Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Smith Excerpts
Monday 3rd February 2020

(4 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Heappey Portrait James Heappey
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The Government will undertake the deepest review of Britain’s security, defence and foreign policy since the cold war. The terms of reference will be announced in due course, but the UK combat air strategy that was published in July 2018 will be used to inform the review.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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It is mostly French and Swedish steel that has been used to build our ships recently. Does the Minister agree that it is time to factor in the economic value of awarding defence contracts to UK steel suppliers when making procurement decisions in the future?

James Heappey Portrait James Heappey
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I have already had the opportunity to visit Barrow, which is a shipyard full of British boats. I understand that the order books on the Clyde and at Rosyth are similarly full.