Defence Sector Competitiveness Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con) 1.
What steps he is taking to increase the competitiveness of the UK's
defence sector. (902893) The Minister for Defence Procurement
(James Cartlidge) Last month, the Prime Minister confirmed that
this Government are committed to increasing defence spending to
2.5% of GDP, with a fully funded plan. Obviously, the public want
to know that we will deliver value for money. That is why, in
parallel, we are...Request free trial
Defence Sector Competitiveness
(Broadland) (Con)
1. What steps he is taking to increase the competitiveness of the
UK's defence sector. (902893)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
Last month, the Prime Minister confirmed that this Government are
committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, with a
fully funded plan. Obviously, the public want to know that we
will deliver value for money. That is why, in parallel, we are
delivering a fundamental reform of acquisition through our new
integrated procurement model.
Last week, we heard an announcement about the development of a
radio wave drone killer. How is the integrated procurement model
encouraging and accelerating the development of that novel
technology?
My hon. Friend highlights the fantastic news, confirmed last
week, that we are developing a new radio frequency directed
energy weapon. It is an extraordinary capability that with one
strike can inflict hard kill on multiple drones, at a cost of
about 10p a shot. As for how that exemplifies the new approach,
it is about the close relationship between industry, our
scientists, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It
is through the strength of the industry that we drive innovation
and get the best kit into the hands of our armed forces.
(Warley) (Lab)
We are pleased that there was an announcement from the Prime
Minister, and that the Department has plans, but what we actually
need is industrial capacity. When the Department is handing out
orders for fleet solid support ships to Spain; when it has taken
18 months to order munitions; when The Times today shows a
significant drop in the number of apprenticeships; and when the
Department admits that it still will not take past performance
into account when awarding future contracts, what confidence can
we have that there will be the industrial capacity, and the real
orders, to enable our defence industry to be competitive and
supply our forces?
We are massively ramping up defence capacity. The right hon.
Gentleman spoke about 155 mm shells; that issue is precisely why
we have reached a contractual agreement with BAE Systems, and it
will be ramping up production in Wales and north-east England. We
are doing the same with ships, complex weapons and, as I said
earlier, novel weapons and our science base. This is all about
giving our armed forces the capability that will give them the
cutting edge.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Defence Committee, .
Sir (Horsham) (Con)
The global combat air programme will be a terrific boost to our
defence and aerospace industries. To maximise success, we must
keep the Typhoon production lines going until it comes on board,
so what are Ministers doing to ensure that we maintain
exports?
The Chair of the Select Committee asks an excellent question, and
I assure him that there is an effort across Government to promote
key defence exports, not least the Typhoon. A key factor in our
new integrated procurement model is the need to drive
exportability. That will not only ensure industrial resilience,
but give us protection against overly exquisite requirements from
the domestic side, which can result in delayed procurement. It is
a good question, and we are focused on delivering greater defence
exports.
(Somerton and Frome) (LD)
Somerset is home to several organisations in the defence sector,
such as Thales and Leonardo. However, companies in defence are
concerned about the shortage in science, technology, engineering
and maths skills in the UK; 48% of defence employers report a
shortage of workers with engineering skills. What steps is the
Minister taking, alongside Cabinet colleagues, to remedy those
shortages and ensure that the UK defence sector remains
competitive?
The hon. Lady asks a good question. There was a previous question
about defence capacity; a key part of that is not just industrial
capacity and buildings, but people. She is absolutely right. I
visited Yeovilton in Somerset, where I met apprentices who are
involved in the programme for our helicopters. We saw a demo of
artificial intelligence that is helping us to improve the
availability of our helicopters. Work is happening across defence
and across Government, but we want to do more to ensure that we
have the necessary apprentices and key skills in our defence
sector.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State, .
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
Since the new shipbuilding strategy was launched two years ago,
Ministers have given new build defence contracts to the
Netherlands, Spain and, last week, France—just two days after the
Defence Secretary declared that he was “determined” that new Navy
vessels would be built “here in the UK.” He is the Government's
shipbuilding tsar; why will he not back UK shipbuilding?
I point out that a shipbuilding strategy costs money, and that is
why we are committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, unlike
the right hon. Gentleman. On his key point about the shipbuilding
strategy, I have been to Scotland and seen the amazing yards
where we are building the Type 26 and the Type 31. I have been to
Appledore, which is contributing to fleet solid support. We are
committed to a UK shipbuilding sector. As the Secretary of State
confirmed in his speech last week, by value of the future order
book, this country is now No. 1 for naval exports.
Defence Drone Strategy
Mr (Kettering) (Con)
2. What progress his Department has made on the delivery of the
UK defence drone strategy. (902894)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
We are making excellent progress on implementing the defence
drone strategy, which I launched back in February. Our priority
was to learn the lessons from Ukraine in order to build a
sovereign industrial ecosystem that would enable uncrewed
procurement at scale for the British armed forces. As for
platform production, our immediate priority remains delivering
drones to Ukraine, and I confirm that we have delivered 4,000
drones, with many more on their way in the coming months.
Mr Hollobone
Does my hon. Friend agree that when it comes to the drone threat,
a key priority has to be counter-drone technology, to defend our
forces? Does he agree that directed energy weapons will have a
key role in that regard?
My hon. Friend raises two excellent points. First, he is
absolutely right: our drone strategy must include a focus on how
we defend our armed forces against the threats that are out
there. He is also right that a key part of the solution is
directed energy weapons. In my response to my hon. Friend the
Member for Broadland (), I spoke about radio
frequency directed energy weapons, but we have also announced our
procurement of the laser weapon DragonFire. Using our new
procurement system, we want to get that into the hands of our
armed forces as fast as possible. That means having it on naval
ships by 2027, using our new minimum deployable capability
approach.
(Strangford) (DUP)
The skills of Northern Ireland's workforce are renowned across
the world. Northern Ireland would very much like to be part of
the UK defence drone strategy, so I ask the Minister this simple
question: what is being been done to ensure that the skills of
Northern Ireland's workforce are used for the benefit of the
whole United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
What a fantastic question. I can answer the hon. Gentleman
simply. Just a few weeks ago, I was in Belfast at the Thales
factory, which is manufacturing some of the best weapons
available. It will be a key part of defence exports, and
fundamentally a key part of future orders for the British Army.
