Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Monday 11th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

We will be examining what capability our fisheries protection fleet needs. Three offshore patrol vessels are currently engaged in this work, so we will be considering whether that needs to be expanded and how to fund it properly.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

2. What recent assessment he has made of the affordability of his Department’s equipment plan 2017 to 2027.

[Graham P. Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab)]

22. What recent assessment he has made of the affordability of his Department’s equipment plan 2017 to 2027.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Guto Bebb)]

We are taking steps to ensure strategic affordability through the modernising defence programme and our annual financial management processes. The cost of the plan is reviewed on an ongoing basis, and we expect to publish the equipment plan financial summary for 2018 to 2028 in the autumn.

[Mr Cunningham]

Can the Minister confirm that the Government still intend to procure the full 138 F-35s, as previously announced?

[Guto Bebb]

It gave me great pleasure to be present at RAF Marham on Wednesday to welcome the first four F-35s. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the first 48 are fully paid for and committed to. We are looking at everything in the modernising defence programme, but the current situation is that we still anticipate the purchase of 138 F-35s.