Contributions
860 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is an ingenious construction. We always think about this, but I am afraid we do not have any plans to change that element of the defence estate optimisation portfolio at this…28 Mar 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsI hear what my hon. Friend says and I note his concern. As the integrated review made clear, we always look at spending on a threat basis: what is required, we fund. I also remind…28 Mar 2022HANSARDSupport for Ukraine’s Military: British EquipmentI emphasise that these are Ukrainian decisions. I urge UK companies to contact the Ukrainian embassy, as well as using other routes. In parallel, the Department for International…28 Mar 2022HANSARDSupport for Ukraine’s Military: British EquipmentI emphasise that decisions on equipment are in response to requests from Ukraine, and we consider how best to address Ukraine’s needs. The anti-tank weapons provided to the…28 Mar 2022HANSARDTopical QuestionsYou are aware of this, Mr Speaker, but a number of hon. Members have inquired and the Defence Secretary would not want it to be thought that he means any discourtesy to the House:…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefence Estate Optimisation ProgrammeI know from the meetings we have had that my hon. Friend is very engaged with this MOD site, which is due to close in 2026. The rationale for the closure is to concentrate all…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefence Estate Optimisation ProgrammeThe MOD continues to deliver on its 25-year strategy to modernise its estate. In the last year, the Defence estate optimisation portfolio has completed construction at three…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefence JobsYes, I can give the hon. Gentleman many more than one good reason for why we have the strategy that we do. To name one, let us look at Type 31, which is a fantastic British export…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefence JobsI do not know whether Mr Putin is watching us today; I would like to say some robust things if he is. I give some reassurance to the hon. Gentleman: last time I visited David…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefence JobsHappily, we were ahead of the game. It is part of the discussion that we had as part of the integrated review. There are active processes in place to test UAVs—unmanned aerial…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefence JobsI am aware of the company in my hon. Friend’s constituency. We took the unusual decision—it is unusual—to acquire Sheffield Forgemasters to secure its unique capability to supply…28 Mar 2022HANSARDDefenceToday, I am delighted to announce that we are going one step further by publishing our refreshed national shipbuilding strategy. Drawing on the multi-talented skills of the…15 Mar 2022HANSARDDefenceToday, I am delighted to announce that we are going one step further by publishing our refreshed national shipbuilding strategy. Drawing on the multi-talented skills of the…15 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyIt is fair to say that I am very excited by the prospects of Harland and Wolff. It is great to see a great shipyard with a terrific history hopefully sparking back into life as…10 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyI and the trade unions I have met, particularly on the Clyde, have the same sort of vision for the future of our national shipbuilding endeavour. That is to have those high skills…10 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyI certainly agree that there are great skills and great design capacity in Rosyth. I have seen that for myself. I went there to see the new shipbuilding shed, which is a fantastic…10 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyWe will be buying British in so many ways among those 150 vessels, but we will be doing that not because we have retreated into a narrow protectionist hole but because the design,…10 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. A lot of work went into that. I spoke to my Polish opposite number only this morning. The Poles are delighted by what they are getting. The…10 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyI respect the hon. Gentleman’s views. I remind him that the cost of the national flagship, spread over four years, is about 0.1% of the MOD’s overall budget, so this does not…10 Mar 2022HANSARD National Shipbuilding StrategyI feel that today I have trod on the toes of many Departments in bringing forward many policies from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department…10 Mar 2022