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HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentLet us be clear: there is no question of the deterrent not being renewed. This is the problem we have: we have heard the figure of 3%, and now the noble Lord seems to be…17 Dec 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesThat is obviously a matter of real importance, and the defence review is looking at what we should do with respect to air defence in the round, including defence of the homeland,…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesI thank the noble and gallant Lord for that important comment, and I will make sure that it is reflected upon within the Ministry of Defence. He makes a really important point…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesI thank the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, for his question. He is quite right with respect to the National Security Act. Let us be clear, in various pieces of legislation, not just the…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesThe Ministry of Defence is aware of these reports and is working closely with the US visiting forces, Home Office police forces and other partners to respond to recent events. We…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesI thank my noble friend for the question. We are working with our international partners, including the United States. Of course, we are trying to ensure that we have all the…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesThe illegal use of drones is certainly an area of concern for us all. In terms of the numbers of prosecutions, the best thing for me to do, which would be of benefit to the noble…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesThe Gold Command for the sites in East Anglia is the Ministry of Defence Police. That force has the ability, knowledge and expertise to deal with some of the threats that the…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesI thank the noble Lord, Lord Lancaster, for the work he does as director of the Army Reserve. On national resilience, the threats and warfare of the future have been shown from…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDrones: RAF BasesMy noble friend makes a really important point. The defence review will address national resilience. As the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, has also said, of course air…27 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsThat is certainly one of the questions the defence review is looking at: how we protect underwater cables, pipelines, et cetera. We are considering the capability that we have to…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsFirst, we recognised the sensitivities around the deletion of Watchkeeper and they were a consideration. In terms of operations, the decisions around decommissioning were made in…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsI thank the noble Lord for raising the point about the industrial dispute affecting the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The only thing I can say is that discussions are ongoing. We…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsWe are certainly a brave Government, but it has been a consistent policy of whatever Government have been in power to support the nuclear deterrent. The nuclear deterrent will…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsThat is a really good question. On the first point about spending, the noble and gallant Lord will know that, notwithstanding the amount in the budget—there is 2.3% at the moment,…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsI want to start by thanking the noble Baronesses, Lady Goldie and Lady Smith, for their comments and by reiterating that defence is an issue that unites us across this Chamber: we…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence Programmes DevelopmentsWe certainly will be purchasing a number of fast jets—the exact number will obviously be subject to debate, but we expect a number of F35Bs to be purchased. On the training of…25 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI am not a Treasury Minister, but I know as a Defence Minister that 2.5% of GDP is an absolute commitment. I hope the Treasury is successful, because if we get the growth in the…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI thank my noble friend for his question. As he knows, we can say to the President of the United States that we will meet the cast-iron 2.5% commitment and will set that out in…14 Nov 2024HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentI thank the noble and gallant Lord for his question. As I suggested in an earlier answer, the sequencing of all of this is extremely important. Of course, we need the defence…14 Nov 2024