Oral Answers to Questions

Gagan Mohindra Excerpts

Monday 21st September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Jeremy Quin]

We are proud to support many British companies and the entire UK defence sector. Something like £19.2 billion was given to UK companies in 2018-19 to deliver on our defence needs. This has been brought out through our defence and security industrial strategy—DSIS—of which I look forward to sharing more details with the House when it is delivered later this year.

[Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that armed forces capability is adequate to tackle future security threats.

[Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that armed forces capability is adequate to tackle future security threats.

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

The Ministry of Defence is examining its capability requirements through the integrated review, guided by Defence Intelligence’s understanding of the threats we face now and in the future. We are examining the evolving doctrines, structures and capabilities of our adversaries to ensure that we develop the capabilities required to deliver the operations of tomorrow.

[Mr Mohindra]

The defence industry employs tens of thousands of people. Long-term investment in defence will drive economic growth and support highly paid, highly skilled jobs, all of which is in our national interest. Will my right hon. Friend work with the Treasury to ensure that the defence industry is central to plans for our economic recovery and that an ambitious strategy is reflected in the integrated review?

[Mr Wallace]

I am always happy to work with the Treasury on any number of subjects. Defence’s multibillion-pound investment in the UK powers the skills, innovation and capabilities that keep this country safe, secure and competitive. As a Lancashire MP, Mr Speaker, you will recognise how important the industry is to the skills base in our constituencies. Defence is leading a review of the defence and security industrial strategy to identify steps to ensure a competitive and world-class industrial base that delivers investment, employment and prosperity across the whole United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.