Northern Ireland is very much part of our defence industry.
Mr Speaker
I call . He is not here. Can the
Front Bencher answer the question as though it had been
asked?
Armed Forces: Harassment and Bullying
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
3. What recent assessment his Department has made of trends in
the level of harassment and bullying cases in the armed forces.
(902895)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr )
Mr Speaker, I will by all means answer the question. In 2023, 262
service complaints relating to bullying, harassment and
discrimination were ruled admissible, compared with 227 in 2022.
I am pleased to say that changes to the service complaints system
in June 2022 have been encouraging people to come forward with
their complaints. The “My Complaint” app, which launched in
October, will make the system easier and more accessible.
(Rother Valley)
(Con)
The defence anti-bullying hotline is a great step forward in
ensuring that members of the armed forces have the support that
they need, any time of day or night. Can the Minister tell me
what training advisers have had, not only on how to help our
armed forces, but on ensuring that everything is completely
anonymised, so that people can go forward with their life and get
the support and help that they need?
Dr Murrison
Obviously a hotline is no good if the individuals at the other
end of it are not trained. I can give my hon. Friend the
assurance he seeks. The most important thing is to ensure that
people have confidence that if they come forward with complaints,
they will be listened to and taken seriously.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Garston and Halewood)
(Lab)
First, I thank the Minister for Defence People and Families for
inviting me to visit the defence serious crime unit, which I did
last Thursday. The people there are obviously doing good work
focused on tackling serious sexual and violent crimes in the
armed forces. Given the doubling of reports of bullying,
discrimination and harassment in the Ministry of Defence since
2019, and some cases remaining unresolved for up to three years,
what is the Minister doing to address the toxic culture in his
Department? Why is it that such things seem to be worsening on
this Government's watch?
Dr Murrison
I think the right hon. Lady would have to admit that a lot has
been done over the past two or three years, including the setting
up of the defence serious crime unit and the defence victim
witness care unit. They are important. The general message has
been that we have a zero-tolerance approach. It has been, “Come
forward. You will be listened to and taken seriously.” It is
reasonable to assume that some of the figures are the result of
people now having the confidence to come forward, because their
complaints will be investigated independently. Previously, that
was not the case.
Biosecurity Threats
(West Suffolk) (Ind)
4. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help detect
biosecurity threats. (902896)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
Defence remains committed to detecting biological threats. We
continue to work closely with the Cabinet Office on this matter
and are the lead Department for the “detect” pillar of the
biological security strategy. We have prioritised funding to
create the UK Microbial Forensics Consortium, which will
strengthen our ability to detect biosecurity threats, now and
into the future.
Over the past few years, the cost and impact of security failures
relating to biosecurity has been much greater than that of those
relating to physical security. As the funding for the defence of
this country rises to 2.5% of GDP, will the Minister ensure that
he works with the Cabinet Office, the UK Health Security Agency,
the Department of Health and Social Care and others to ensure
that biosecurity, including protection from synthetic new
threats, is at the top of the agenda?
We certainly will. Through the biological security strategy and
the associated governance structure, we are working closely with
the UK Health Security Agency to co-ordinate our response to the
biodefence risk, and we are investing £5 million a year in our
international biosecurity programme, so we are on the same
page.
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Does the Minister agree that there are real concerns in the light
of recent reports about the increasing recklessness with which
Russian operatives may interfere in our economy, directly and
indirectly, and every other aspect of British lives? Are we
prepared for that kind of mischievousness?
Yes, we are.
UK-Israel Military Co-operation Agreement
(East Lothian) (Alba)
5. Whether he plans to review the UK and Israel military
co-operation agreement 2020. (902897)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
An agreement for UK-Israel military co-operation was signed in
December 2020. There are no current plans for the agreement to be
updated, but we continually review it to ensure that it remains
relevant.
The rector of Glasgow University, who is an eminent Palestinian
surgeon, has been narrating the horrors of the requirement to
operate, and even perform amputations, on children—often without
morphine—in Gaza. He has also detailed the horrors of the use of
white phosphorus munitions. White phosphorus ignites during
surgery when exposed to the atmosphere and requires dousing,
including during complicated operations. Why are we in a military
pact with military forces that carry out such actions? If the
Minister will not repudiate the pact entirely, will he ensure
that the use of white phosphorus munitions in our name is not
acceptable?
Of course it is not. We have no role in that, and we see no
evidence of the prospect of that being used. We should focus on
our confidence that Israel is an important ally, which means that
we can make the point that the protection of civilians is of the
utmost importance. We should also remember that at the heart of
this conflict is the fact that if peace is to be achieved, Hamas
need to lay down their arms and release the hostages.
(Brigg and Goole) (Con)
If a person calls for an intifada and chants genocidal chants,
they are a supporter of Hamas. People can also be inadvertent
supporters of Hamas, and can aid and abet them. One way in which
that could happen is through having an arms embargo on Israel
while Iran continues to arm Hamas, so that they can repeat the 7
October attacks, as they have said they wish to. Will the
Minister confirm that the UK Government have no interest in
changing their policy on defence agreements with Israel?
Indeed. We are assured that the strength of our relationship with
Israel allows us to make representations about the protection of
civilians, and about the increase in the flow of humanitarian
aid. We do that in the context of it being an extremely important
ally, while being cognisant of the broader threat from the
terrorist group Hamas and Iran, which my hon. Friend
mentioned.
Mr (North Durham) (Lab)
The F-35 programme has not only given world-leading capability to
our Air Force and Navy, but provided jobs and technological
advancement in the UK defence industry. Could the Minister give
an assurance that any review of our relationship with Israel will
not jeopardise that programme?
I can give the right hon. Gentleman that absolute assurance. We
are immensely proud of the F-35 project, which delivers
devastatingly effective fighting power for us and our allies, and
20,000 UK jobs.
