Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Joy Morrissey Excerpts
Monday 21st September 2020

(4 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gagan Mohindra Portrait Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)
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What steps his Department is taking to ensure that armed forces capability is adequate to tackle future security threats.

Joy Morrissey Portrait Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) (Con)
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What steps his Department is taking to ensure that armed forces capability is adequate to tackle future security threats.

Ben Wallace Portrait The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)
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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.

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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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.

Joy Morrissey Portrait Joy Morrissey
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Following recent media reports, what more can my right hon. Friend say on the role that Defence Intelligence plays in assessing threats and our ability to counter them? Will he consider meeting me about an issue concerning a former MOD intelligence training site in Beaconsfield?

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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Defence Intelligence uses its 4,500 exceptionally talented staff to collect, analyse and exploit intelligence. By working internationally and with other Departments, it is able to judge today’s threat and tomorrow’s and ensure that that feeds into the future design under the integrated review.