Contributions
735 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence Procurement: SMEsI assure the hon. Gentleman that we are tearing up the way in which procurement works before the national armaments director moves into his place. It is one of the biggest jobs in…24 Mar 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman is right to say that Hawk is due to be out of service in the early 2030s. We are taking steps to consider what the alternatives might be, and we of will course…24 Mar 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI very much agree with my hon. Friend. Of course, there are skills shortages across much of manufacturing, not only in defence, so there is certainly going to be an issue. I can…24 Mar 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI commend my hon. Friend for asking that question. He will know that the strategic defence review is considering our current mix of fourth and fifth-generation aircraft. He will…24 Mar 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs the hon. Gentleman will probably know, Type 31s are being built at Rosyth and Type 26s are being built at Govan. We have got a programme for eight at Govan, and five so far at…24 Mar 2025HANSARDSingle Source Defence Contracts: Baseline Profit Rate 2025-26I am today announcing on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence that the baseline profit rate for single source defence contracts will be set at 8.56%, in line with the rate…14 Mar 2025HANSARD UkraineMy hon. Friend is correct. As I said in my initial response to the urgent question, it is important that we deter that kind of behaviour wherever it is seen around the world.13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI agree with my hon. Friend that we need to continue to support Ukraine to put it in the strongest possible position both while it is fighting the war and during any negotiations…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineThe right hon. Gentleman is correct that conflicts such as this need to come to an end as soon as possible, so I acknowledge the point he makes about the death on all sides and…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI think everybody agrees that any peace that is negotiated must be durable. That will require security guarantees, given the past experience that the Ukrainians have of Russia and…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineThe right hon. Gentleman will know very well that there are sanctions, which we do our best to police, and they have had some impact. I think they have to continue both while the…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI do agree with that, and we have no intention—I think in any part of this House—of doing so.13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineThe hon. Gentleman is right to raise these concerns. It is clear that any peace that is negotiated, which must have the consent of the Ukrainians themselves, has to be durable,…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineThe hon. Member is right that security guarantees are likely to be an important part of any peace agreement given the past history. We have a 100-year partnership with Ukraine,…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI agree very much with the hon. Lady when she says that our Ukrainian friends here in this nation have received a lot of support—not only in her constituency, but across the…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineThe Government have ongoing discussions with our partners in Europe and the high north.13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his remarks. Of course, when he played a part in these matters he was in office, so he is very knowledgeable about them. I can confirm that we…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI agree with my hon. Friend. It is clear that any such negotiations must involve Ukraine, and that the Ukrainians must be happy with the peace that is negotiated. Our role at…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineI do not accept what the hon. Gentleman says about being betrayed by our allies. The US Defence Secretary has made it clear that he that he wants a durable peace. That is what he…13 Feb 2025HANSARD UkraineWe have a commitment to getting our defence spending back to 2.5% of GDP, and the last time it was at that level was at the time of the last Labour Government.13 Feb 2025