Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Luke Hall and Gavin Williamson

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.