Mrs (Meon Valley) (Con)
Following on from the 2020 agreement, in November 2021, Britain
and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding, elevating the
UK-Israel bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. The
partnership is underpinned by extensive security and defence
co-operation, but it also states that we will co-operate to
improve Palestinian livelihoods and economic development. What
future does my hon. Friend see for the memorandum, in the light
of the war in Gaza?
My hon. Friend asks a relevant question. Our commitment to a
two-state solution in which Palestinians achieve statehood is at
the heart of our diplomacy and defence posture throughout the
region, and it is unchanged.
Service Accommodation
(North Shropshire) (LD)
6. What the budget is for the maintenance of service
accommodation for financial year 2024-25. (902899)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation's accommodation budget
has not yet been finalised for the financial year 2024-25. The
Government continue to invest significant sums to improve the
quality of UK service family accommodation. The spend for 2023-24
on SFA maintenance and improvement was £384 million. An
additional £400 million of funding over financial years 2023-24
and 2024-25 was announced as part of the defence Command Paper
refresh last July.
The new head of infrastructure at the DIO, Commodore Leah
Griffin, has written in her monthly newsletter to military
families that the financial situation is “more challenging than
ever”, and only urgent repairs will be considered. We can see
that on the ground in my constituency. A service person's partner
who has had abdominal surgery has been unable to climb in and out
of their bath to have a shower, and has been refused any kind of
modification to assist them. That kind of financial challenge has
a real impact on servicemen and women's lives. Could the Minister
look at the problem, and commit to ensuring a decent standard of
accommodation for those people who put their life on the line for
us?
The hon. Lady is consistent in raising accommodation issues. As
ever, if she has a specific case, she is more than welcome to
write to me about it, if she has not already done so. On funding,
I gently remind her that we committed an additional £400 million,
and because of our commitment to 2.5%, we can confirm that we are
able to put another £4 billion into SFA over the next 10 years—a
significant investment.
(Eastbourne) (Con)
My hon. Friend will agree that it is important that our service
accommodation be of high quality, but we should also support
members of our armed forces in buying a home for themselves and
their families. What support is there in the modernised
accommodation offer to help soldiers, sailors and pilots get on
the housing ladder?
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point, which speaks to my
previous career, running a small business that helped first-time
buyers. Forces Help to Buy has been a great success, but we also
recently confirmed support with conveyancing costs, because the
cost of getting on the property ladder includes not just the
purchase but all the ancillary costs. We are committed to
supporting our armed forces personnel, whether that means
investing in the accommodation of those in SFA or single living
accommodation, or helping those who want to get on to the
property ladder.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
Everyone who serves our country should live in a decent home, but
last month, the independent Kerslake commission's report on armed
forces housing found that the majority of service personnel are
dissatisfied with housing conditions, and very dissatisfied with
the maintenance and repair service. One in three service
personnel still lives in the lowest-grade service accommodation.
The Government's words simply do not match their action. Can the
Minister honestly look service families in the eye and say that
military housing under this Government is good enough?
The debate we have been having is about investment. We put in an
additional £400 million, which means that we have been able to
overhaul thousands of properties, performing upgrades to deal
with damp and mould and putting in new heating systems. That
costs money. Our commitment to 2.5% means that we will get an
extra £4 billion over the next decade. Armed forces personnel
know that Labour cannot possibly deliver that, because it will
not match our commitment to 2.5%.
Defence: North Sea
(Edinburgh South West)
(SNP)
7. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's
defensive capacity in the North sea. (902900)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
Protecting the United Kingdom and responding to threats in our
territorial waters is core business. In conjunction with our
allies and partners, we constantly monitor activity in UK waters
and deter threats. Our warships patrol the North sea frequently
to achieve that deterrence.
I thank the Minister for his answer. In the north Atlantic,
Russian submarine activity has approached the most significant
level since the cold war. Operations such as Dynamic Mongoose are
a welcome commitment to both NATO and North sea security. How
much of the new tranche of defence spending will be directed at
the North sea and Arctic security?
Of course, we do not comment on our magnificent continuous at-sea
deterrence. What I can say is that it is a matter of public
record that we are committed to a magnificent new generation of
Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates, which will achieve the
competitive edge that keeps us all safe.
(Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale
and Tweeddale) (Con)
Does the Minister recognise that the seismic array situated at
Eskdalemuir in my constituency plays an important part in our
defences not just in the North sea but elsewhere? Does he agree
it is essential that its capability is not in any way diminished
by excessive wind farm development in the immediate vicinity of
the facility?
I agree with my right hon. Friend; he is absolutely right in his
analysis. The broader point is that this is another example of
why, undoubtedly, England and Scotland, through the Union, are
safer and better together.
Israel: UK Military Support
(North West Leicestershire)
(Ind)
8. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's
military support for Israel.(902901)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
The UK and Israel have a long-standing defence relationship, as
we have discussed already this morning. Israel is a partner in
the region, and a UK-Israel defence co-operation agreement was
signed in December 2020.
I thank the Minister for that answer. The problem of
unconditional UK military support for Israel is that while the
majority of this House and of the British public rightly support
our intervention to help protect Israel from missile attacks from
third countries, it is a different story when it comes to its
intervention and aggression in Gaza. How will His Majesty's
Government's policy aim to sort out that conundrum?
Nothing is unconditional. The point I have made this morning is
that we are supporting our ally overcome a devastating terrorist
attack. We do that because it is the honourable thing to do.
Simultaneously, we make the point to our ally that the protection
of civilian lives must be at the top of the operational agenda.
Furthermore, we use our military capability to ensure that
humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza as quickly as possible.
(Bolton North East) (Con)
In the light of the damning International Criminal Court
statement today, how concerned is the Minister about the
potential impact on the UK's military relationship with
Israel?
It has no bearing. We will make our judgments about the legality
of our actions on our own terms, and we are confident in that
legality.
Operation Shader
(Harrow East) (Con)
9. Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of military
resources allocated by the UK to Operation Shader to help deter
Iranian attacks.(902902)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
Our armed forces, through Operation Shader, which is focused
really on the Daesh threat in Iraq, continue to support the
development of the Iraqi Government in terms of their security.
