Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 23rd October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

As we leave the European Union, we have to leave the single market and the customs union. Our paper on the foreign policy and defence partnership we seek after we leave the European Union makes it clear that we continue to seek the closest possible co-operation between our defence industry and the defence industries of the continent.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend has already referred to global reach. Given that the United Kingdom probably has a greater capability with that than any armed forces in Europe, is there not a common feeling between the Europeans and the United Kingdom that we could co-operate in future for our mutual defence?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

Yes. Our 2015 strategic defence and security review made it clear that our defence posture will be international by design—we will increasingly be working more closely with our friends and allies around the world. We saw evidence of that co-operation when dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, for example.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 13th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

It is important to recognise that Daesh has lost a considerable amount of territory in Syria as well as in Iraq, not least due to the efforts of the coalition air operation in which the RAF is playing a major part in gathering intelligence and carrying out precision strikes, as recently as yesterday in the area immediately surrounding Raqqa. We will continue to play that part, providing precision air strikes, gathering intelligence from the air and doing what we can to ensure that Daesh is driven out of Syria, as I hope it will shortly be driven out of Iraq.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

8. What international operations the Royal Navy is conducting in support of UK economic interests and the Global Britain campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Trident: Test Firing

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 23rd January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

It might well be that the hon. Lady and members of the watching public would like to know further operational details of our nuclear deterrent, but I am not going to assist them. On her specific point about the Prime Minister, this Prime Minister, like her predecessor, is kept informed about how the nuclear deterrent is maintained, and she was fully aware of the successful return of HMS Vengeance to the four-boat operational cycle.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

Has my right hon. Friend followed the argument made by some Opposition Members that perhaps we would have voted differently had this information been given to us back in July? May I tell my right hon. Friend that that is not the case? We would not have been influenced by the result of one out of many tests. Indeed, is there any Conservative Member who would have voted differently had this information come out? No.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 12th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

It is an intolerable situation: hospitals are being bombed and humanitarian aid convoys are being attacked. It is clear that Russia and the Syrian regime are not prepared to allow the aid that should get in to get in. There were discussions at the meeting of Foreign Ministers in Paris on Saturday, and there will be further discussions in the days ahead, but until Russia lifts its bar on getting aid into parts of eastern Aleppo, my fear is that a large number of people are going to die.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State join me—I am sorry; I have lost my voice, which will please many people in this House. Will the Secretary of State join me in condemning those who have condemned in turn our deployment of troops in Estonia as provocative? Does he agree that the Baltic states themselves have welcomed it in the face of Russian aggression?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 18th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

I thank the hon. Lady for her initial remarks. I note her ambition to move from the Opposition side of the House to the Government side, which was presumably shared by the two previous shadow Defence Secretaries that I have so far come across. Let me just say to her gently that a defence policy of nuclear submarines with no nuclear weapons, that regards Daesh as having “strong points”, and that wants to end the Falkland islanders’ right to self-determination, may be Labour’s defence policy, but it will never be Britain’s defence policy.

In respect of the hon. Lady’s question, the RAF is deploying a range of aircraft on Operation Shader in the middle east, including modern Typhoons and unmanned aircraft alongside the Tornados to which she referred. I can confirm that the RAF is well able to sustain that effort.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

5. What assessment he has made of the effect on UK security and the economy of building four Successor ballistic missile submarines for the nuclear deterrent; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 19th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

I understand that about 10% of the personnel operating in the middle east as part of our operations against ISIL are reservists, and they play an increasing part in our operations around the world.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

6. What the rules of engagement are for the use of remotely piloted aircraft in tackling terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Fallon]

As far as Afghanistan is concerned, we are of course learning the necessary tactical lessons from that campaign, as we do with any campaign. I made the point much earlier that ISIL has to be defeated in both Iraq and Syria. It is somewhat illogical, when ISIL presents such a grave threat to the Government of Iraq, the stability of the region and our own streets, that our aircraft have to turn back at the Iraqi border.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

I was recently appointed president of the 1206 Mercian air cadet squadron. Will my hon. Friend let me and, more to the point, the air cadets know what further opportunities there might be for them to obtain flying experience with the Royal Air Force?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Monday 12th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is a very important matter. The Leader of the Opposition did not repeat Labour’s previous commitment to what matters, which is a continuous-at-sea deterrent. What we cannot have is any kind of part-time deterrent, which would rely on our enemies being part-time as well.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

I have the great pleasure of announcing to the House that I have just been made president of the (Mercian) Squadron Air Training Corps in Lichfield, which is one of the biggest Air Training Corps in the midlands. Will my right hon. Friend maintain his commitment to the Air Training Corps?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Thursday 17th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

Yes; we very much welcome the development of local initiatives that can help promote a more affordable supply of heating oil to consumers. I look forward to seeing my hon. Friend’s final proposals for a pilot project in Northumberland and will then ask my officials to consider what support might be made available to assist him in taking it forward.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

15. What assessment he has made of the potential effects of proposed EU anti-dumping tariffs applicable to solar PV cells manufactured in China; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fabricant and Michael Fallon

Thursday 13th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

As my hon. Friend knows, the Government are making the tax system in the United Kingdom the most competitive in the G20. In 2011, we reduced the small companies rate to 20%. More than 1 million employers will benefit from the new £2,000 employment allowance from next April and nearly 500,000 employers will pay no employer’s national insurance contributions at all from that date.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

10. What progress he has made on making shares in Royal Mail available to its employees; and if he will make a statement.