Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Hall Excerpts

Monday 22nd October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

Every time there is such a request, we consider it very closely, to see how best we can offer help and support. We recognise the dreadful plight that so many people are suffering in Syria. The Ministry of Defence and our armed forces will always be there to support important humanitarian work.

[Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)]

14. What assessment he has made of the importance of NATO to UK national security.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)]

Earlier this month I met my counterparts in NATO to discuss efforts to strengthen the alliance, including further burden sharing and working with allies so that they can step up their efforts to tackle today’s threats, including by deterring malicious cyber-attacks.

[Luke Hall]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the UK should continue to play a leading role in NATO, and that working with our allies to combat terrorism and the increasingly sophisticated threat of cyber-attacks should remain a priority?

[Gavin Williamson]

We should be incredibly proud of the leading role that we play; we were the first nation to commit our offensive cyber-capabilities to NATO, we have seen an uplift in troop numbers in NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, and we are second only to the United States in supporting NATO and the work it does.

Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Hall Excerpts

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Maggie Throup (Erewash) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to encourage innovation by defence suppliers.

[Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)]

11. What steps he is taking to encourage innovation by defence suppliers.

[Vicky Ford (Chelmsford) (Con)]

20. What steps he is taking to encourage innovation by defence suppliers.

--- Later in debate ---

[Guto Bebb]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Indeed, I would like to take her up on her kind offer of a visit to Baltex, which is an important provider of services to the Ministry of Defence. It is a classic example of a company that is generating key supplies for the Ministry of Defence and for our armed services, and it is being innovative in the way that it does that. Indeed, we see that innovation across the board with Ministry of Defence contractors—they are innovative for the UK economy in addition to supplying our armed forces.

[Luke Hall]

Does the Minister agree that the launch of the RAF’s first satellite, Carbonite-2, using British technology, is to be welcomed, and can he update the House on whether space technology will be part of the combat air strategy?

[Guto Bebb]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I am very disappointed not to have been able to visit Surrey Satellite Technology, which developed that facility. Unfortunately, my visit did not take place last Thursday owing to the weather.

This is a significant development. From my perspective, it is an example of innovative thinking being developed by the MOD and the Air Force. Even more importantly, it was a concept only 10 months ago and it has now been procured. Obviously, as part of our combat air strategy, the way in which we interlink with satellite technology will be a key consideration for the Ministry of Defence.

Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Hall Excerpts

Monday 12th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

As the hon. Gentleman knows and, I think, supported at the time, we have had to reduce the number of bases to ensure that our servicemen and women are in better accommodation in fewer remote areas, and in places where their spouses and partners have more chance of getting into employment. Obviously, civilian jobs may be affected. We have plenty of time. We have set out the generous timescales for discussion. The moves are not immediate and we will certainly do everything we can to ensure that those civilians are properly looked after.

[Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)]

T4. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to increase Britain’s defence representation around the world, to promote our security and prosperity?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

This year we have established regional defence staffs in the Gulf, based in Dubai; in Asia-Pacific, based in Singapore; and in Africa, based in Abuja. That fulfils the defence engagement commitment that we made in the strategic defence review last year. The new regional defence staffs will work with our international partners to protect and advance our interests by reinforcing bilateral and multilateral defence relationships.

Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Hall Excerpts

Monday 12th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

We do not, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, comment in this House on the deployment of our special forces in any country in the world, but he raises an important point about de-confliction of the airspace. At the moment, we are party to the agreement between Russia and the United States, and that agreement ensures that there is minimum risk of collisions or misidentification of aircraft. That, obviously, will continue to be the case after the ceasefire, which we hope will take effect tonight.

[Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)]

24. May I ask my right hon. Friend to update the House on when the additional trainers that he has announced will be deployed to Iraq to support the liberation of the Iraqi people from Daesh?

[Michael Fallon]

I announced in June that we would be sending another 250 British troops to the al-Asad airbase in western Iraq to complement the Danish training programme, as part of what is called the building partner capacity effort. I am very pleased to tell my hon. Friend that the advance party from 4 Rifles arrived in the last few days at al-Asad airbase.