We commend and thank the men and women involved in Operation
Shader throughout the region. We do that in the knowledge that
Iran is indeed a threat that is undermining regional
stability.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Clearly, the brave
resistance fighters in Iran will be celebrating the demise of the
Butcher of Tehran today. Iran controls Hamas, Hezbollah and other
terrorist organisations. Given the attack by Iran on Israel, what
further assessment has my hon. Friend made of the potential for
Iran to launch another attack?
We take the threat Iran poses very seriously. We note that it
uses its malign influence to continue to destabilise the middle
east through its pernicious use of proxies. Our judgment is that
that capability and intent remains. Our role in deterrence
regionally is hugely important. I was very pleased recently to
visit the magnificent sailors of the Royal Navy stationed in
Bahrain. I reiterated that point about the fantastic deterrent
effect they were having when I had a highly productive interview
with the British Forces Broadcasting Service. You will know, Mr
Speaker, if you listen to BFBS as I do, that that point cannot be
over-made. We are grateful for the magnificent activities of our
Royal Navy in the Gulf, which are keeping us all safe.
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
As the Minister has said, Operation Shader was originally put
together in 2014 to defeat the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant. The Liberal Democrats are very supportive of the way
in which the Royal Air Force was used last month to help to
intercept the Iranian bombardment of Israel, but the last
parliamentary vote on Operation Shader was held in 2014, when
Members were approving resources and deployments of UK armed
forces to defeat ISIL. Will the Minister subject any operation
that is designed to deter Iranian attacks to a debate and a
vote?
It seems to me to be the settled view that Operation Shader is a
good thing, and I do not sense any appetite for a parliamentary
debate among colleagues across the Benches in this House. I
should put it on record that I was very pleased to meet the men
and women of the Expeditionary Air Wing in Romania, who have
contributed so bravely over recent months to magnificent military
effect through that operation.
Middle East: Aid Delivery
(Sheffield, Brightside and
Hillsborough) (Lab)
10. What steps he is taking to help support the delivery of aid
to the middle east.(902903)
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
22. What steps he is taking to help support the delivery of aid
to the middle east.(902916)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
As we have discussed today, there is a desperate need for
increased humanitarian support for Gaza. We—especially in the
MOD—are working alongside partners and international
organisations to enable the Cypriot maritime aid corridor
initiative.
Over the past few months, we have seen shocking levels of
suffering in Gaza. The only sustainable way in which to end this
humanitarian disaster is an immediate ceasefire and the return of
all hostages, but in the meantime aid must be provided to save
the lives of innocent civilians. Can the Minister explain why
there has been only one shipment of UK aid in more than six
months, and none so far this year?
On the contrary, we have been hugely active. We have had 11
airdrops delivering more than 110 tonnes of humanitarian aid to
Gaza, and that is in concert with our friends in Jordan. We
commend the magnificent men and women of the Royal Air Force, who
have been instrumental in delivering that much-needed aid.
I echo the commendation that the Minister has just given our air
service personnel. However, no one can be unmoved by the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with scenes of children dying of
hunger—it is utterly intolerable. I welcome the Government's
efforts to deploy UK aid flights and airdrops into Gaza, but the
mounting scale of this disaster is showing that that is simply
not enough. Can the Minister explain what the Government are
doing to increase the number of UK aid shipments and access to
Ashdod port?
We are seeking to ensure an increased flow not just through the
air but by road and sea, which is why we have been instrumental
in the setting up of the humanitarian pier. We commend and thank
the captain and crew of the RFA Cardigan Bay, which is providing
life support for those involved in the pier's delivery. We hope
that this is the first of a sequence of increased deliveries via
all three routes.
NATO: UK Obligations
Mrs (Birmingham, Erdington)
(Lab)
11. What steps he is taking to ensure that the UK meets its NATO
obligations.(902904)
Mr (Ealing, Southall)
(Lab)
19. What steps he is taking to ensure that the UK meets its NATO
obligations.(902913)
The Secretary of State for Defence ()
Our commitment to NATO is unwavering. In response to Russia's
illegal war in Ukraine, we have committed almost all our forces
to NATO. We contribute to every single NATO mission and declare
our nuclear deterrent to NATO. We show our commitment not least
through our increase in defence spending to 2.5%.
Mrs Hamilton
The Public Accounts Committee has warned that
“deterrence can only be effective if our Armed Forces are
credible.”
However, that has been “undermined” by recruitment issues, with
more people leaving the forces than being recruited. What message
does the Secretary of State think that sends to our NATO
allies?
I am pleased to inform the hon. Lady and the House that we are
now seeing a very high level of applications. Last week, the
First Sea Lord told me that HMS Raleigh, where the training takes
place, is the fullest it has been for more than eight years. We
have seen a big increase in applications to all three services,
and long may it continue.
Mr Sharma
I am sure the Secretary of State recognises that the UK plays an
outsize role in NATO as a crucial bridge between the United
States and Europe. Does he agree that the UK should be
contributing its huge industrial expertise to EU defence and
security programmes, offering NATO additional resilience and
choice while securing sovereign capability through home-grown
intellectual property?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: our missions do indeed
play an outsized role in NATO. We are the second biggest spender
in NATO and the largest spender in Europe by a country mile, as
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General, said to me the other
week. As I said in my original answer, we are contributors to
every single NATO mission, plus we declare our nuclear deterrent
to NATO—other than France, we are the only country in Europe to
do that. We will always look at ways to do more with NATO.
Committing to 2.5% of GDP sends a very clear signal that we are
on the side of doing that.
(North Wiltshire) (Con)
Maintaining freedom of passage through the Greenland-Iceland-UK
gap is an essential task for NATO, particularly for the resupply
of Europe in times of war. Does the Secretary of State agree that
there is an equally big threat from half the Russian fleet being
in the Arctic? Will he join us on Thursday 8 July at a symposium
that we and NATO are holding jointly in Portcullis House to
discuss defence in the Arctic?
