Oral Answers to Questions

Allan Dorans Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Johnny Mercer]

It is not true to say that many veterans’ organisations take the same view as the Legion on this case. Neither the Legion nor the Government are the guarantor of the armed forces covenant. I am absolutely 100% sure that this does not breach the armed forces covenant. If we were to wilfully translate it in a way in which it was never intended, then I accept what has been said, but that is not what the armed forces covenant is there to do. It is there to ensure that there is no disadvantage for those who serve, and this Government are the first to legislate, in the armed forces Bill next year, to make it illegal to discriminate against servicemen and women and veterans for their service. I am afraid therefore that I disagree on that point. It is a good Bill. It is fair and proportionate, and people should support it tomorrow.

[Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)]

What recent steps his Department has taken to protect UK territorial waters in the (a) north Atlantic and (b) North sea.

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

What recent steps his Department has taken to protect UK territorial waters in the (a) north Atlantic and (b) North sea.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)]

The protection of UK territorial waters is a cross-Government responsibility.  The Ministry of Defence contributes to this by providing a multi-layered capability to deter incursions into territorial waters. This includes a range of assets based in Scotland, from surface ships and submarines based on the Clyde to the new Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft based at RAF Lossiemouth. That is a good example of how United Kingdom defence contributes to the security of all these islands.

[Allan Dorans [V]]

Can the Secretary of State tell us his plans to ensure that our armed forces can cope with multiple tasks, including combating people and drug trafficking, and foreign incursion into our territorial waters and airspace, as has been seen recently? Will they specifically live up to the Government’s promise to establish a frigate factory on the Clyde?