Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 30th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

I think we should hear from a Lancashire knight: Sir David Crausby.

[Sir David Crausby (Bolton North East) (Lab)]

Now that the United States of America has clearly become a less stable and reliable NATO partner, how pragmatic is the 2% spending target, and what consideration has the Secretary of State given to allocating more time for European defence, or is European defence simply not fashionable any more?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

So far as our partnership with the United States is concerned, it is the broadest, deepest and most advanced defence partnership in the world, and my aim is to continue to strengthen it with the new Administration, particularly in the shared programmes we have on the joint strike fighter aircraft and in the reinstatement of our maritime patrol aircraft capability.

So far as European defence is concerned, I believe that the President’s remarks during the campaign and subsequently are a wake-up call to all of us in Europe to make sure that when we make these commitments, we honour them.

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure the Secretary of State meant graciously to congratulate the hon. Member for Bolton North East (Sir David Crausby) upon his knighthood, but as he did not, I do so on his behalf.

[Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP)]

The National Audit Office reports that the procurement budget will reach its peak in 2020-23, at a time when massive and vital projects such as the F-35, Ajax and the Type 26 and 31 programmes will reach their peak. Our NATO partners such as the United States have a much more thorough oversight of procurement projects, something that can be undertaken here only by the Defence Committee or the Single Source Regulations Office. What plans does the Secretary of State have to increase the oversight of these massive projects, to ensure that we not only meet the 2% GDP target, but our capability is delivered on time, on budget and—

[Mr Speaker]

I think we have got the general drift, and we are deeply obliged to the hon. Gentleman.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ian Mearns]

Sorry, it is my back, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman may ask his question from a sedentary position if he wishes. I am sorry that he is in discomfort. The House will want to hear from him.

[Ian Mearns]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Select Committee on Defence recently said, in a fairly damning report, that the Royal Navy’s fleet of just 17 usable frigates and destroyers is

“way below the critical mass required”.

Does the Minister agree with the many former Sea Lords who gave evidence to the Committee that the number of vessels is just not sufficient, given that we are island nations, to protect our interests on the high seas?

[Harriett Baldwin]

My sympathies to the hon. Gentleman. I wish to emphasise that the 2015 SDSR announced that we will maintain our fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers, and committed to eight Type 26 global combat ships, three new solid support ships and two new offshore patrol vessels. That is in addition, of course, to the two new aircraft carriers, which, as he knows, are well on their way.

[Mr Speaker]

We all wish the hon. Member for Gateshead (Ian Mearns) well. Knowing what a robust character he is, perhaps I can say that no injury will dare to get him down for long.

[Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con)]

Question 17.

[Mr Speaker]

No, the hon. Lady should come in on this question, to which her own Question 17 is similar; she should piggy-back on this question.

[Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (Con)]

17. There is a thought for a Monday afternoon. What percentage of the Royal Navy is now female? How does that compare with other NATO countries? What is the MOD doing to ensure that women who are joining up can have a long and fulfilling career in our world-class Royal Navy, alongside their family responsibilities?

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Finally, and with rapier-like speed, I am sure, I call Sir David Amess.

[Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

15. What funding he has allocated to increase the size and capability of the Royal Navy.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mark Lancaster)]

Our service leavers have many transferrable skills, and I am pleased to say that the Ministry of Defence is working with the National Offender Management Service to encourage service leavers to join the Prison Service as part of the Government’s recruitment of 2,500 new prison officers.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Julie Cooper. Not here.

[Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)]

T9. The recent report of the Select Committee on Defence on UK military operations in Syria and Iraq recommended that the Government “provide the necessary detail on what is being targeted”in those countries, and“put this information, as far as possible, into the public domain”.Is the Secretary of State prepared to make that commitment today?

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)]

Following the revelation of a very rare failure of a Trident missile test, will the Secretary of State confirm that our nuclear deterrent still meets what might be termed the Federer criterion of being able to deliver lethal projectiles at high velocity, in rapid succession and with total accuracy over a very long period of years?

[Mr Speaker]

It is a very high bar to imitate the accuracy and genius to which the right hon. Gentleman alludes.

[Sir Michael Fallon]

I am very happy to confirm the safety and effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent.