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CHOGM, G7 and NATO Summits
04 July 2022
Lead MP
Boris Johnson
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
UkraineDefenceEconomyBrexitBusiness & Trade
Other Contributors: 41
At a Glance
Boris Johnson raised concerns about chogm, g7 and nato summits in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Prime Minister announced the outcomes of recent summits including NATO, G7 and Commonwealth meetings. He highlighted the unity among allies in supporting Ukraine against Russia's aggression, emphasising that Finland and Sweden will join NATO and reinforcing British military aid to Ukraine with £1 billion more support, bringing total assistance to nearly £4 billion since February 2022. The statement also detailed plans for bolstering NATO’s high readiness forces, intensifying sanctions on Russia, providing financial aid through the G7, and promoting global infrastructure investment. Additionally, it mentioned free trade agreements with Commonwealth countries and addressing climate goals.
Question
The MP asked how the agreement on new NATO force model will affect British military planning and if the Prime Minister believes these extra commitments can be met, considering his previous cuts to UK troop numbers. 2 sentences.
Minister reply
The minister responded without specific details but acknowledged the importance of reinforcing collective deterrent capabilities within NATO's new force model. The answer did not address whether previous troop number reductions would affect current commitments. 2 sentences.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
Welcoming back the Prime Minister after his absence, Keir Starmer acknowledges the ongoing conflict with Russia, highlighting the importance of unity in opposition to Putin's aggression. He welcomes NATO’s progress but criticises the Prime Minister for weakening Commonwealth unity during the recent summit and cutting aid commitments.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister thanks the right hon. and learned Gentleman for his remarks, dismissing the accusation of breaking international treaties and highlighting the UK's substantial contributions to NATO and Ukraine (£2.3 billion in military assistance). He also emphasises that the Labour party still has Members who voted against the independent nuclear deterrent.
Question
Welcoming the Prime Minister’s statement, Tobias Ellwood asks about general agreement at NATO and G7 summits regarding a fragile rules-based order under threat. He encourages securing a UN resolution to create a humanitarian safe haven around Odesa port for grain exports.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister thanks his right hon. Friend and highlights the UK’s support for grain export efforts, led by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Question
Welcoming back the Prime Minister from travels around Africa and Europe, Ian Blackford emphasises the need for a collective response to multiple crises, including war in Ukraine, soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and cost of living crisis. He questions the lack of urgency in G7 outcomes and asks about the outlook regarding getting grain out of Ukrainian ports.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the right hon. Gentleman's concerns and highlights the UK’s plan to cap prices for oil and gas and stop Putin profiteering, as well as efforts to release Ukrainian grain stocks. He also addresses accusations of breaching international law by offering consistent leadership in standing up for the rule of law against Putin.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
Congratulates the Prime Minister on leadership in past week and welcomes Royal Navy forces' role in NATO; asks about ongoing support for naval commitment in long term and conversations with other allies.
Minister reply
Commits UK to leading NATO alliance in providing naval force model; encourages others to do the same.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
Asks about security guarantees for Ukraine's grain export, urgency of situation and reliance on Turkey.
Minister reply
Acknowledges Turkish efforts; UK offers demining facilities and insurance for vessels; alternative means to move grain will be explored if sea route is not viable.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Asks about spending 5% of GDP on defence in the 1980s and why it's only half that by end of decade.
Minister reply
Committed to increasing defence spending; AUKUS and future combat aircraft system will increase funding.
Edward Davey
Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Question
Critiques Prime Minister's domestic policy contradictions while addressing global crises.
Minister reply
Outlines plan for cost of living support, economic reforms in planning, housing, transport, energy; goal to make UK best place to live and invest.
Question
Asks about efforts to reduce western dependence on Russian hydrocarbons.
Minister reply
Proud of moving beyond hydrocarbons but less nervous about using domestic resources when alternatives are imports from abroad.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
Asks for British industrial strategy to produce lethal weaponry, diplomatic efforts in Republika Srpska, Bosnia, and focus on Russian money laundering.
