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Written Question
NATO
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the UK’s obligations to NATO are fulfilled.

Answered by James Heappey

NATO remains the cornerstone of the UK's defence and security and we stand by our unwavering commitment to collective defence under to Article 5. of the Washington Treaty.

Our Defence budget is currently the largest of any European Ally, with the UK exceeding its commitments under NATO's Defence Investment Pledge to spend 2% of GDP on defence.

We send Armed Forces personnel to participate in every NATO operation and mission. RAF fast jets are conducting NATO air policing, Royal Navy warships patrol the High North and Eastern Mediterranean in NATO deployments and the British Army defends NATO's Eastern Flank in Estonia. Our nuclear deterrent also makes a key contribution to Euro-Atlantic security.

At the NATO Summit, the UK confirmed its forward leaning offer to NATO's future New Force Model, making available more fighter jets, almost all of the Royal Navy, including Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, and more brigade-sized land forces. The UK also played a leading role in shaping NATO's new Strategic Concept to ensure the Alliance continues to adapt to future challenges.


Written Question
Armed Forces
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of Armed Forces personnel.

Answered by James Heappey

The Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper made clear that we must focus on Defence capability rather than troop numbers in response to changing threats and priorities.

There are currently no plans to revise the current targets for the size of the Armed Forces. However, Defence will ensure our strategic approach remains threat-led and as threats emerge, Defence will respond accordingly.


Written Question
Ukraine: Military Aid
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to provide medium-term military assistance to Ukraine.

Answered by James Heappey

Ukraine's current priority is rightly on the immediate fight. We continue to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine with both lethal and non-lethal aid. On 5 July 2022 the department announced a major new training initiative for Ukrainian forces.

The UK continues to liaise closely with Ukraine to understand their medium-term priorities and what support the UK and international community can offer Ukraine, to help them continue to defend their sovereign territory.


Written Question
Ukraine: Military Aid
Monday 13th June 2022

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the UK is taking to provide medium-term military assistance to Ukraine.

Answered by Ben Wallace

Ukraine’s current focus is rightly on the immediate fight and we are continuing to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the provision of both lethal and non-lethal aid to meet their operational requirements. However, the UK is also liaising closely with Ukraine to understand what further military support Ukraine will need, beyond the current conflict, to defend its sovereign territory in the medium and longer term.


Written Question
Babcock International: Pay
Thursday 22nd April 2021

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the pay of Badcock International workers in (a) England and (b) Wales who carry out the same duties in military bases in those countries.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Ministry of Defence has made no comparative assessment. The pay, terms and conditions of Babcock International employees are a matter for the company.


Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 21st September 2020

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

What steps his Department has taken to maintain the overall size of the armed forces since the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Answered by James Heappey

We have made significant progress in delivering the aims of the last Strategic Defence and Security Review. But the global picture has changed since 2015, and we must adapt to the new threats that confront us. That is why the Prime Minister has commissioned the Integrated Review.

I can assure the House that this Government is committed to ensuring that the United Kingdom continues to have the world-class Armed Forces that it needs and deserves.


Written Question
Radar: Wind Power
Monday 10th June 2019

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether her Department plans to consult the offshore wind industry for the radar technology baseline review.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Ministry of Defence has concluded phase one of the radar review following internal and external engagement. This has helped us develop our understanding of the factors we will need to consider in the future development of Radar capability post 2030. We are considering how we take this review forward, which will be informed by the forthcoming Defence Science Expert Committee RF sensing report. We will of course consult with industry in any next steps and this would include the offshore wind industry through the Aviation Management Board, where appropriate to do so.


Written Question
Radar
Monday 10th June 2019

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when her Department plans to conclude the radar technology baseline review; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Ministry of Defence has concluded phase one of the radar review following internal and external engagement. This has helped us develop our understanding of the factors we will need to consider for the future developments of radar capability. We are considering how we take this review forward, which will be informed by the forthcoming Defence Science Expert Committee RF sensing report.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Former Members
Monday 23rd July 2018

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former hon. Members hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within his Department as of 17 July 2018.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

This information is not held.


Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 8th January 2018

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the recommendations of the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland's 2017 Manifesto for the armed forces.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

Last year's Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report to Parliament, published on 18 December 2017, sets out the progress made and future intent across Government and in the Devolved Administrations towards a number of key goals in the Royal British Legion's Manifesto. These include: confirmation from the Office of National Statistics that they will recommend the inclusion of a veterans' marker in the 2021 census; an independent review of the Covenant in Business in 2018 to identify and share best practice, and an intention to consult on statutory guidance for local authorities regarding housing support for divorced and separated spouses of Service personnel.

Defence Ministers were pleased to meet with the Director General of the Royal British Legion, Charles Byrne, in November 2017, and will continue to drive the Covenant agenda forward across Government via the Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board this Year.