Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Equipment

Monday 1 February 2021 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The national shipbuilding strategy recognizes the strategic importance of ship systems and the supply chain that provides them.
  • The UK plans to spend 186 billion on equipment and support between 2018 and 2028.
  • The integrated review will be published in the spring, and HMS Argus has been deployed to assist with outbreaks in the Caribbean.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Pawsey Con
Defence
Context

The MP notes the importance of British industry in supplying defence equipment. He highlights General Electric's electric power and propulsion systems as a strategic national asset.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that British industry can supply the defence equipment needed to meet future threats? The national shipbuilding strategy reflects the strategic importance of ship systems and the supply chain that provides them. Will he confirm that those are considered strategic national assets and included in Government thinking on fleet solid support ships programme?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

I can certainly confirm that I recognise that many of the benefits of naval procurement are seen in the supply chain; General Electric and other systems providers play a hugely important role as part of the UK's shipbuilding enterprise. I am committed to maximising the benefits to UK industry in all our defence procurement, within the regulations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment was made regarding inclusion of General Electric's systems in fleet solid support ships programme

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Q2 Mark Pawsey Con
Defence
Context

The MP criticises the reduction in revenue-based equipment support despite an increase in overall defence spending. He highlights a budget shortfall of £17 billion.

Question

How on earth has he agreed to this cut, and how is he going to meet the future threats to this country and fix the black hole in the budget by cutting day-to-day defence spending?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

We have planned to spend £186 billion on equipment and support between 2018 and 2028. We need to balance revenue spending and capital spending in terms of the resource departmental expenditure limit throughout the process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete plan was provided for dealing with budget shortfalls through reduced day-to-day defence spending

How: Downplaying

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Q3 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Defence
Context

The MP criticises the Secretary of State's predecessor for downplaying the defence black hole problem. The National Audit Office now reports a £17 billion unaffordable equipment plan.

Question

May I urge him not to repeat mistakes by trying to balance books off the back of forces personnel, industry investment and equipment support?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

Since taking my post as Defence Secretary I have been determined to ensure that the figures both we and the Treasury use are absolutely of the highest quality and transparency. We will not indulge in fantasy savings or phantom programmes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment was made regarding avoiding previous mistakes in balancing books off forces personnel, investment or support

How: Downplaying

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Q4 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP wishes Captain Sir Tom Moore well, a symbol of British spirit during the pandemic. He warns against infantry cuts and invites the use of RFA Argus in international vaccine roll-out.

Question

May I press the Government on when the integrated review will be published? Also, warn against suggestions that our infantry might be cut by up to 10,000 personnel. Can military assets like RFA Argus be deployed for assisting with international vaccines rollout?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

The integrated review will be in the spring. HMS Argus has returned from assisting with outbreaks in the Caribbean, dealing not only with the initial outbreak but also security and border issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Publication timeline of the integrated review was downplayed; no specific commitment for deploying RFA Argus

How: Downplaying

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Q5 Tobias Ellwood Con
Defence
Context

The MP questions the Secretary of State's predecessor's claim that the black hole was eliminated in 2012. The National Audit Office now reports a £17 billion unaffordable equipment plan.

Question

Where have we seen systematic problems in managing the defence budget over decades, and how is this integrated review different?

Answer from Ben Wallace (Secretary of State for Defence)

Since taking my post as Defence Secretary I have been determined to ensure that the figures both we and the Treasury use are absolutely of the highest quality and transparency. This will start from a baseline where we can all be transparent about our figures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific differences were detailed regarding current versus past reviews in addressing budget management issues

How: Downplaying

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