Topical Questions

Question

Despite NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan, the middle east remains a source of threat. What steps is the government taking to address issues like Turkey's presence in Syria which affects 900,000 civilians?

Question

Many members of the Afghan armed forces and intelligence officers are arriving in the UK through Operation Pitting. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to identify them and integrate them into our own armed forces?

Question

What did the Defence Secretary know about Ajax flaws when publishing the integrated review, scrapping Warrior, scaling back Challenger and fully backing Ajax?

Question

How is the Secretary of State addressing concerns that Ajax undermines Britain's contribution and commitment to NATO?

Question

There is some serious dismay over potential housing development plans for the High Barnet Army reserve centre. Can I have assurances that it will stay in operational use for the foreseeable future?

Question

The academics at LSE argue that lifting the current cap on Trident nuclear weapons based in Scotland breaches Article 6 of the non-proliferation treaty. Is international law a concern for this Government?

Question

Will the Department use EU exit, the Enterprise Act 2002, and social value rules to ensure more British ships are built with more British content?

Question

Earlier I raised serious concerns about the fire service crews that are based in Faslane and Coulport following outsourcing to Capita, which has cut jobs. The Secretary of State dismissed my concerns out of hand, saying that the service is nationalised. Will he confirm whether Capita is running the service or not? If he does not know, he needs to get a grip of this.

Question

As a veteran, I know of the hard work, dedication and often sacrifice of our great armed forces. There are many families in Wolverhampton who live and support what the great armed forces do. Will the Minister do everything that he can to ensure that all serving and former service personnel have all the support they and their families need?

Question

What discussions have Ministers had with the Home Office regarding the Commonwealth visa issue for former serving personnel? That is entirely missing from the integrated strategy review and I would like to know when this House will get an update.

Question

My hon. Friend has already referred to the great economic benefits resulting from the £400 million investment in enhancing C-17 Chinook capability, but does he agree that it will also help us to ensure that we can continue to undertake complex operations like the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan, where C-17 transport aircraft played a key role?

Question

What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the impact of the introduction of operational MGS—MOD Guard Service—employment contracts on levels of staff fatigue and security at UK military bases?

Question

Will the Secretary of State inform the House what Members should do when they are contacted by people who have been of assistance to our armed forces in Afghanistan but whom they have reason to believe the Taliban are hunting? Is there any help that we will be able to give them, and how should we go about approaching the Government to secure that help?

Question

When people who are pursuing successful careers in the armed forces go back to their old schools and say, “Look, this is what I have done; this is what you can do”, that can be a real incentive to recruitment. Does the Secretary of State agree that this would be a good way for him to co-ordinate with the Secretary of State for Education in future?

Question

Following on from the question from the right hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis) about those individuals who are working with British military forces in Afghanistan, what is going to happen to those who find that they have been refused under the ARAP scheme? Will they then be referred to the Home Office or to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, or are they being left in limbo just now?

Question

Is the Secretary of State able to update the House on any plans to renew the Red Arrows' Hawk aircraft, which are now quite old, in the near future?