Minister reply
Acknowledges UK's leadership in supplying weapons; sanctions are stringent with new economic crime Bill; committed to long-term strategy.
Question
Asks if commitment to 2.5% defence spending is solid, how it will be funded.
Minister reply
Predicts AUKUS and future combat air system commitments will take UK to threshold; GDP growth will fund increased defence.
Question
Asks about concerns raised with PM over breach of international law by UK.
Minister reply
No one indicated UK was in breach of international law; said UK helps world stand up against breaches.
Question
Compliments Prime Minister on defence spending increase and confirms no directive issued to reduce numbers of defence personnel.
Minister reply
Keeps troop numbers under review; focuses on best equipment for troops, not just quantity.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Question
Asks about UK's use of SDRs to help alleviate food crisis.
Minister reply
Supportive of using SDRs for benefit of people worldwide who are finding things tough.
Question
Requests reconsideration on commitments made to cut conventional forces based on lessons from Ukraine.
Minister reply
Emphasises importance of having troops with 360° protection and best equipment.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
The Prime Minister will have heard the deep concern on both sides of the House, particularly from the right hon. Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn), about grain in Ukraine and the issue of world hunger and poverty. The Prime Minister said in response that he was talking about the possibility of seeking a solution that may not have the consent of the Russians. For the avoidance of doubt, can he confirm to the House that he is looking at breaching the Montreux agreement about larger forces in the Black sea?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to raise that. No, we are not looking at doing that. There are alternative solutions that do not involve the presence of UK or other warships in the Black sea, although they might involve a tougher approach. We are also looking at the possibility of using the rivers, particularly the Danube, and the railways to get the grain out in smaller quantities than we would be able to do with a giant maritime convoy through the Black sea. We are looking at all the options, including smaller packets of grain coming out in that way.
Question
My right hon. Friend stated that “Ukraine must have the strength to finish this war on the terms that President Zelensky has described.” Are we confident that all our allies are as involved and supportive as the UK has been and continues to be for as long as it takes?
Minister reply
I think the answer to that is yes, because every time we go to one of these summits and we think that the alliance is friable and that the strength of the pro-Ukrainian coalition is weak, people gravitate towards the centre and towards what the UK is saying because there is no alternative: Putin is not offering any kind of deal, and President Zelenskyy cannot do any kind of land-for-peace deal. There is no other option for us but to continue to support the Ukrainians in the way that we are, and that is why the unity remains so compelling.
Question
I absolutely understand that the sanctions regime so far has focused on the Russian elite, with travel bans and bans on the export of luxury goods, for example, as well as Russian hydrocarbons, which earn them so much foreign exchange money. As the war continues into the longer term, should we not, as my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) said, look at the Russian money still sloshing around in the UK? If somebody has made a large amount of money in Putin’s Russia, should we not assume that the chances are that it is dodgy and start to tighten the domestic sanctions regime?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right that we have to keep tightening the noose the whole time. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will help. It will give us new powers to seize crypto assets and new powers over money laundering. One thing he will have spotted at the G7, which was very important, was the new sanctions on Russian gold worth £13.5 billion, which I mentioned in my statement. That will hit them.
Question
I welcome what the Prime Minister has said about working with other countries to reduce the price of oil and gas, which is critical in this country and across the world. Will he give the House a bit more detail on how we have been working with other countries, particularly in the Commonwealth, on investing in renewable energy, which is clean, safe and secure and reduces our dependence on hydrocarbons over the medium term?
Minister reply
The answer is that the UK is making massive investments in Commonwealth countries. In the G7, the partnership for global infrastructure and investment helps developing countries around the world to move forward and to make the leap ahead to green technology, and to take investment from the UK—and not perhaps from others who are busier in getting them to pay their debts.