That is a very important point, and questions have already been
raised today about the size of the Russian fleet, what it is
doing and where it is active. I will have to check the date,
rather than answer my hon. Friend from the Dispatch Box, but I am
much predisposed to attend the symposium.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
We are warned by the Secretary of State that we are in a “pre-war
world”, yet we do not have sufficient training and resources to
undertake high-intensity warfighting, and we do not have the
equipment and stockpiles for our forces to survive a prolonged
campaign. It has been 14 years; when will this be put right?
The hon. Gentleman may not be aware that we have just provided
the largest number of personnel to the largest NATO exercise in
Europe since the cold war—Steadfast Defender, which is the
largest exercise for 40 years. The United Kingdom can be very
proud of the number of people we supplied on land, in the air and
at sea. I have to make a fundamental point to those on the
Opposition Front Bench: we cannot just wish ourselves to
security; we have to spend 2.5% of GDP, and we have to set out
the trajectory to get there. That is exactly what the Government
have done.
Trident: Renewal Cost
(Midlothian) (SNP)
12. What recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public
purse of Trident renewal.(902905)
The Secretary of State for Defence ()
The right hon. Gentleman asks about the Trident programme, but I
am unclear about whether he means the Dreadnought submarine part
of that. Of course, different parts of a programme often combine
together, but the Dreadnoughts themselves will enter service in
the early 2030s.
That was an interesting answer from the Secretary of State. The
Government and the loyal Opposition have both pledged to commit
to Trident renewal, investing obscene amounts of money that would
be better used to improve our NHS, to help households with the
cost of living and to support personnel or, indeed, veterans.
According to the House of Commons Library briefing, Trident
renewal is expected to cost £21 billion in 2022-23 prices, while
one in three children is currently living in poverty. When will
the Secretary of State agree that Trident renewal is an obscene
waste of money, which could be put to much better uses?
I was recently at Faslane in Scotland, and I can tell the right
hon. Gentleman that that is not what the people employed in the
defence sector think about Trident. I can tell him something
else: having stood at the Dispatch Box and been Defence
Secretary, I know that the defence of this country is vastly
supported by having our nuclear deterrent. In my view, every
other issue that we face comes after the defence of this
realm.
Sir (New Forest East) (Con)
Although the right hon. Member for Midlothian () is a valued member of the
Intelligence and Security Committee, I think the Secretary of
State would agree that the SNP is very much on its own on the
idea of scrapping the nuclear deterrent. I am put in mind of a
quotation from the late Denis Healey, who said that
“once we cut defence expenditure to the extent where our security
is imperilled, we have no houses, we have no hospitals, we have
no schools. We have a heap of cinders.”[—[Official Report, 5
March 1969; Vol. 779, c.
551.]](/search/column?VolumeNumber=779&ColumnNumber=551&House=1)
Is that endorsement of deterrence not as true today as it was
when he gave it 55 years ago?
Absolutely right.
Service Accommodation
(North Devon) (Con)
13. What steps he is taking to improve service family
accommodation.(902907)
(Tamworth) (Lab)
20. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of service
accommodation for armed forces personnel.(902914)
(Luton South) (Lab)
23. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of service
accommodation for armed forces personnel.(902917)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
Currently, around 96% of service family accommodation meets or
exceeds the Government's decent homes standard. Only these
properties should be allocated to our families.
As a base primarily for our Royal Marines, Chivenor in North
Devon sees personnel stationed there for shorter periods of time
than many other military bases. Will my hon. Friend consider
additional support for high turnaround bases, perhaps including
access to dental services for forces families where there are
problems registering with local providers?
I very much enjoyed visiting RM Chivenor last summer and I
congratulate my hon. Friend on being a consistent champion of the
armed forces in her constituency. MOD dental healthcare provides
dentistry for our armed forces personnel, ensuring that they are
dentally fit and ready to deploy in the UK and overseas. The NHS
provides dental care for civilians, which includes the families
of armed forces personnel. I would be more than happy to arrange
a meeting between my hon. Friend and MOD dental healthcare if she
so wishes.
As the Department continues to sell off service accommodation for
armed forces personnel, including at Whittington in my
constituency, and has abandoned plans to allocate based on family
size, does the Minister accept that this can contribute to lower
recruitment and retention levels for the armed forces?
That is entirely why we are investing in our estate. I have
mentioned the importance of the additional £400 million, and that
is not abstract. It has enabled us to make a real difference to
the accommodation of our armed forces by putting in thousands of
treatments for damp and mould, and lots of homes are getting new
doors, new boilers and so on. That is the difference the funding
makes, and that is why our commitment to 2.5% is so important. It
is not just about capability; it is about the homes of our armed
forces personnel.
Last month, the landmark report into armed forces housing found
that poor quality military accommodation had become
“a tax on the goodwill of service personnel and their
families”.
Does the Minister agree?
The hon. Lady is welcome to send me a copy of that report,
although I am not sure it is entirely impartial. I look forward
to reading the conclusions—[Interruption.] Presumably it
recognises that if we want better accommodation, we need to put
the funding in, so I assume that its conclusions recommend that
Labour commit to 2.5%.
Armed Forces: Security Threats
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
14. What steps he is taking to ensure that the armed forces are
adequately equipped to tackle security threats.(902908)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
We have considerably strengthened the UK's defence in recent
years and the Prime Minister's announcement to increase defence
spending to 2.5% signals our intent to invest further to ensure
that our armed forces are equipped to deal with the threats we
face. We are embracing innovation, investing in warfighting
capability and bolstering the UK's industrial base by reforming
procurement.
The war in Ukraine shows that drones will play a crucial part in
future conflicts, so what are the Government learning from what
is happening on the battlefield to ensure that our armed forces
have the equipment they need to defend us from drone attacks?
