Topical Questions 2024-03-25

2024-03-25

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
The question arises as the Minister takes on new departmental roles and responsibilities.
I welcome my right hon. Friend to his post and note the publication of the Command Paper, but does he agree that for a truly national enterprise there must be access to jobs across the country?
My hon. Friend is right about the extent of the supply chain. In addition to the very large investment in Rolls-Royce, to which the Australians contributed £2.4 billion last week, and all the work in Barrow that is described in the Command Paper, there are benefits for virtually every constituency in the country.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
Recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have raised concerns about the UK's ongoing commitment to Ukraine. Previous announcements include £2.5 billion of military support for 2024.
The Opposition welcomed the £2.5 billion of military support for 2024 but are concerned that no deliveries will happen until Q1 of the new financial year. When will this aid be delivered to help Ukraine with their spring/summer offensive?
We have a constant flow of foreign materiel that we are buying and sending into Ukraine. £325 million for British-Ukrainian drones was recently announced, with the overall amount increasing from £2.3 billion to £2.5 billion.
Assessment & feedback
specific delivery timeline not provided
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
John Healey Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Context
An Army non-serving partner has highlighted issues with children's mental health treatments when military families move locations.
Can my right hon. Friend give an update on recommendations 74, 75 and 76 of the 'Living in our Shoes' report dealing with this issue?
Integrated care boards are running a pilot scheme to address people losing their places on waiting lists when they travel around the country. HeadFIT is being adapted and adopted at the moment.
Assessment & feedback
specific updates on recommendations not detailed
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
John Healey Lab
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Context
The Government have previously refused to comment on whether UK airbases are used by Israeli F-35s or other military cooperation.
Given the recent international condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, what operational or policy reasons exist for denying UK citizens information about potential complicity?
We do not comment on operational matters of that sort.
Assessment & feedback
Do Not Comment On Operational Matters
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
Hamas's senior leaders are hosted in Qatar, and concerns arise about diplomatic pressure from Qatar.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that Qatar's support for Hamas weakens our adversaries?
I am not entirely sure that I do agree. We have an increasingly helpful partnership with Qatar across a whole load of things over the past few years, and it has great potential.
Assessment & feedback
Do Not Comment Directly On Diplomatic Angles
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
HMS Albion is twinned with Chester, raising concerns about the status of the ship.
Can the Secretary of State provide a date for when HMS Albion will be at sea or admit that it has been mothballed?
HMS Albion was visited by me recently and has not been mothballed. The other ship, HMS Bulwark, will also continue in operation.
Assessment & feedback
specific date for at sea operations not provided
Response accuracy
Q7 Direct Answer
Greg Smith Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Context
The recent publication of the Command Paper highlights significant investments in UK defence capabilities.
I welcome the publication of the Command Paper, and in particular the important role played by Rolls-Royce in Derby. Does my right hon. Friend agree that for this to be a truly national enterprise, there must be access to jobs throughout the country?
My hon. Friend is right about the extent of the supply chain. In addition to the very large investment in Rolls-Royce, there are benefits for virtually every constituency.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Samantha Dixon Lab
Chester North and Neston
Context
Recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have raised concerns about the UK's support for Ukraine.
We condemn the deadly terrorist attack in Moscow and note your condemnation. However, recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities require more immediate support from the UK, beyond financial aid through the International Fund for Ukraine. When will this additional support be provided?
ISIS has claimed responsibility for Moscow's attack; no link to Ukraine. Recent attempts include 27 contracts through the International Fund for Ukraine with £900 million.
Assessment & feedback
specific support timeline not provided
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Context
The hostages were taken five months ago and a delegation consisting of family members of the victims attended an all-party parliamentary group event.
Like many colleagues across the House, I attended the all-party parliamentary group for UK-Israel and Friends of Israel event. We were joined by two released hostages and a delegation consisting of young siblings, sons, daughters, grandchildren and cousins of those being held hostage in Gaza. It is now five months since the hostages were taken, so will the Secretary of State ensure that those victims remain right at the front of his mind in all decisions that are taken on the middle east?
