Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ukraine: Military Response to Russian Invasion

Monday 7 November 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK works closely with international partners and Ukraine to ensure the country receives appropriate military support.
  • The UK has convened multiple donor conferences involving over 50 nations to coordinate efforts in supporting Ukraine.
  • The effectiveness of resupplying Ukraine depends on having a robust defence industry with skilled manpower and domestic orders.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Randall
Ukraine
Context

The effectiveness of the Ukrainian military's response to Russian aggression and the support provided by international partners are under scrutiny.

Question

What assessment has his Department made of the effectiveness of the Ukrainian military response to Russia's invasion?

Answer from Ben Wallace

We work closely with international partners and Ukraine to ensure that Ukraine receives the right equipment at the right time. Meetings such as those of the Ukraine defence contact group and the international defence co-ordination centre help to prioritise and co-ordinate efforts. The UK and international partners also train Ukrainian recruits in the UK, and we receive regular feedback from the armed forces in Ukraine that allows us to tailor courses to best meet requirements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness of the military response was not directly assessed.

How: Work Closely With International Partners, Prioritise And Co-Ordinate Efforts

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Q2 Tom Randall
Ukraine
Context

The House acknowledges the bravery of Ukrainian defenders, but stresses the necessity for proper training and equipment from Western allies.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend confirm that the UK is working closely with our NATO allies and the Ukrainians to ensure that the training and equipment received is as useful as possible?

Answer from Ben Wallace

Almost within days of the invasion, I convened a donor conference. At the first conference we had nearly 30 nations, and three conferences later, when the United States chaired it in Germany, we had more than 50 nations. We constantly work on that co-ordination and we have set up the international donor co-ordination cell, which is well populated by United Kingdom forces, to make sure that we get the right equipment to the right people in time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness of training and supplies was not directly confirmed.

How: Convened A Donor Conference, Constantly Work On Co-Ordination

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Q3 John Spellar Lab
Defence Business & Trade
Context

The resupply of Ukrainians with necessary equipment hinges on the robustness and capacity of UK's own defence manufacturing base.

Question

Does our ability to resupply the Ukrainians not depend on our having a robust defence industry? Does that not depend on both facilities and skilled manpower? And does that not depend on orders being placed in this country?

Answer from Ben Wallace

The right hon. Gentleman never answered the question that I put to him at the Defence Committee. As he says, surely the most important thing is that whoever bids for these contracts commits to investing in skills in Britain. If they do not invest in skills, what is the point of awarding the contract? When I asked him whether he would choose someone who invested in skills, there was no answer from him. This is classic union-paid claptrap.

Not addressed: The proposal and its implications for UK's defence industry were not addressed.

How: Classic Union-Paid Claptrap

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