Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Monday 12th May 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

The hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. Some might suggest that our eyes had wandered away from the potential challenge from Russia—a militarily very powerful nation, with which we do not always enjoy an alignment of interests. The consequences of the crisis will be to focus NATO member states clearly back on the potential challenge from Russia, among other challenges that NATO has to be prepared to deal with in the future.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to tackle homelessness among veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Army 2020

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Thursday 5th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are reinforcing that point by introducing 100 additional cadet forces into state schools and academies over the next few years.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

Will my right hon. Friend make efforts to ensure that, as the reserves continue to play an important integrated role with the regular soldiers in our armed forces, we do not see two tiers emerging and that we secure parity of esteem for our reserve soldiers?

[Mr Hammond]

Parity of esteem, parity of equipment, parity of kit—that is indeed the intention.

Nuclear-powered Submarines

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Monday 18th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

I do, and that is a key point. The people of Scotland benefit from the UK’s nuclear umbrella, and I hope they will continue to do so.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

To better inform the main gate decision due in 2016, will my right hon. Friend undertake to put before the House the main conclusions of the Trident alternative study?

[Mr Hammond]

The Trident alternative study is a review that has been agreed by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister and will report to them. I cannot give any undertaking at the moment that its conclusions will be published in any detail, because obviously there are significant security considerations involved. I am sure the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister will make a statement in due course, once they have received the report.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Monday 11th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Philip Hammond]

My hon. Friend is nothing if not diligent in promoting the case for RAF Marham to be the home base of the STOVL JSF aircraft. We are well aware of its engineering capabilities and of its proximity to USAF Lakenheath, where F-35s are likely to be based. The decision does not need to be taken yet, and it will not be taken until it needs to be.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

In the United States, the rate of suicides by active military personnel is almost one per day, which is higher than the rate of combat casualties. What are the equivalent figures for the three UK armed services?

Defence Budget and Transformation

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Monday 14th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

Very far from it.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the £5 billion-worth of funding for the Atomic Weapons Establishment that has been announced today in a written ministerial statement is not new money and does not represent an increased financial commitment to the Trident successor programme?

[Mr Hammond]

I can confirm that the new contract for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, announced today, is in fact a rolling over of the existing contract at a lower price for the next period.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Monday 26th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that we have naval vessels in the Gulf. I am not able to tell him from this Dispatch Box the details of the rules of engagement, for reasons that will be obvious to him.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

Given the recent deployment of some of Britain’s minesweepers to the strait of Hormuz, does the Secretary of State agree that the clearing of mines in international waterways is a necessary but passive action, which should not be seen as a hostile act by Iran or any other country?

Afghanistan

Debate between Stephen Gilbert and Lord Hammond of Runnymede

Tuesday 18th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hammond]

The Select Committee’s report is in my box and I was hoping to have read it before today, but alas! I will certainly put it high on my reading list. It is clear that a sustainable future for Afghanistan has to include all parts of the population. We have to build on the enormous gains that have been made, particularly in the education of girls. That is already beginning to flow through into changing the nature of Afghan society. We must build on those gains, and we are clear that they are part of the sustainable future that we crave.

[Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD)]

May I join other colleagues in welcoming my right hon. Friend to his post? May I press him on the implications of the Indian-Afghan strategic partnership? He rightly talks about the need for an inclusive political process internally. Externally from Afghanistan, that must include China, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, as well as India.

[Mr Hammond]

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. It is important that all Afghanistan’s neighbours are engaged in the process and that none of them should feel threatened by it.