My hon. Friend can absolutely have that assurance. It is shocking to see what is happening in the region, but it is too often forgotten—including in this House today by some Opposition Members—that this all began with the taking of those hostages. We will never forget.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a concrete commitment or timeline for prioritizing hostage victims in decision-making
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
Veterans who left service before 1975 have lost out on preserved pensions.
Pension justice is on everybody's lips just now, so can the Minister tell me what this Government have done to support the 30,000 veterans who left service before 1975 and who have lost out on preserved pensions?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. As he knows very well, consecutive Governments have made it plain that we do not make changes to pensions retrospectively. As for pensions for the armed forces overall, Mr Speaker, you will know, as I do as a beneficiary, that they are equitable, fair and generous.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific issue of preserved pensions for pre-1975 veterans
Discussed General Fairness Of Pension Policies Instead
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
Fort Blockhouse in Gosport was earmarked for disposal but delays have occurred over eight years.
The 2016 better defence estate plans earmarked Fort Blockhouse in Gosport for disposal, yet eight years later after numerous delays, the site is still rotting at the taxpayer's expense. It is doing nothing for the local economy, the local community or the MOD. Will the Minister please update me on when can we will finally see some progress on that site?
I enjoyed my visit to my hon. Friend's constituency, where we looked at a range of infrastructure and accommodation. I appreciate that she wants to see progress, but I stress that while we are engaging as closely as possible with Gosport Council on this and want to make progress, it is a complex site with significant defence events assets still in place relating to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the Royal Navy. I am committed to looking at what more we can do and to engaging further with her.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific timeline or progress update for Fort Blockhouse disposal
Stated Commitment Without Concrete Actions
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Jessica Morden Lab
Newport East
Context
Tens of thousands of pregnant women in Gaza are at serious risk due to malnutrition and lack of healthcare.
Tens of thousands of pregnant women in Gaza are suffering from malnutrition and are at serious risk of delivering their babies unsafely and without healthcare. Will the Secretary of State outline what steps he is taking, along with the Foreign Secretary, to support the delivery of food and medical supplies to those particularly vulnerable women?
We are working to try to bring supplies to all the citizens of Gaza. I did not run through the list of provisions, but it does include provisions for those in medical need, particularly women who may be pregnant. As I mentioned, we are working on plans with the Americans in particular, but also with the Jordanians, to provide vastly greater amounts of aid into Gaza.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete actions or timeline for delivering aid to pregnant women specifically
Mentioned General Aid Delivery Efforts Without Specifics
Response accuracy
Q13 Direct Answer
Context
A terrorist attack in Moscow highlights the ongoing threat of jihadi extremism.
The terrible terrorist attack in Moscow reminds us that jihadi extremism has not disappeared. Given its ideology, its reach and its strength, does the Secretary of State agree that ISIS-K is just as much of a threat to the west as it is to Russia?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is a perception that Daesh has gone away. The Daesh core is cooped up in prisons in northern Syria, but Daesh affiliates are growing alarmingly quickly in other parts of the world. The attack in Moscow is a reminder to us all that we must continue to focus on the counter-terror threat as well as on the state threat.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Dan Jarvis Lab
Barnsley North
Context
A reassessment of the Afghan relocations and assistance policy was promised, with a process expected to take 12 weeks.
May I wish the Minister for the Armed Forces all the very best for his next posting? He will recall that on 1 February he made a commitment to reassess the Afghan relocations and assistance policy eligibility, specifically for former members of the triples, and said that the process would take 12 weeks. Will he update the House on what progress has been made on that work to date?
It is disappointing to finish on a down note, but as the hon. Gentleman knows from a written answer that I gave him last week, it has taken longer than I wanted to establish an independent group of new casework assessors, and that 12 week period has therefore not yet begun. I was told by officials, when I reluctantly signed off the answer to him last week, that that process was nigh-on complete and that the 12-week period should therefore start imminently. He will not be surprised to learn that, pre-empting his question, I have encouraged them by suggesting that eight weeks would sound an awful lot better than 12, given the delay in getting started.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a clear timeline for commencement of the reassessment process
Mentioned Delays And Suggested Alternative Timelines Without Concrete Start Date
Response accuracy