That is an excellent question from my right hon. Friend, and I am
pleased that so many colleagues on this side of the House are
asking about drones. At the heart of our defence drone strategy
is the commitment to learn from Ukraine and from the frontline,
and we are well placed to do that because we have joint
leadership of both the drone capability coalition in respect of
Ukraine with Latvia, and the maritime coalition—where uncrewed
systems have been so important—jointly with Norway. There are two
key steps we are taking. One is to improve governance, to cohere
that learning across defence and into our armed forces. The other
is to have a strong relationship with industry, and I can confirm
that next month we will be holding an industry day in the MOD
with drone companies from across the country.
Cyber-attacks
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
15. What recent assessment he has made of the level of risk posed
by hostile cyber-activity to the UK's security.(902909)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
We take the risk of hostile cyber-activity very seriously. Our
Department contributes to the national security risk assessment
and the national risk register, and of course plays a key role in
delivering the national cyber strategy to respond to hostile
cyber-activity against the UK.
British cyber-security is among the best in the world, as the
sector has innovative companies employing 58,000 people and
revenues of £10 billion or more. Under this Government, though,
the Ministry of Defence's record on cyber-security only gets
worse, with breaches tripling over the last five years. What
steps is the Minister taking to work with British cyber-security
innovators to overcome his Government's lax record on
cyber-security, to support British innovation and, crucially, to
keep our armed forces safe?
We are doing all those things at pace and, of course, the scale
of the challenge is very significant. We are injecting a huge
amount of money and institutional energy into ensuring that our
cyber-defences are up to scratch. We are at the point of the
spear when it comes to defensive cyber, as illustrated by the
brilliant men and women who are part of our National Cyber Force,
and we commend them.
Middle East: UK Military Security
(Crawley) (Con)
16. What recent assessment he has made of the security of the
UK's military bases and service personnel in the middle east.
(902910)
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
Of course, the force protection of UK service personnel and our
bases across the middle east is kept under constant review.
Having been in Bahrain and Qatar in recent days, I can report
that the morale and conditions of those posted to the middle east
tend to be very high—they are a very purposeful set of
people—but, for operational security reasons, I would not make
any comment on the security readiness action plan.
I pay tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the
British armed forces personnel in the middle east who have kept
us safe from terrorism and other hostile threats over many
decades. Will my hon. Friend consider relooking at recognising
all people who served historically in Aden for a service
medal?
That was a very important campaign, and I am very happy to engage
with my hon. Friend. I imagine that he might be asking about a
specific constituency case, and I am very happy to sit down
together to consider that.
Defence Funding: Efficient Spending
(Bury North) (Con)
17. What steps he plans to take to ensure efficient use of
increased defence funding. (902911)
The Secretary of State for Defence ()
I am committed to ensuring that the defence uplift to 2.5% means
that we spend the money as efficiently as possible. The
tremendous work by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence
Procurement on the integrated procurement model is very important
to the outcome of that spending.
I am very pleased to hear my right hon. Friend commit to the
efficient use of defence spending, which we may not have seen in
the past. Will he comment on the excellent example of his recent
announcement on saving Royal Marine warships and the fact that
this Government have committed to building up to six more for the
commandos?
That is absolutely right. It is very important that our Royal
Marines are able to continue their activities, so not only will
we keep the existing ships running but we have announced that we
will build up to six new multi-role ships, which is all part of
our programme to build 28 ships. That is why our shipyards are so
very busy.
(City of Chester) (Lab)
Because of Government plans to mothball HMS Albion, key artefacts
from the ship, including the sword of peace, were given to
Chester town hall for safekeeping, and then, on 14 May, the
Secretary of State announced that HMS Albion will not be
mothballed. When would he like the artefacts back? Exactly when
is HMS Albion going to be put to sea again?
We never announced that she was being mothballed, so I am very
interested to hear about these artefacts. I was on HMS Albion the
other week, so I will be very interested to engage on what has
been removed.
Once again, I can clarify that both those ships—both used by our
Royal Marines—will remain in active service. It is the case that
more modern ships are being procured, which is possible only
because we are prepared to put a date to spending 2.5% on
defence.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Angus) (SNP)
Increased defence spending is obviously only a means to an end.
It is not an end in itself. The Treasury rightly takes a
jaundiced view of the MOD's ability to spend money wisely so, to
that end, can the Secretary of State advise the House on how much
taxpayers' money and defence budget was spent refitting HMS
Argyll, only for her to be paid off immediately after she came
out of refit?
There is no way that the Treasury, given its very tight hold on
the fiscal regime, would approve spending 2.5% of GDP on defence
if it did not have confidence in how we will spend it. Again, I
refer the hon. Gentleman to the excellent work of the integrated
procurement model, which will make all the difference. I am very
happy to engage with him on individual defence decisions, but the
fact of the matter is that if we do not commit to spending the
money, we cannot put the pipeline in place to build things like
the new ships and submarines we need.
I am unsurprised that I got no answer to my question because I
never got an answer to that question on 8 January or to my point
of order on 24 March. I was only informed by the Minister for
Defence Procurement, who is whispering a response, I hope, into
the Secretary of State's ear, of the fate of HMS Argyll after I
read about it in the media. Will the Secretary of State tell me a
different answer, then: did BAE Systems approach the MOD to buy
HMS Argyll, or did the MOD approach BAE Systems?
I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman recognises that my hon.
Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement has written to him on
the subject, and I have no doubt that he will wish to engage with
the hon. Gentleman further.
Topical Questions
Mr (Kettering) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(902918)
The Secretary of State for Defence ()
We are very mindful of the situation in Ukraine, particularly in
Kharkiv where Russia is making, or trying to make, inroads. This
is an existential battle for all civilised countries that believe
in democracy and freedom, and it is the case that we must ensure
that the world continues to keep up the efforts. It is not right
for there to be pauses in our support and, when there are, the
sort of losses we have seen on—I hope and believe—a temporary
basis in Kharkiv around the villages to the north are an
inevitable consequence of inaction.
