Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to deter Russian expansion in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The UK is one of four nations leading NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, providing the Framework Battalion in Estonia and a reconnaissance squadron in Poland, joining the US-led force there. These defensive but combat-capable forces deliver reassurance to our Allies and deterrence against Russian belligerence. Next year we are deploying Typhoon aircraft to Romania to deliver Southern Air Policing, and will lead NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on delivering the UK's contribution to NATO's enhanced forward presence in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The UK will be the Framework Nation for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia. Detailed planning is now underway with NATO and our Estonian hosts, and with the Governments of France and Denmark, who have indicated that they will deploy forces alongside us.
As agreed at the Warsaw Summit, our enhance Forward Presence forces will deploy in Spring 2017.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the use of Archer type naval vessels to augment the coast guard.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Royal Navy (RN) operates the Archer Class P2000 ships to support the activities of the University RN Units, as well as general navigation and seamanship training.
In line with the principles of Military Aid to Civil Authorities, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) assesses the suitability of various capabilities, not just the P2000 Class, to achieve an effect when support is requested by another Government Department for a specific task. The MOD continues to be involved in the Government's contingency planning activity, but currently there is no formal request for MOD to supply assets in support of the coast guard.