Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the impact of each additional 0.5% of GDP spent on defence up to 3% of GDP on (a) force readiness and (b) levels of recruitment to the armed forces.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
It is not possible to provide this information as the Department does not undertake its planning activity in this way.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of Carrier Strike Group’s ongoing deployment.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The carrier strike group has not only visited and worked with over 44 nations on its tour, but has had visits from 63 Ministers. It is great convenor and a great presence that, made in Britain, definitely does go around the world showing that Britain can do both soft and hard power, and do it with quality.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the local economy of Clacton constituency of (a) spending and (b) investment by (i) his Department and (ii) the armed forces since 2010; and if he will place that information in the Library.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) over-riding priority is to provide national security for the UK as a whole and its extensive regional footprint exists to provide UK national security.
Spending or investment decisions are appraised on the basis of costs and benefits to UK society overall irrespective of the location of the expenditure, as required by HM Treasury Green Book.
The department does not routinely undertake assessments of the effect of national spending or investment decisions on local economies.
MOD Regional Expenditure with UK Industry and Commerce and Supported Employment is published at the Government Office Regional level as a National Statistic at the following link:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774871/Finance_and_economics_annual_statistical_bulletin_201718.pdf
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to open military roles to women.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Secretary of State confirmed on 25 October that the Infantry and Royal Marines are being opened up to women. Those already serving in the Army can apply to transfer into infantry roles from December, and from January 2019 the Infantry and Royal Marines will be open to external applications from women.
This fulfils the Government commitment to open up all combat roles to women and reflects an Armed Forces that is a modern and inclusive employer which maximises the talent of every individual Service person.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the importance of NATO members’ financial and capability commitments to that organisation.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
US Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis, and I agree that all NATO members must fulfil their commitment to the the Defence Investment Pledge, contribute to the Alliance's operations and missions, and support its work to adapt its structures and ways of working. In this way we can achieve a modern, united Alliance, fit to face the challenges of today and the future, that delivers on the commitments that Allies have made. This will be discussed again at the NATO Summit on 11-12 July.