Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Common Security and Defence Policy continues to increase Britain's capability in ensuring international security.

My right hon. friend the Defence Secretary and his Ministerial colleagues engage regularly with defence ministers from other EU Member States and with the EU institutions themselves to ensure that CSDP evolves in line with UK policy objectives.

As full members of both NATO and the EU, we continue to press for partners and Allies to invest more in the necessary capabilities and to work together in a complementary manner to deliver a comprehensive response to security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic region and further afield.