Mr Hollobone
Lieutenant General Pavliuk, Ukraine's commander of ground forces,
recently confirmed that medium and short-range strike drones now
kill more soldiers on both sides of the conflict than any other
weapon. Is that not both a grim milestone in the history of
warfare and the strongest possible signal that His Majesty's
armed forces must master that developing technology if they are
to preserve and enhance their combat effectiveness?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is one reason why this
country has been at the forefront of providing drones. Indeed, we
have made an enormous £325 million contribution to the drones
coalition and provided 4,000 drones in the latest package, and
there is a lot more to come for Ukraine. This bloody war is now
killing, or causing casualties to, up to 1,000 Russians a day,
and it needs to come to a stop.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Wentworth and Dearne)
(Lab)
The Government's increase in military aid to Ukraine for this
year and the years ahead has Labour's fullest support. Weekend
newspapers reported that D-day celebrations are at risk from RAF
cuts, and the latest MOD figures confirm that nearly 50,000
full-time forces personnel have been cut since 2010. The Defence
Secretary's predecessor, the right hon. Member for Wyre and
Preston North (Mr Wallace), admitted that this Government have
“hollowed out and underfunded” the forces. He is right, isn't
he?
I very much appreciate the hon. Gentleman's support for the
ongoing support to Ukraine of £3 billion a year. I gently say to
him that it is not possible to provide that support without a
route to getting there, with the 2.5%; otherwise, it will come
out of the rest of the budget. I, too, read the story over the
weekend, and it is simply not the case. We will have, in fact,
181 parachuters—exactly the same number as those who jumped in
that location on D-day.
We will also raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP to meet
increasing threats, but this is not the magic wand that will fix
14 years of Tory failure: the Army, cut; the Navy, cut; the RAF,
cut. Even defence spending—at 2.5% under Labour in 2010—has been
cut by £80 billion since. Is it not clear that the armed forces
cannot afford another five years of Conservative Government?
The armed forces cannot afford a Labour Government if Labour
cannot answer one simple question: when?
(Sedgefield) (Con)
T3. I and other colleagues, particularly my hon. Friend the
Member for South Dorset () and the hon. Member for
Newport East (), would like to follow up on
the Minister's comments to the House in March regarding the
tragic sinking of RFA Sir Galahad in the Falklands war? Does the
Minister have any update on the release of further files
regarding that case?(902920)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr )
Following meetings with colleagues and veterans, having
personally reviewed the files at the National Archives, and in
the interests of transparency, I am placing copies of two
recently reviewed extracts from the 1982 board of inquiry report
on the loss of RFA Sir Galahad in the Library of the House. Those
extracts are drawn from different sections of the inquiry and
have been returned to the National Archives within the main
report, which will be publicly available.
Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab)
T4. Yesterday, hundreds of RMT members at the Royal Fleet
Auxiliary Service took industrial action over their pay, which
has fallen behind by 36% in real terms, allowing for inflation,
since 2010. Earlier, the Minister for Armed Forces commended RFA
crews for the work they are doing, particularly off the coast of
Gaza. Will the Minister for Defence People and Families agree to
meet RMT officials to ensure that RFA seafarers are paid fairly
for the vital work they do supporting the Royal Navy?(902921)
Dr Murrison
As the grandson of an RFA officer, I defer to nobody in my
admiration for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. I commend the RFA for
maintaining its operational commitments, in particular in
relation to Gaza. Clearly, we listen to what Nautilus has to say
with a great deal of interest and I hope the dispute will be
ended as soon as possible.
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
T5. RAF Valley is the largest employer of skilled workers on Ynys
Môn. The UK Government have cemented their commitment to RAF
Valley with £175 million for a new flying school, £600 million
for Hawk engineering support and £44 million to improve the
second runway. What assurance can the Minister give to engineers
and those who work on the Hawk T2 maintenance contract that there
will be well paid, local jobs for them post-2040?(902922)
The Minister for Defence Procurement ()
I very much enjoyed my visit to RAF Valley in February. I can
confirm that the RAF has already started its standard capability
investigation process into the future of combat aircrew training.
The comprehensive review will include the procurement of the
replacement of the current advanced jet trainer capability. The
investigation will consider options for aircraft, simulators and
associated combined live and virtual training, such that we can
continue to deliver world-class training capability for UK armed
forces. It will provide evidence on likely cost and timing of the
replacement training solution to the Hawk T2.
Mr Speaker
I call . [Interruption.] ?
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
T9. I am sorry, Mr Speaker, I was thinking of an even better
question— Stick to the main one. Indeed. As you know, Mr Speaker,
my family comes from a military background, although I am not a
military expert. Time and again, my constituents say they have
heard about a shortage of shells, ammunition and others things
that we cannot supply to the Ukrainians. What is the hold-up? Why
are we not working 24/7 to produce the tools that our Ukrainian
allies want?(902926)
The hon. Gentleman asks about the supply of shells. I am
delighted to tell to him that we previously confirmed the
provision of 300,000 artillery shells to Ukraine. The latest
figure is that this country has procured 400,000 artillery shells
directly into Ukraine.
Mr (Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
T6. That is a smart tie you are wearing, Mr Speaker. How can it
be that despite spending billions of pounds on 22 A400M aircraft,
we have only one available for D-Day 80? If there are more, let
us hear about it. Why did we retire a highly reliable aircraft in
the Hercules, for a highly unreliable one in the A400M? Have we
sold the Hercules aircraft? If we have not, can we put them back
in service?(902923)
As the Secretary of State confirmed, we will have two A400M
aircraft available for D-Day 80 on 5 June. The number of people
who will be dropped will be 181, for the very good reason that
that is the number of paratroopers who, at sixteen minutes past
midnight on D-Day itself, landed and took the bridge that we
named Pegasus.
(Mid Bedfordshire)
(Lab)
T10. In my Westminster Hall debate last year, the Minister for
Defence Procurement announced plans to close the Chicksands base
in my constituency, and pledged to write with further detail. I
am yet to hear more from the Minister, but my constituents are,
understandably, becoming deeply concerned. Will the Minister meet
me to discuss the issue further and what more we can do in the
meantime to address the shocking state of accommodation on the
base?(902927)
I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman.
(Harrow East) (Con)
T7. I warmly welcome the Government's commitment to spend 2.5% of
GDP on defence spending, but after we have won the next general
election, growth will come to the economy and there will be much
more money to be spent on defence? How would my right hon.
