Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Hammond Excerpts

Monday 13th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) (Con)]

5. What support his Department is providing to Ukraine’s military.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

14. What support his Department is providing to Ukraine’s military.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

21. What support his Department is providing to Ukraine’s military.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Wallace]

My hon. Friend is right: it is not just about weapons; it is often about non-lethal aid, such as medicines and body armour. The UK has sent over 200,000 pieces of non-lethal aid, including body armour, range finders and medical equipment, and we will continue to do so. This is also about making sure that we look at the training being given to those young people, because if they are to have the best chance of survival on the frontline, we need to make sure that they are not only properly equipped, but properly trained.

[Stephen Hammond]

I had the honour to meet a number of Ukrainian officials recently, and the Secretary of State is right that they are very pleased about our commitment of military hardware. He is aware, of course, that they continue to ask for more. Could I ask him what consideration he has given to or discussions he has had with allies about providing air capability?

[Mr Wallace]

My hon. Friend is right that that is often the request we receive from the Ukrainians and the international community, and he will remember the discussion about MiG-29s from Poland a few months ago. Air is a requirement of the Ukrainians, and we have had a number of discussions at the donor conferences, which I first convened a few months ago. One or two nations have looked at providing helicopters to Ukraine, and I think they may do so at some stage. Of course, the difference between that type of weapons system and another is the amount of training. That restricts countries such as the United Kingdom, because our planes are obviously very different. Therefore, wherever we can support the provision of air from countries holding Soviet stock, we will do our best to do so.