Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Lewis Excerpts
Monday 13th June 2022

(2 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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Taiwan is obviously a clear and growing point of tension in the Pacific. I regularly speak to our allies, both in NATO and further afield, about those tensions. Here in the United Kingdom we are reminded of Hong Kong’s recent experience and what the read-across could mean for other people who are trying to live freely and within the rule of law. The UK’s position is that the problems between Taiwan and China should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means.

Julian Lewis Portrait Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)
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This week marks the passing of that doughty Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament campaigner ex-Monsignor Bruce Kent. While paying their due respect, will the Government nevertheless reassert the fact that, as long as other countries have nuclear weapons, Britain must never give up its nuclear deterrent?

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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I remember, in my formative years politically, asking the late Mr Bruce Kent a question when I was at school. I do not think I asked the question very well, and I do not think he answered it very well, either. The reality is that Britain’s position is one of multilateral disarmament. It is not a position of unilateral nuclear disarmament.