Oral Answers to Questions

Rosie Cooper Excerpts

Monday 7th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab)]

What support the armed forces are providing during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

What support the armed forces are providing during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

[Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)]

What support the armed forces are providing during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[James Heappey]

First of all, I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind words about the service personnel who have been at work in his constituency. Defence will generate as much as we can possibly generate to meet the needs of the Government. At the moment, 13,500 personnel are in readiness. We are looking at how we might generate more if required. No such demand signal has yet come from the Health Secretary, but if it did we would see what we could do. Of course, we have the opportunity, given that we have placed the mobilisation orders in the House, to look at how we might generate our reserves to participate in the response as well.

[Rosie Cooper [V]]

Our armed forces have helped to deliver successful whole-town testing in Liverpool, and we have heard today that the Ministry of Defence plans to use MACA—military aid to the civil authorities—support for more testing and preparations to roll out covid vaccines. Can the Minister indicate whether good quality local accommodation, together with extra funds, will be provided to the armed forces to help them with this vital work?

[James Heappey]

Clearly, these are matters for operational commanders, but my expectation would of course be that those we deploy to do this important work at such an important moment for our nation are properly accommodated and fed while doing those duties.