Strategic Defence Review 2024-10-14
2024-10-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The government commissioned a strategic defence review within two weeks of taking office.
When will the outcome of the strategic defence review be announced?
The Prime Minister commissioned the strategic defence review within two weeks of taking office. The review will ensure that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad, both now and in years to come. It will be reported to Parliament.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The government has a recruitment crisis in the armed forces.
What assurances can be given that the strategic defence review will address the backlog of new recruits trying to get through medical assessments?
The strategic defence review will place people at its heart. The government inherited a situation where recruitment targets were missed every year for 14 years, leading to a recruitment crisis. No plan can deal with this without sorting out recruitment.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific measures or timeline was provided for resolving the recruitment backlog
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Foreign Secretary concluded a deal with Mauritius over the Chagos islands.
How much has been offered to pay Mauritius for renting back a military facility, and which department will cover this cost?
Full details of the deal will be set out when the treaty comes before Parliament. The government inherited a situation where the UK-US military base was at risk due to sovereignty and migration issues. A historic deal has secured the base for the future, welcomed by the US Defence Secretary.
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Assessment & feedback
Financial details of the agreement and department responsible were not provided
Changed Subject Entirely
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
China launched military drills around Taiwan.
Will the review condemn China's recent aggressive manoeuvres in the Indo-Pacific region, and what are the government doing to work with allies to de-escalate tensions?
The strategic defence review will include serious analysis of the Indo-Pacific region. The government is committed to building on previous commitments made by the former government, consulting military veterans, industry experts, and all parties in Parliament.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific condemnation or concrete measures were outlined
Hedges
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The previous government left the armed forces underfunded.
Will the review focus on the sovereign defence industrial base, ensuring that regions such as the north-east are pivotal in this regard?
The experts conducting the review will have an ongoing focus on the sovereign defence industrial base, reinforcing the UK's security and economy. The previous government left a depleted state in the armed forces, with billion-pound black holes in defence plans and low service morale.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific regional focus or timeline was provided
Hedges
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The government committed to a path of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.
Clarify whether the Government's commitment is to spend 2.5% of GDP 'as soon as possible' or 'in due course'.
The government is committed to spending 2.5% on defence to meet increasing threats, confirmed by the Prime Minister at the NATO summit in Washington. The last time this country spent 2.5% was in 2010 under Labour.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific timeline or clarification was given
Hedges
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner references the significant underspending in defence from 2010, highlighting a shift in language from 'as soon as possible' to 'in due course'. He emphasizes the importance of reaching 2.5% of GDP for national security.
That is a concern. In 2010, just to remind the House, the black hole in the defence budget was bigger than the defence budget, and we were left a note saying that there was no money left. It is significant if the wording is no longer “as soon as possible” and is now “in due course”. It is in the national interest to go to 2.5% because of the threats we face as a country. If the Secretary of State told us now that he was fighting hard with the Treasury to go to 2.5% in the Budget at the end of this month, he would have our full support. Is that what he is doing?
Fourteen years, Mr Speaker, yet the Conservatives produced their unfunded plan for 2.5% on defence only four weeks before they called the election. It was the hon. Gentleman's former boss, the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who told the truth about their record in government when he said to the House: “we have hollowed out and underfunded”—[Official Report, 30 January 2023; Vol. 727, c. 18.] our armed forces since 2010.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific question about reaching 2.5% of GDP for defence spending and the Secretary's efforts were not addressed.
Attacking The Opposition
Response accuracy