Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between James Heappey and Rob Butler

Monday 30th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con)]

T6. Last week, I visited His Majesty’s naval base Clyde with the armed forces parliamentary scheme. I pay tribute to the remarkable men and women we met there who make up our nation’s submarine service. Given that we live in ever more dangerous times, will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Conservative Government remain committed to delivery of the new Dreadnought class of submarines to be based in Scotland to provide a continuous at-sea deterrent and so protect our United Kingdom for decades?

[The Minister for Armed Forces (James Heappey)]

I am glad that my hon. Friend and many other colleagues went to Faslane last week and enjoyed their visit. We are of course committed to the replacement of Vanguard submarines with Dreadnought. More importantly, he mentioned the brilliant people based at Faslane who deliver day in, day out our nation’s nuclear deterrent, unseen under the oceans of the world. They are incredible people doing amazing work.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between James Heappey and Rob Butler

Monday 13th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[James Heappey]

The concept has not been signed off yet. At Defence Minister meetings this week, the Secretary of State will be looking at it further before it goes to the NATO summit in Madrid. As the hon. Lady would expect, Ministers from the MOD and the Secretary of State most obviously are travelling around the Euro-Atlantic all the time in order to have these discussions, and people from other NATO capitals are visiting the MOD, so that we can build a shared consensus before we reach the moment of decision, and the UK has been instrumental in shaping those thoughts.

[Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con)]

A couple of weeks ago, Members from all parts of the House went to Romania with the armed forces parliamentary scheme, where we saw the work being done by the RAF as part of NATO’s air policing role. Will my hon. Friend join me in thanking 140 Expeditionary Air Wing for all it is doing to keep our skies safe? Does he agree that that work is an excellent example of the role of NATO in safeguarding our freedom and security?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between James Heappey and Rob Butler

Monday 15th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[James Heappey]

As I said, the Ministry of Defence did not contract with companies to undertake state-building activity. I will clarify whether Adam Smith International had any role in anything we might count as reconstruction. The hon. Gentleman mentioned the Foreign Office, and his question might be better addressed to colleagues there.

[Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con)]

5. What recent assessment his Department has made of the UK’s contribution through NATO to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area.