Oral Answers to Questions

Stuart Blair Donaldson Excerpts

Monday 27th June 2016 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Stuart Blair Donaldson (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (SNP)]

1. What plans his Department has to ensure future defence co-operation with allies and partners.

[Callum McCaig (Aberdeen South) (SNP)]

11. What plans his Department has to ensure future defence co-operation with allies and partners.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon)]

I hope you will allow me, Mr Speaker, to add my tribute to Jo Cox and her work on behalf of the Syrian people, which she pressed very hard on and which must never be forgotten.

Our strategic defence review set out ambitious plans to strengthen our work with allies and partners to promote our security and prosperity. We will continue to lead in NATO, the G7 and the United Nations, and maintain strong and enduring relationships with the United States and our other friends and allies around the world.

[Stuart Blair Donaldson]

My constituency, my country and people of my generation voted against Brexit, yet we are going to be dragged out of the European Union against our will. This is the same European Union that plays an important security role in Afghanistan, in Ukraine and across swathes of Africa, as well as the vital role played by Frontex in the Mediterranean. What reassurance does the Secretary of State have for Scotland and for young people that this vital work will not be undermined by last Thursday’s vote?

[Michael Fallon]

The bedrock of our defence in the United Kingdom rests on NATO, and the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is committed to strengthening co-operation within NATO and collective defence across the alliance. We will be adding further reassurance to that at the NATO summit that is coming up in Warsaw the week after next.