Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Kerr Excerpts
Monday 11th June 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
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I wish I could offer the guarantee that the hon. Lady requests, but it is not possible to do so, because the steel required for the parts of the ships that we are building is not currently available from the United Kingdom. In the work that we are doing on the Type 26 frigate, for example, well over 50% of steel, by value, is from the United Kingdom. However, I am sure that the hon. Lady would be the first to complain if we had defects in our capability as a result of buying incorrect steel.

Stephen Kerr Portrait Stephen Kerr (Stirling) (Con)
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How are the preparations for the UK’s alternative to participation in Galileo going?

Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
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That is a crucial question, because our involvement with Galileo is important not just for our own security but for that of the European Union. We have committed significant funds to Galileo over the years. We have an obligation to our industry and to our defence capabilities to ensure that we investigate thoroughly the possibility of remaining within the Galileo programme. However, work is being undertaken on potential alternatives in case they are necessary.