mrs Grant]

Does the Secretary of State also agree that HS2 could bridge the wealth divide that exists between the north and the south?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Helen Grant

Thursday 5th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

What a wonderful piece of opportunism. I can confirm that the consultation closes today. Of course, the previous Administration originally made the proposals to modernise the coastguard. We have listened carefully to the representations, and some very sensible representations have been made about how the reconfiguration might be managed to protect more of the local location of services. Once the consultation is closed, we will publish a summary of the findings and make our response to it.

[Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con)]

T4. Will the Minister meet me as soon as possible to discuss the reinstatement of the Maidstone East to City of London service?