Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts

Monday 5th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey) [V]]

Defence has collaborated with the Home Office on this issue for several years, providing a range of support, including surface vessels, surveillance aircraft and planning expertise. Most recently, Defence has provided planning support to catalyse operations for this summer, and we continue to work closely with the Home Office to identify where defence capability can most appropriately support Border Force to address this important issue.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) [V]]

  This week we learned that the Ajax programme has been withdrawn for a second time, on health and safety grounds. Experts say the problems are so serious that the Government should cancel the £5.5 billion deal. Does the Minister agree that Britain’s defence procurement strategy wastes billions of pounds and actually puts lives at risk?