Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Monday 23rd October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

NATO is the cornerstone of our defence. We are leading the battlegroup in Estonia, we have sent troops to Poland and we have sent RAF Typhoons to Romania. By contrast, the Leader of the Opposition does not support collective defence and Young Labour has just voted to withdraw from NATO.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T2. Will the Secretary of State give us an up-to-date report on the implementation of the armed forces covenant, bearing in mind that it was a Labour Government who introduced it in the first place?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Monday 13th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

We welcome the role that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken in leading the effort to discredit the so-called ideology of Daesh. We, too, are leading work on strategic communications, and we recently hosted the very latest coalition conference, which brings together all our international efforts. I am particularly pleased that this campaign is being strengthened by the commitment of Saudi Arabia to rid this religion of its appalling extremism.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T7. Following on from the answer that the Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Gill Furniss), can she name the projects in which British steel is actually being used to safeguard British steelworkers jobs?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Monday 30th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

Yes, I have.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

9. What recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on their continuing role in NATO.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon)]

The new US Defence Secretary, James Mattis, and I have already discussed a range of NATO issues. I welcome his public support for the alliance. The Prime Minister and President Trump also had positive discussions about NATO last Friday. The United Kingdom and the United States will lead forward battalions this year in Estonia and Poland, and I will work with Secretary Mattis on ways to improve NATO’s effectiveness.

[Mr Cunningham]

It is quite true that President Trump has said that he supports NATO 100%, but the American Administration have also said that they would like to see changes in NATO to bring it into the 21st century. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with his opposite number about that? If he has not had such discussions, why does he not start them?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

I have had those discussions, and I look forward to having further discussions when NATO Defence Ministers meet in a fortnight’s time, because we, too, would like NATO to continue to modernise; streamline its bureaucracy and decision making; improve the movement of troops, armour and equipment across its internal borders; and ensure that it can respond more rapidly and more effectively in times of tension.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

2. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the RAF's campaign in Iraq and Syria.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon)]

The RAF’s significant contribution to the fight against Daesh is second only to that of the Americans. To date, we have conducted 1,048 airstrikes in Iraq and 67 in Syria. In Iraq, the RAF has helped Iraqi security forces to halt and push back Daesh, with about three quarters of the current strikes now supporting operations to retake Mosul. In Syria, the RAF has struck oilfields and supported the liberation of al-Shaddadi and Manbij.

[Mr Cunningham]

What further support is the Secretary of State going to give to the Iraqi Kurdish forces in recapturing Mosul? He has outlined an up-to-date version of events, but what further support can he give them?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

We are supporting the Mosul operation through airstrikes, through surveillance and reconnaissance from the air and, above all, through the training that we have supplied to Iraqi and Kurdish forces. I can tell the House that British troops have now trained more than 30,000 Iraqi soldiers, including Kurdish.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T8. When will the Government bring forward a proper reconstruction programme for Syria and parts of Iraq, so that we do not make the same mistake as we made in Iraq years ago?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

This country has led the way in getting money assembled for the reconstruction of Syria. First, of course, we have to get the civil war brought to an end. So far as Iraq is concerned, we have contributed to the United Nations fund. That money is now ready to go in to the reconstruction of the towns that have been liberated and to provide as quickly as possible the power and hospital and school services that the population needs.

Trident

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Tuesday 24th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

I am happy to give the hon. Gentleman that assurance, and I look forward to debating and to the House deciding on the principle of renewing the four submarines—not the Trident missile—next year.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

When will we have a debate on Trident where we actually take a decision?

[Michael Fallon]

The decision had to await the publication of the SDSR yesterday, but I hope we can now take it in 2016. We will then have to get on and start building the Successor submarines, as I shall explain.

Successive Labour and Conservative Governments have judged that a minimum credible nuclear deterrent is critical to our national security—that a nuclear deterrent is the only assured way of deterring nuclear threats and blackmail by nuclear states. For more than 60 years, it has done that job. Whatever side of the argument we are on, let us pay tribute to the crews of HMS Vanguard, Vengeance, Victorious and Vigilant, their families and all those who ensure, and have ensured, that one of those boats is on patrol 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Monday 24th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon)]

My immediate priorities remain our current operations in Afghanistan and against ISIL and Ebola as well as the commitments reached at the NATO summit and the delivery of Future Force 2020. I want to build up our reserve forces and invest in the equipment that our armed forces need to keep Britain safe.

[Mr Cunningham]

Has the Secretary of State noted the comments made today by the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Sir Peter Luff) who said that he is very disappointed

“that there appears to be no public dialogue about the Strategic Defence and Security Review in advance this time round?”

Why are the Government so reluctant to have an open and transparent debate about the future of Britain’s defence?

[Michael Fallon]

There certainly will be a public dialogue and debate about the security review, but the review is planned for next year, and it would be premature to start it before then.

Royal Mail

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Thursday 12th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

It is one of the primary objectives of the sale to secure maximum value for money for the taxpayer, and of course it will be subject to scrutiny in this House, as previous sales have been, and by the National Audit Office.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

The Minister can say what he wants about the work force having a say because it owns 10% of the company, but within a couple of years those shares will be sold. That is what happened at Rolls-Royce. The public will be the loser because they will not get any benefit from the billions of pounds that have been invested in the service. It should remain where it is, and the public should get the benefit of its profitability.

[Michael Fallon]

One point of agreement between the union and me has been the need to ensure longevity so that the shares are held, not sold off the next day, by the work force. They will have to hold the shares for a minimum of three years before they are able to sell. During that time, they will receive dividends and be able to vote on the future policy of the company, and day by day they will see the actual share price.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Thursday 18th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

In a public offering it is not possible to prevent others from subscribing for the shares, but we hope that Royal Mail, given now the freedom— later this year, we hope—to access private capital, will be put on to a longer-term sustainable footing and will be able to develop its business not just here in Britain, but overseas.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

I remember what happened when Rolls-Royce was privatised and the work force were given shares—I did not accept any, by the way. Within about two years those shares will be sold. This is only a sop to the work force.

[Michael Fallon]

I have yet to hear whether the Opposition want to renationalise any of these businesses—Rolls-Royce or British Telecom or British Airways. I think they at least owe it to the 130,000 employees of Royal Mail to make clear whether they would renationalise the business.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Jim Cunningham

Thursday 7th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

10. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the development of the Government’s strategic defence review.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Michael Fallon)]

Preparations for the review are under way. My Department is fully engaged on the industrial aspects. Together with Steve Wadey from MBDA, I co-chair the defence growth partnership, which is addressing the competitiveness of the defence sector and especially how we can better exploit the links between civil and military technologies.

[Mr Cunningham]

May I do something unusual, which is to thank the Secretary of State and the Minister for their help in saving the London Taxi Company in Coventry? What discussions has the Secretary of State or the Minister had with Rolls-Royce on the possible impact of its decision on the supply chain and through job losses?