Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Bryant Excerpts
Monday 20th November 2023

(1 year, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Cartlidge Portrait James Cartlidge
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It is brilliant to see south-west colleagues standing up for the defence sector in their constituencies, and my hon. Friend is right about Supacat—it is a brilliant platform. In February 2023 Supacat was awarded a £90 million contract by the MOD for 70 high-mobility truck vehicles, to be delivered by the end of the financial year, securing 100 jobs in the UK. Supacat already has two other direct contracts with the MOD for the Jackal military enhancement programme, which is valued at a total of £4.5 million.

Chris Bryant Portrait Sir Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)
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We must ensure that Putin does not win. We must co-operate and help with the reconstruction of Ukraine. Is it not time that we started seizing Russian state assets to help pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine?

Grant Shapps Portrait Grant Shapps
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A long time ago, when the war started, I was Transport Secretary. We seized quite a lot of yachts and aircraft, which have still not been released, to ensure that they did not benefit from their closeness to Putin. The hon. Gentleman is right that over time we must keep cranking up the different ways by which we ensure that money is not flowing to that regime, and we will continue to keep that under review.