Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 3 February 2020 · 11 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 11 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Clarkson thanks Ben Wallace for his department's statement on their responsibilities and asks for reassurance that service personnel will not face legal challenges for historical convictions.
  • Ben Wallace states that all current systems operate under GPS and confirms representations to the Treasury will be made for funding required for the UK's global navigation satellite system.
  • Virginia Crosbie requests that Ben Wallace praise the vital work of RAF Valley and invites him to visit her constituency, Ynys Mn.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Clarkson QT1
Justice & Courts Veterans
Context

The MOD provided support during the coronavirus outbreak, including medical support on a repatriation flight from Wuhan.

Question

Chris Clarkson thanks Ben Wallace for his department's statement on their responsibilities. He asks if the Secretary of State agrees that it is wrong that service personnel face legal challenges upon returning home and seeks reassurance that they will not be pursued for historical convictions when no new evidence is found.

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement, Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace assures Chris Clarkson of the importance placed on this issue and confirms that they are determined to deal with vexatious issues affecting service personnel. He states that measures will be introduced in the next 100 days.

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Q2 Nia Griffith Lab
Science & Technology
Context

The UK was scheduled to use Galileo's encrypted system for the armed forces but this is now uncertain post-Brexit.

Question

Nia Griffith asks when the UK's own global navigation satellite system will be fully up and running, given that the first satellites may only be launched by 2025 and the system not operational until 2030. She also inquires about the funding required for this system.

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement, Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace states that all current systems operate under GPS and resilience is being reviewed. He confirms representations to the Treasury will be made for any funding required, which would likely come from across Government or the Treasury.

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Q3 Virginia Crosbie QT2
Defence
Context

RAF Valley trains fast jet pilots and helicopter crews, being a significant employer in the constituency.

Question

Virginia Crosbie requests that Ben Wallace praise the vital work of RAF Valley and invites him to visit her constituency, Ynys Môn.

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement, Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace commends the importance of RAF Valley for pilot training and its contribution to economy and community. He expresses eagerness to continue investing in RAF Valley and invites discussions with Virginia Crosbie.

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Q4 Martin Docherty SNP
Defence
Context

European Union engagements include deployments like in Kosovo.

Question

Martin Docherty enquires about Ben Wallace's views on the European Commission's vision of structural consultation on defence and security. He seeks advice on establishing a framework to continue work with Europeans.

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement, Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace acknowledges excellent EU engagements like in Kosovo but insists that unilateral entry and exit conditions must apply. He affirms the UK's commitment to European security.

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Q5 Andrew Rosindell Reform
Defence
Context

These aircraft carriers are important for Britain's strategic reach.

Question

Andrew Rosindell confirms that Her Majesty's Government will keep both aircraft carriers in active service, highlighting their importance to Britain's overseas interests.

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement, Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace assures that the carrier strike group is crucial and always has one available. He confirms no plans to get rid of them.

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Q6 Ian Levy Lab Blyth Valley
Defence
Context

Concerns over the retention of young men and women who join the armed forces, highlighting a local campaign in Blyth Valley.

Question

My right hon. Friend will recall the recruitment campaign that highlighted how many people—how many young men and women—born in Blyth Valley have made their careers in the armed forces. Can he tell me and the House what steps he has taken to ensure that the young men and women who put themselves forward to serve are retained and valued?

Answer from Johnny Mercer (Minister for Defence People and Veterans)

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, and to the men and women of Blyth Valley who have contributed so much to this nation's defence. We are acutely aware that although we are now doing pretty well in recruitment, we have a challenge with retention, and for the first time a Secretary of State has come into role and started talking about how we can better look after our people. I am confident that with wraparound childcare, and all the other things we are doing, we will improve the offer and tackle retention, and that the men and women of Blyth Valley will continue to serve well in our armed forces.

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Q7 Jeff Smith Lab Penrith and The Border
NHS Veterans
Context

A constituent, Tom, an ex-serviceman needing his medical records for a hearing aid application, faced a six-month waiting period due to backlogs.

Question

My constituent, Tom, who is an ex-serviceman, needed his medical records from the Army Personnel Centre in order to apply for a hearing aid. When he got in touch last July, he was told that it would take six months to get his records, because the Army Personnel Centre could not meet demand and was putting in place measures to deal with the backlog. Will the Minister update the House on whether that waiting time has been reduced so that our veterans can access the support they need?

Answer from Johnny Mercer (Minister for Defence People and Veterans)

There should be no waiting time whatsoever for medical records that are going from regular regiments to a local GP. We are looking at ways of improving the system, and incentivising, to ensure that the gap is much smaller. If the hon. Gentleman writes to me about his constituent, I will find out what is going on in that case and ensure it is sorted out.

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Q8 Felicity Buchan Con Sherwood
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

Discussion on the co-ordination between MOD and DFID to support national security objectives.

Question

What progress has been made in aligning the goals of the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with colleagues in DFID and across the Government to ensure that activity is co-ordinated and mutually reinforced in support of our national security objectives. The Government have announced that they will undertake the deepest review of Britain's security, defence and foreign policy since the end of the cold war, and that will cover all aspects from defence to diplomacy and development.

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Q9 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Defence Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Committee's recommendations about service personnel not being repeatedly reinvestigated without compelling new evidence.

Question

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the announcement he made on Armistice Day last year, at the start of the election campaign, about service personnel not being repeatedly reinvestigated without compelling new evidence broadly corresponds to the recommendations of the 17th report of the last Parliament's Select Committee on Defence?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

I stand by the statements I made. I apologise for the time taken to respond to the Committee. The reason is that the original draft reply did not reflect the policy commitment and does not reflect the result of the general election. I am determined that all my Department's replies to Committees are correct, accurate and answer the questions put to them. I hope that when my right hon. Friend reads the reply, he will be happy that it responds to some of the very good recommendations in his Committee's report.

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Q10 Rupa Huq Lab Sedgefield
Veterans
Context

A meeting was promised between the Veterans Minister and a constituent of Ms Huq, Tony Pitt, who had concerns about funding for life-saving treatment.

Question

My constituent, Tony Pitt, died while waiting to meet the Veterans Minister regarding his concern over funding for advanced medical care under the armed forces covenant. Does the Minister accept that this covenant is failing in providing necessary support?

Answer from Johnny Mercer (Veterans Minister)

Of course we will look at that issue again. It comes under the armed forces covenant: no individual should suffer disadvantage because of the time they served.

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Q11 Richard Drax Con South East Cornwall
Defence Housing
Context

Concerns about the quality of accommodation at Wellington barracks and its impact on retention of service members.

Question

Given that a key factor in retaining armed forces personnel is their housing, does the Minister feel confident that current accommodation standards meet the required criteria?

Answer from Johnny Mercer (Veterans Minister)

This Government are putting more money than ever before into armed forces accommodation. I am clear that some of the accommodation we ask our personnel to live in is nowhere near good enough. We have a new programme of inspections and we are determined to get a grip on the issue. I am confident that in the next 12 to 24 months, servicemen and women in this country will see a significant uplift in the standard of their accommodation.

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