Oral Answers to Questions

Ben Everitt Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Iain Stewart]

I know how passionate the hon. Gentleman is about transport matters as I had the pleasure of serving with him on the Select Committee on Transport for a number of years. If he reads through the levelling-up White Paper, which came out today—I appreciate that it is quite a weighty tome, so he might not have had a chance to digest it all yet—he will see in that the measures to which he is referring. We can encourage better connectivity between the different economic centres of the UK. I would be absolutely delighted to see a strengthening of that corridor between Scotland and the north-east of England.

[Ben Everitt (Milton Keynes North) (Con)]

9. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on defence investment in Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

My office and I have regular discussions with the Ministry of Defence on all matters relating to defence in Scotland, including defence investment with industry and commerce in Scotland, which totalled almost £2 billion in 2020-21.

[Ben Everitt]

Scotland is home to the Royal Navy Submarine Service, including our essential independent nuclear deterrent, which protects the whole of the UK. As President Putin continues to escalate his military posture and the aggression on the Ukrainian border—let us be clear that it is President Putin escalating this and not the Russian people—does my right hon. Friend agree that our commitment to defence investment in Scotland, including in Trident, is important, indeed vital, to Scotland’s security as part of the UK and as part of NATO? [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I need to finish these questions. It is in good order that you hear your own Secretary of State.