Question
I have listened carefully to the Prime Minister’s warm words about the Commonwealth and its relationship with independent countries. In 1941, it was the then Prime Minister Churchill who signed the Atlantic charter with the United States, committing Britain and the United States to delivering people’s right to choose their own form of government and self-government. This respect for the principle of equal rights and the self-determination of peoples was incorporated into the United Nations charter in paragraph 2 of articles 1, 73 and 76. In light of that, can the Prime Minister set out what mandate he has won that allows him to breach this UN principle, deny Scotland’s claim of right and hold Scotland’s democracy hostage?
Minister reply
I know that the First Minister has asked for another referendum, and I just point out that we had one in 2014. Right now the priorities of the country should be rebuilding after covid and taking us forward together as a united country, and that is what we want to do.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Ukraine is by far the most important issue facing us, not least in terms of preventing mass starvation in Africa. One cannot help noticing that unlike all the other fluff in the newspapers every day, nobody dares criticise the Prime Minister’s resolute leadership on Ukraine. What concerns many of us is that some of our allies do not seem to be as resolute as he. While they will give full support to Ukraine not to lose this war, they are not that keen on Ukraine winning this war, because they do not want to humiliate Putin. Can the Prime Minister make clear that it is the absolute commitment of NATO to defeat Putin once and for all?
Minister reply
I agree 100% with what my right hon. Friend said, with just one clarification: it is 100% the objective of NATO, and all our friends and allies, to make sure that Putin fails in Ukraine—it is very important that we frame it in that way—and he can and he will, because the Ukrainians will not have it any other way.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent West
Question
Rwanda and the UK hosted the “Keeping 1.5 Alive” event in Kigali, but at the same time, the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report said that the requirement—the opportunity—to keep within 1.5° had now shifted forward from 2032 to 2025. Given that most major emitters in the G7 are not even meeting the Paris commitments that they made seven years ago, what realistic chance does the Prime Minister believe there is of the G7 stepping up to the plate in the next three years to achieve that turning down of emissions?
Minister reply
If the hon. Gentleman looked at the G7 communiqué, he would see that there was an explicit reference to making sure that anything we did was within our COP26 commitments to keeping 1.5° alive and to the commitments made in Paris.
Question
I strongly welcome the Prime Minister’s statement. In my time in the House, I cannot recall a foreign affairs statement in which the serving Prime Minister could take more personal satisfaction than the one that he has just delivered to the House. His leadership of NATO and the welcome conclusions of the NATO summit only reinforce the fact that, as the Leader of the Opposition said, what Mr Putin wants is for us to lose focus. Will the Prime Minister sustain his focus; get the grain out of Ukraine to meet the desperate need of the rest of the world; and ensure Ukraine’s survival as a sovereign state?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend. That certainly remains the Government’s objective. I stress that what we are doing to support the Ukrainians is not just right in itself, as everyone accepts, but right for the world. That is why it continues to be supported around the world.
Emma Lewell
Lab
South Shields
Question
The NATO summit rightly identified that Russia and China challenge our security. China continues to make clear the territories that it disputes in the Indo-Pacific. As war rages in Ukraine, concerns for the west’s ammunition stockpiles are growing, and the Prime Minister continues with plans that will see capability gaps in our Navy with fewer planes, tanks and troops. Without a drastic rethink of those cuts, how realistic is the UK’s desire in the integrated review to have a presence in both the north Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific?
Minister reply
Actually, at the Commonwealth summit, the most interesting thing was the widespread understanding of what the UK is doing in the Indo-Pacific tilt and the moves we are making to engage with that part of the world and strengthen our friends and allies in that region. Hon. Members saw what we did with the carrier strike group—an absolutely astonishing exercise—and know about the AUKUS commitment that we have made. We are in the embassies in that part of the world and are increasing our deployments there as well.
