Defence in the High North

Caroline Nokes Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

Select Committee statement

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

We now come to the Select Committee statement on behalf of the Defence Committee. Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi will speak for up to 10 minutes, during which there will be no interventions, and there will be questions for 10 minutes at the end.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Chair of the Defence Committee and the Committee for all they have done. The Chair outlined the training that the Royal Marines receive to carry out their duties in the High North. If there is a war—we hope there will not be—the Royal Marines will not fight that war on their own, because the Royal Irish Regiment, along with all the other regiments in the British Army, will fight alongside them. What has been done to ensure that the Royal Irish Regiment and other regiments have the same training as the Royal Marines in the High North?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

You have 40 seconds or less to answer, Mr Dhesi

[Mr Dhesi]

Thank you for that steer, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the hon. Gentleman, who is ever present in the Chamber, for his question. The Committee did not look into the capabilities offered by the Royal Irish Regiment, but it is true that it needs to be strengthening their capabilities and training because Britain can only succeed if all regiments are fighting together, just as we can only succeed more widely if we are fighting alongside our NATO allies. We need to deter the threat before there is any conflict or crisis.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

I thank the Chair of the Defence Committee for his statement and his excellent timekeeping.