BAE Systems

Stephen Hepburn Excerpts

Thursday 24th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Peter Luff)]

It is good to see a constituency Member in the Chair for this important debate, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I will do my best to be as brief as the complex issues raised allow.

May I say how much I enjoyed both speeches that we have heard? My right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) seized the opportunity for this Back-Bench debate with his usual skill and aplomb, and he spoke with passion and conviction; and the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson) spoke movingly and thoughtfully. The company would do very well to listen to the concerns that they both expressed.

I must emphasise, however, the deep regret that the Government and I, personally, feel at the job losses that BAE Systems announced on 27 September. Such decisions, I hope, are never taken lightly by companies, and we fully recognise the very real impact that they will have on local industry and individual livelihoods. I emphasise also—it is clear from the debate so far—that the decision was a commercial one, made by the company, which explained that it was necessary to maintain competitiveness both in the UK and internationally. This debate is testing that rationale.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

I share the concerns about BAE that the mover and seconder of this excellent motion have expressed, because we are experiencing similar problems on the Tyne. The shock decision to switch work from A & P Tyne will have a disastrous effect not only on our region through the loss of hundreds of highly skilled jobs, but on the economy. Will the Minister urge BAE to rethink?

Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Hepburn Excerpts

Monday 31st January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Howarth]

The global combat ship frigate programme does indeed present a tremendous opportunity for the United Kingdom to put the policy into practice. I am delighted to say that we are in close discussion with the Canadians. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has just returned from an extremely profitable visit to Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. All those countries have expressed interest in joining the United Kingdom in a collaborative programme that would have the benefit of bringing together not only members of the Commonwealth but some of our key allies, while also driving down costs for the Royal Navy.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

Will the Minister tell us how he will protect the United Kingdom’s defence industry, as other Governments throughout the world protect theirs? Or will he be leaving it open to market forces, which will inevitably mean that our armed forces will be supplied by foreign Governments and companies?

[Mr Howarth]

The United Kingdom is the second largest exporter of defence equipment in the world. This is a fantastic opportunity that builds on the very strength of Britain’s defence industry, which is the second most successful in the world. It is that on which we are capitalising, it is that which we are determined to support overseas, and it is that which, I am pleased to say, commands respect overseas. Let us not knock it; let us support it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Hepburn Excerpts

Monday 5th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robathan]

Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force is very privileged to have my hon. Friend as its colonel, and I know that he will do very good work for it given his gallant past in the Army.

Regarding recruitment, at the moment the Army, in particular, is almost exactly at full recruitment levels, and there are therefore no places available. However, as my hon. Friend will know from his past experience, these things change literally by the month. I hope that the keen cadets from Nottinghamshire will continue to come forward, and I hope that we can find places for them in the Army. However, especially when we are considering an SDSR, I am afraid that we cannot swell the Army just because there are excellent recruits coming forward; we look forward to seeing them.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

6. What his plans are for the future of the aircraft carriers programme.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Peter Luff)]

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, we are in the process of carrying out a strategic defence and security review within which all aspects of the defence programme, including the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, will be examined. The impact on any specific equipment projects will be announced following the conclusion of the review in the autumn.

[Mr Hepburn]

I thank the Minister for that reply, but urge him to stand by the Defence Secretary’s pre-election comments and statements saying that these particular carriers were of urgent and vital importance to Britain’s defence. May I urge the Minister to give full steam ahead to these projects and invite him to meet me at my constituency shipyard to discuss the matter further?

[Peter Luff]

I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman in his constituency and look forward to doing so on a mutually agreeable date. However, he will understand that with a strategic defence and security review going on, it is impossible to give the type of commitment that he seeks. I wish I could, but I cannot.