Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NATO Obligations

Monday 13 March 2023 · 6 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

  • Samantha Dixon asked about steps to ensure UK meets NATO obligations; minister responded with details on enhanced force posture and contributions to NATO missions.
  • Chris Elmore inquired about assurance that equipment shortages would not affect domestic abilities or NATO commitments; minister acknowledged Select Committee report and noted some equipment provided to Ukraine from active inventory.
  • Robert Courts questioned if Ministers are examining joint procurement with NATO allies; minister confirmed work is being done with allies through NATO and bilaterally.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Samantha Dixon Lab Chester North and Neston
Defence
Context

The UK is committed to NATO, but there are concerns about meeting the financial obligations.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that the UK meets its obligations to NATO?

Answer from James Heappey

Our commitment to NATO and Euro-Atlantic security is unconditional. We have enhanced our force posture in Estonia and sent warships and fighter aircraft to south-east Europe and the Mediterranean. We contribute to every NATO mission and declare the UK's nuclear deterrent to NATO.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps being taken to ensure financial obligations are met were not detailed

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Q2 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Defence
Context

A recent report by the Defence Committee highlighted concerns about UK's lack of ammunition reserves, impacting domestic and NATO defence capabilities.

Question

What assurance can he provide that the shortage will not impact our domestic abilities and wider commitments to NATO?

Answer from James Heappey

The hon. Gentleman makes a sensible point. The Select Committee's report is being read at the moment and will be responded to as would be expected. A small proportion of equipment and stockpiles provided to Ukraine come from current active inventory, with an even larger proportion sourced or manufactured overseas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct assurance about the impact of ammunition shortages was not provided

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Q3 Samantha Dixon Lab Chester North and Neston
Defence
Context

Ministers plan to cut the size of the Army, while NATO has agreed to increase high readiness forces. Concerns about whether the updated integrated review will halt these cuts.

Question

Will the updated integrated review halt cuts to Army numbers?

Answer from James Heappey

My right hon. Friend has been clear all along that if facts change, so will our approach to force structure. Force size and readiness are not necessarily directly connected. We study lessons from Ukraine carefully and the last IR is being looked at.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct confirmation about halting Army cuts was avoided

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Q4 Bob Stewart Con
Defence
Context

Concerns over the additional funding for defence allowing more teeth arm units and support arm units to NATO.

Question

Could I ask my very good friend the Minister whether the additional money for defence will allow us to provide more teeth arm units, plus the support arm units—enablers—to NATO?

Answer from James Heappey

It may do. The reality is that we are still providing a large number of frontline units to NATO, particularly in the maritime and air domains. Land forces concern logistics and strategic enablers, which need reinvestment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct confirmation about additional funds leading to more units was avoided

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Q5 Robert Courts Con
Defence
Context

Concerns over procurement options with NATO allies for stockpiling and ammunition.

Question

Are Ministers looking at what procurement can be done commonly with NATO allies?

Answer from James Heappey

Absolutely. The UK works with allies around the alliance, both through the alliance itself and bilaterally, finding out that industrial capacity cannot be turned on just like that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Direct confirmation about joint procurement was not provided in detail

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Q6 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Defence
Context

Concerns over senior British military officer's doubts about UK's leading NATO member status due to Army's war-fighting capability hollowing out, with today's funding announcement focusing on nuclear enterprise and stockpiles.

Question

With today's funding announcement limited to nuclear enterprise and stockpiles, can he confirm whether it is still his Department's policy to cut troop numbers by 10%, cut the reserves and provide no additional funding to plug gaps in war-fighting capability?

Answer from James Heappey

As a naval constituency representative, focusing on simply the Army does our armed forces disservice. The UK commits its entire nuclear deterrent to NATO, maritime task groups more than any other ally, air policing, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and various high-readiness Army formations.

Not addressed: The question about cuts and funding was entirely avoided

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