Robert Jenrick
Reform
Newark
Question
The single most impactful thing that we could do now to bear down on the cost of living would be to encourage OPEC, in particular Saudi Arabia, to pump more oil. What will the Government do to encourage our partners, such as Saudi Arabia, to do that? The Saudi Arabian oil Minister recently said that the relationship between Saudi and Moscow is “as warm as the weather in Riyadh”—a provocative statement that was probably influenced by our continued negotiation with Iran on a nuclear deal. Could the United Kingdom Government take a lead on that?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is correct about the role of Saudi. There may be some question about how much more the Saudis could pump out at this moment, but there is no doubt that we will need a lot more OPEC-plus oil. As hon. Members know, the UK has strong and productive relations with Saudi Arabia, which need to continue, and we need to make sure that the whole west does as well. We make that point to the Saudis. That is the way forward; they need to produce more oil—no question.
Question
May I say to the Prime Minister that there is some good stuff in what he has reported and he should be applauded for that, but there are other things that are deeply worrying and concerning? I come from quite a military family—I saw little of my father until I was six because he was away serving in the Royal Engineers during the war—and I tell you that I take a real interest in the size of our Army. Over the last 10 years, I have consistently said to Ministers and Prime Ministers that dipping below 100,000 serving men and women is dangerous and foolish. Whatever the warm words this morning, the fact is that his Government are still committed to going down to 72,000 men and women, and that is not enough to fully protect our country. Will he think again about the size and power of our Army?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member very much. I want to say that I perfectly understand why he speaks as he does, but the reality is that the UK Army—the Army alone—will have a whole force of over 100,000: 73,000 plus 30,000 reserves. The key test is: what are they doing and how are they equipped—how are they protected? They are the best in the world, but we also want to make sure that we give them the best possible equipment, and that is what we are doing. If you listen to the Ukrainians, they will tell you that our equipment is the best.
Rehman Chishti
Con
Gillingham and Rainham
Question
The Prime Minister has said that the world has seen the United Kingdom stand up for what is right in Ukraine, but some Commonwealth countries are concerned about Russia's actions there. Was there any discussion on how to advance freedom of religion or belief in the Commonwealth?
Minister reply
First, may I thank my hon. Friend very much for everything he did as envoy for freedom of religion or belief? It is at least partly thanks to his energy and efforts that we have a global conference in this city this week on freedom of belief around the world. I can tell him that one of the many things that unite the Commonwealth is a passionate determination to protect that freedom.
Layla Moran
Lib Dem
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
Four years ago, a review of golden visas was promised but has not been delivered. Why?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Member. We are doing everything we can to make sure that we restrict access to this country by Putin’s cronies or anybody who supports the invasion of Ukraine, and that is why we are reviewing the golden visa scheme.
Greg Clark
Con
West Suffolk
Question
What discussions did the Prime Minister have with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan on the UK’s participation in the trans-Pacific trade agreement and co-operation on science and technology?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend very much for his role as the UK’s envoy for trade with Japan. I can tell him that the opportunities are absolutely immense, and the Government of Fumio Kishida are determined to progress the alliance with the UK to new heights. He is absolutely right to talk about science and technology.
Tony Lloyd
Lab
Manchester Central
Question
There are credible reports that it has become increasingly difficult to get weaponry and ammunition across the globe for Ukraine.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman raises an interesting point. As he knows, the UK began the Ramstein process, where countries commit substantial sums as well as matériel to Ukraine. I am not aware of any logistical problems that we are facing so far.
Duncan Baker
Con
Orpington
Question
The Government have announced they will champion the rebuilding of Kyiv at the request of President Zelensky, providing hope to refugees. Will the Prime Minister confirm that we as a country will not give up and will stand firm with Ukraine?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his kindness to the family from Ukraine. It is much appreciated by the Ukrainians. Thanks to the support we have been giving the Ukrainians, they are starting to see large numbers going back to Ukraine.
Dan Jarvis
Lab
Barnsley North
Question
Does the Prime Minister agree that our success is underpinned by the maintenance of public support for the war in Ukraine and can he say how he, and President Biden, plan to ensure that public support is maintained for as long as necessary?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman has served in the armed forces himself, and he understands how difficult it can be to continue to build public support for military expenditure. But it is vital that we do this.
