Oral Answers to Questions

Jamie Wallis Excerpts

Tuesday 12th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wallace]

My right hon. Friend makes an important point that there are adversaries and competitors around the world seeking to use this horrendous outbreak not only to exploit our differences, but to further their ambitions. I urge them to focus on the matter at hand, which is tackling covid collectively around the world, rather than taking advantage of that. On the point about the NSC, the decision to call an NSC meeting is a matter for the Government Security Directorate in the Cabinet Office, the Cabinet and the Prime Minister. It is not the case that, by not having such a meeting, we have no agenda on security. We meet the threat every single day and, indeed, many of the decisions made at NSC are enduring and do not need to be refreshed unless there is a major turn of events. We will keep the situation under review, as will, I know, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

What support his Department has provided in tackling the covid-19 outbreak.

[David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)]

What support his Department has provided in tackling the covid-19 outbreak.

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

On any given day, up to 4,000 men and women of the armed forces support the Government’s response to covid.

[Dr Wallis [V]]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, in times of crisis such as the current covid-19 pandemic, our best approach is a united one? Can he therefore describe how the military has helped the people of Wales in dealing with covid-19?

[Mr Wallace]

Joint Military Command Wales has provided mobile decontamination teams and drivers to support the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust. It has also provided general duties personnel to unload PPE from aircraft at Cardiff Airport and transfer it to civilian trucks for onward distribution to Bridgend. As of 10 May, there are 30 military planners also embedded with the Welsh Government.