Oral Answers to Questions

Sally-Ann Hart Excerpts

Monday 6th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wallace]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the fact that defence procurement and innovation should be linked and should link into prosperity and alternatives, using that technology to enhance prosperity across the United Kingdom. During the financial year 2018-19, Defence invested £1.65 billion in research and development, which included £580 million spent on cutting-edge science and technology. Without trying to pre-empt the integrated review, it is absolutely clear that at the heart of it will be not only innovation but a recognition that prosperity is what our taxpayers, at local and UK level, should expect for their money.

[Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the capabilities of the armed forces are adequate to tackle future security threats.

[Angela Richardson (Guildford) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the capabilities of the armed forces are adequate to tackle future security threats.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)]

The Ministry of Defence has rigorous ongoing processes to test and develop our capabilities and force structure to ensure that they are robust against current and future threats. During the integrated review, the Department is focused on reassessing our plans to ensure that we are delivering the right capability to keep the country safe now and in the decades to come.

[Sally-Ann Hart]

The UK has some of the most elite and specialist armed forces in the world. Bearing in mind that we cannot compete with the number of boots on the ground of, say, China or Russia, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that our armed forces are properly funded, that the very best people are recruited and that the very best training, skills and equipment are maintained?

[Mr Wallace]

We have the funds and plans in place to ensure that our armed forces are playing to their strengths. We are investing in the likes of the future combat air system technology initiative, in nuclear submarines and in cyber-technology to ensure that we are fighting the battle for tomorrow.