Friends spend that money in the defence of the realm?(902924)
My hon. Friend is right to point that out, because some
assumptions have been a little misplaced in this House until now.
We will ensure that we can do a whole range of things that will
help to make this country stronger and more secure. On that, he
has my word.
(Newport East) (Lab)
I thank the Minister for Defence People and Families on behalf of
Falklands veterans and their families, including Mike Hermanis,
who brought the issue to me, for releasing the documents relating
to the bombing of the Sir Galahad in 1982, which exonerate the
Welsh Guards. I know that the campaign, which includes my hon.
Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (), will continue to seek the
full truth, but does the Minister agree that instead of being
blamed the Welsh Guards are owed our thanks for their
service?
Dr Murrison
I agree with the hon. Lady. As the Government have made clear
consistently throughout, no blame is attached in particular to
the Welsh Guards. They committed themselves heroically on that
day, and I join her in saluting them, in particular those who
died.
(Penistone and Stocksbridge)
(Con)
It is of huge strategic interest to Britain and the west that
Israel prevails against Hamas and their funders in Iran. The
Foreign Secretary was right to state last week that ending
military exports to Israel would embolden Hamas and Iran. Does my
hon. Friend agree that such a move would both harm UK defence
interests and disadvantage our own armed forces, who rely on
Israeli-made battlefield equipment?
The Minister for Armed Forces ()
My hon. Friend is correct in her analysis. We are particularly
focused on ensuring that our assets in the region contribute to
the release of the hostages.
(Glenrothes) (SNP)
What is the policy of His Majesty's Government on defence deals
and arms sales to countries whose head of armed forces is under
arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against
humanity?
As the Minister for Armed Forces pointed out, the licensing
regime is entirely independent of that. We support the country.
We support the only democracy in that part of the world. We do
not support the individuals in that Government; we support the
country itself.
(Fareham) (Con)
In Fareham, we are rightly proud of our world-class aircraft
carriers docked in nearby Portsmouth, providing thousands of jobs
and being a huge credit to our Royal Navy. However, we all know
that neither the Queen Elizabeth nor the Prince of Wales has as
many jets, small warships or submarines as originally planned.
Will the Minister please tell me how further defence spending
will be used to bring online the full complement of F-35 jets,
for example, so that our carrier strike group has the full
capability to meet the modern threats of today?
My right hon. and learned Friend asks an excellent question. She
is right about the importance of the carrier strike group. On the
key point about the F-35s, we have confirmed 48 aircraft by 2025
and a further 27 by 2033, but in addition to that it is about
working with our allies so that our carriers are at the heart of
NATO operations, and ensuring that we have the maintenance and
crews in place. As we saw recently, when we needed to get the
second ship active, she was ready in eight days. That was a
phenomenal achievement. It shows how effective we are at getting
our carriers in place when we need them.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
T2. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs promised last year to end
veterans homelessness by the end of that year. Instead, veterans
homelessness rose by 14%. Are Ministers proud that their
Government are failing to deliver on their promise to their
veterans?(902919)
Dr Murrison
I say to the hon. Lady, who has been consistent in that line of
questioning, that one person homeless is one person too many. It
is important to emphasise that most people leave the armed forces
in a very good position, with skills that will advance their
careers in civilian life. I do not want her giving the impression
that people are damaged as a result of the service that they have
given; the very reverse of that is the case. We will of course
continue to support veterans, charities and initiatives to ensure
that, particularly in places such as naval base port areas and
garrison towns, we house everybody who needs accommodation.
(Bracknell) (Con)
Britain's world-leading motor sports industry is worth at least
£10 billion annually to the UK economy. The sport's governing
body, Motorsport UK, has proudly sponsored access to military
venues for many years, but despite recently signing the armed
forces covenant, that access appears to be diminishing. Will the
Minister please agree to meet me, and perhaps the Defence
Infrastructure Organisation, to discuss better third-party
revenue-generating opportunities for the MOD estate?
I would of course be delighted to meet my hon. Friend. On the
subject of motorsport, I stress to him and the House that the MOD
has a brilliant partnership with McLaren, jointly innovating to
look at, for example, technology relating to electronic vehicles.
I am more than happy to meet him and look into the matter
further.
(Somerton and Frome) (LD)
A constituent of mine who rents his home from the Ministry of
Defence has recently been given notice to quit within two months,
without any reason. He has never missed any rent payments and he
has been unable to contact his landlord with a query on the
instruction. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the
situation?
Dr Murrison
I am very happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss that; I have
seen several cases of people having to leave their service
accommodation. In general, the DIO and the Ministry of Defence
will ensure that people have more than the minimum allowed by
legislation, and we bend over backwards to ensure that people
leaving service accommodation have somewhere to go to.
(Filton and Bradley Stoke)
(Con)
My hon. Friend will appreciate the huge importance of what the UK
defence industry is doing to help Ukraine get the equipment it
needs. Can he update the House on what his Department is doing to
increase the amount of ammunition getting to the front line in
Ukraine?
My hon. Friend, who has Defence Equipment & Support in his
constituency, has been a consistent champion of supporting
Ukraine and he comes to every questions session to make that
point. We are working hard to get more munitions in there; I
mentioned 400,000 artillery shells, but I could list an enormous
amount of ordnance. I can tell him and the House that we are not
just doing everything possible ourselves, but cohering our allies
and learning the lessons for our own armed forces. We have to be
in this for the long haul, and the fight for Ukraine's freedom is
the right one.
Mr (Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I think my hon. Friend the
Minister for Defence Procurement may have—inadvertently, I am
sure—just misled the House of Commons. Pegasus bridge was
captured in a glider-borne assault by the Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, not a parachute assault. I know
that because I was at the D-day 70 with the then Prime Minister
at 12.16 am to commemorate
the assault. I am sure it was an error by my hon. Friend; no one
will want to believe that an MOD Minister tried to change the
history of D-day because the aircraft did not work.
Mr Speaker
The good news is that that is a point of clarification, which
have been resolved.
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