Oral Answers to Questions

Toby Perkins Excerpts

Monday 22nd October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

We should be incredibly proud of the leading role that we play; we were the first nation to commit our offensive cyber-capabilities to NATO, we have seen an uplift in troop numbers in NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, and we are second only to the United States in supporting NATO and the work it does.

[Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab)]

The Government’s counting within the 2% that we spend on defence things that would never have been counted under previous Governments undermines our voice when it comes to NATO. Will the Secretary of State take this opportunity to confirm that current spending is simply inadequate if Britain wants to play a global role in the defence of the country?

[Gavin Williamson]

Britain has met and will always meet its NATO commitments, and we undertake to spend the money that is required by NATO guidelines.