Oral Answers to Questions

Julie Elliott Excerpts

Monday 19th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)]

2. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK contribution to international efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL.

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

3. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

4. What assessment his Department has made of progress in defeating ISIL.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Fallon]

The UK military is focusing its efforts on areas where we can bring particular expertise and I am pleased to announce today that the new courses of counter-IED training for Iraqi ground forces are starting this week following the Prime Minister’s pledge in the summer that we would increase the number of personnel assisting the Iraqi Government’s counter-ISIL efforts. These 54 personnel, drawn mainly from 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) from Saffron Walden, are delivering life-saving counter-IED instruction to members of the Iraqi security forces at training centres in Bismayah and Taji.

[Julie Elliott]

What assessment has the Secretary of State made of interrupting the flow of oil across ISIS borders over which ISIS holds a monopoly?

[Michael Fallon]

We are part of the international coalition of more than 60 countries, as I said, and the hon. Lady is right that we need to continue to degrade ISIL’s ability to export its oil or to trade in oil across the border areas. There is specific coalition work under way on that. We have more work to do.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Fallon]

Absolutely. Although my Department’s budget is rising again, there will be no let-up in getting more value for money. We have a strong record of delivering efficiency savings, including some £5 billion in the last Parliament. For the first time, as a result of the July Budget, every pound we save can now be reinvested in the frontline rather than handed back to the Treasury, so we can spend more not simply on ships and planes, but on cyber, as we have discussed, and on unmanned aircraft and the latest technologies.

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

T2. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that the UK defence industry, as well as the multibillion pound domestic supply chain, benefits fully from the procurement decisions that will be taken and outlined as part of the forthcoming strategic defence and security review?

[The Minister for Defence Procurement (Mr Philip Dunne)]

This Government have placed a considerable emphasis on maintaining a vibrant and healthy defence industrial supply chain in this country. That is why we set up the defence growth partnership and support British defence companies in major defence export exercises around the world. This Government are not embarrassed to do that and will continue to do so.