Sherwood
Question
The Scottish nationalists would cut our defence spending to 1.6%, and unilaterally disarm if they were ever to achieve independence. Does the Prime Minister agree that our new ambition to spend 2.5% shows why Scotland is better off in the UK?
Minister reply
I hesitated to say that to my right hon. Friend, but that is the fact. The Scottish contribution to our armed services is immense.
Kevin Brennan
Lab
Cardiff West
Question
When the Prime Minister was in Rwanda did he meet the leader of the opposition and speak to President Kagame about his continual policy of criminalising or assassinating his political opponents?
Minister reply
I did raise human rights concerns with President Kagame, and I raised issues of freedom of speech. In 1994 the country underwent perhaps the most catastrophic, humiliating disaster that any country could undergo.
Gareth Davies
Con
Grantham and Bourne
Question
The Prime Minister was right when he said that 2% of GDP on defence spending should be a floor, not a ceiling. However, some allies still fall short of this commitment. What efforts were made to rectify this in Madrid?
Minister reply
What the UK has been doing is leading by example. It was at Cardiff in 2014 that we set the target of 2% of GDP—a floor, not a ceiling. We were one of the first to exceed it.
Mike Kane
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Question
That was a clumsy attempt to unseat the secretary-general of the Commonwealth.
Minister reply
It was a great day for democracy, which is one thing among many that the Commonwealth stands for in the world. I think that Patricia Scotland will do an excellent job for the next two years.
Richard Holden
Con
Basildon and Billericay
Question
Countries on the frontline such as Poland and Romania are doing a huge amount. On grain shipments, has the Prime Minister had any dealings with the President of Romania on the possibility of using the port of Constanța to protect global food prices?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point and alludes to exactly the solutions that we are trying to find in the event that we are forced into an operation that does not involve the consent of the Russians.
Margaret Ferrier
Ind
Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Question
During the Prime Minister’s conversations at the G7 and NATO summits, what was made of the risk of antagonising China through trade talks with Taiwan? Does he agree that the UK must respect Taiwanese sovereignty?
Minister reply
The discussion at the G7 was probably liveliest on that subject. The G7 feels that China is a gigantic fact of our lives and that we have got to understand that.
Question
My constituents are proud of the actions taken by this country and the Prime Minister in supporting Ukraine, its armed forces and the victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine. However, they are feeling the pinch in their pockets, and the public purse is under severe pressure as well, so they want to know that our NATO allies and immediate neighbours are playing their part in equal measure.
Minister reply
On the table of expenditure, the US is way out in front. I really congratulate Joe Biden on his leadership. Joe Biden and the Americans have really stepped up to the plate—a fantastic effort. We are spending the second biggest amount, and I think that the Poles are in third place. There is then a long tail of others, but everybody is now spending more and more. We agreed that we are in it for the long haul; that is the most important thing.
Paul Holmes
Con
Hamble Valley
Question
Thank you, Mr Speaker. That was great exercise bobbing, I can tell you. The Prime Minister should be congratulated on his international leadership on Ukraine, which is shown by how much people in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Government applaud him for his leadership at NATO. We are now entering a phase where the Ukrainians really need to start to be able to push the Russian lines back. What conversations has he had in NATO about providing heavier land-based equipment to the Ukrainians?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is completely right; that is where the focus now is. The Ukrainians are heroic. They have shown they can push the Russians back. They pushed them from Kyiv. They pushed them back from Kharkiv. What they need is the right multiple launch rocket systems to do it, because the Russians are very good at standing off and using heavy artillery to shell and intimidate. The MLRS are absolutely critical to the Ukrainian fightback. That is what we are giving them now, together with several other allies. What they also need is the training to make sure that those very sophisticated weapons are used to the best possible effect, and we are giving them that training as well.
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer
Shadow Comment
The shadow foreign secretary welcomed unity among allies against Putin's aggression but criticised the Prime Minister for his divisive campaign within the Commonwealth, which led to a diplomatic failure. He emphasised the importance of aid spending in preventing future military spending and questioned whether Britain could meet its extra commitments given recent cuts to troop numbers.
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