Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK-Australia Security and Defence Co-operation

Monday 21 February 2022 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK and Australia have taken steps to deepen bilateral security and defence cooperation through the AUKUS agreement.
  • The UK plans to commemorate submariners in May, honouring their contributions to security.
  • Cooperation between the UK and Australia addresses supply chain resilience and security, including maintaining the necessary skill base for submarine operations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Defence
Context

The question stems from the need for increased security in the Indo-Pacific region, which has been highlighted by the AUKUS agreement.

Question

What steps his Department has taken to strengthen security and defence co-operation with Australia. The AUKUS deal highlights the benefits of cooperation between the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. In May this year, a submariner memorial will be commemorated, honouring those who have given their lives for the protection of our country.

Answer from Ben Wallace

AUKUS is a generational commitment to the security of the Indo-Pacific. Last month I agreed with my Australian counterpart additional steps to deepen our bilateral co-operation, building on the deployment of two UK offshore patrol vessels and facilitated by an enhanced British defence staff in Canberra. My hon. Friend has highlighted a very important part of our armed forces. I pay tribute to the submariners who keep us safe 24 hours a day around these shores.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The steps taken for bilateral co-operation and the specifics about attending the dedication were not fully addressed.

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Q2 Duncan Baker
Defence
Context

A submariner memorial is to be dedicated in May this year, honouring those who have given their lives for the protection of our country. More than half a million pounds has been raised to fund it.

Question

Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking our submariners for all that they do and will he attend the dedication if he can?

Answer from Ben Wallace

My hon. Friend has highlighted a very important part of our armed forces. I pay tribute to the submariners who keep us safe 24 hours a day around these shores. There have been 50 years of the continuous at-sea deterrent, and before that they played a strong role in both defeating the Nazis and ensuring protection.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The commitment to attend the dedication was not addressed specifically.

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Q3 John Spellar Lab
Defence Business & Trade
Context

The AUKUS agreement has bipartisan support in all three countries, highlighting the need for more than just submarines and military cooperation. There is a pressing problem of supply chain resilience and security which affects military effectiveness and sustainability.

Question

How are we going to cooperate to deal with the pressing problem of supply chain resilience and security? The fragility in the submarine supply chain concerns not only us but also the United States, making it a challenge for all involved. This includes maintaining the necessary skill base.

Answer from Ben Wallace

The right hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the fragility in the submarine supply chain, which concerns not just us but the United States, and indeed all those involved. These are highly complex boats, and keeping them maintained and ensuring that they are also a skill base is a real challenge for us all. That is why we have invested in a record number of apprentices and increased much of the necessary funding.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specifics about how AUKUS will focus on capacity-building and capability development were not fully addressed.

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