Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Double Excerpts

Monday 16th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

18. What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the capabilities of the armed forces are adequate to address future threats.

[The Minister for Defence Procurement (Jeremy Quin)]

The Ministry of Defence has rigorous processes to assure, test and develop our capabilities to keep our country safe. This will be looked at again as part of a thorough wide-ranging analysis through the integrated review.

[Steve Double]

There is no doubt that space will play an increasingly important role in defence. In Cornwall, we are excited about that opportunity, because we will soon be launching satellites from Spaceport Cornwall. Will my hon. Friend confirm that the space domain will fully be a part of the integrated review?

[Jeremy Quin]

We have established a space directorate, which is tasked with how to advance opportunities for the UK commercial space sector. I absolutely assure my hon. Friend that space and its potential will form a part of the integrated review.

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Double Excerpts

Monday 3rd February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

10. What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the capabilities of the armed forces are adequate to meet future threats.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)]

As announced in last year’s Queen’s Speech, the Prime Minister has committed to undertake the deepest review of Britain’s foreign policy, defence, security and development since the cold war. It will consider all aspects of our defence and security capabilities, including our approach to procurement and maintaining our technological edge against current and future threats.

[Steve Double]

I thank the Secretary of State for his answer and for this Government’s ongoing commitment to our security. Now that we have left the EU, our ongoing relationship on security with the EU will inevitably change, so what steps is he taking to strengthen our role within NATO for the future?

[Mr Wallace]

The United Kingdom is a full member of NATO and completely committed to ensuring that that alliance has a long-term future. The announcements that we made at the NATO summit in December set NATO on the right path of expanding into areas of hybrid threat and cyber. I am confident that, with Britain and our partners working to ensure NATO’s success, NATO will have a long and fruitful future.

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Double Excerpts

Monday 20th May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Well, we are certainly better informed, but it looks as though we can look forward to a good deal more banging on from the right hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) on this important matter.

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

10. What progress the Government have made on implementing the veterans strategy.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

11. What progress the Government have made on implementing the veterans strategy.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood)]

The Government already do much to support our brave veterans and their families, but for the first time we are mapping out a 10-year strategy to give greater clarity on how we want that support to develop.

[Steve Double]

I thank the Minister for that answer. What role does he see the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee playing in the development of better care for our veterans? Is there not a case for renewing and revitalising the committee—after all, it is nearly 100 years old—so that it can play a more prominent and effective role?

[Mr Ellwood]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He almost suggested—I am sure that he did not mean to—that the original members of the committee were still serving, but it has advanced and reformed, and I work with it very closely. It is important that when someone leaves the armed forces, they are supported by our country, which is indebted to them for their service. It is important that we use that committee and others to provide veterans with the support they expect.

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Double Excerpts

Monday 25th March 2019 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with military charities on improving support for veterans throughout the UK.

[Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con)]

13. What recent discussions he has had with military charities on improving support for veterans throughout the UK.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)]

Last year we published the first UK-wide veterans strategy, which looks at what more we can do to support veterans. We engaged with service charities for ideas on how we can enhance support for our veterans.

[Steve Double]

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. Vet Fest, an event that will be held in my constituency this summer, will be a celebration of camaraderie for our armed forces veterans and their families and will raise awareness and money for three important charities: Combat Stress, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating and thanking those who are putting on that event for their hard work and dedication, as well as all volunteers across the country who work to support our veterans?

[Gavin Williamson]

I join my hon. Friend in expressing thanks for what they do, and I encourage volunteers across the country to do likewise through such a great initiative. We are always grateful for the many thousands of volunteers who contribute so much to supporting our veterans community, as I know he does.