Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ukraine: Military Support

Monday 8 January 2024 · 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 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial support for Ukraine includes air defence, artillery ammunition, and training 10,000 Ukrainians by the first half of 2024.
  • The UK launched a maritime capability coalition with Norway, joined by 10 additional nations to support Ukraine.
  • Funding for military aid to Ukraine continues through April 2024, totalling 2.3 billion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nia Griffith Lab Llanelli
Ukraine
Context

The UK is providing military aid to Ukraine but details on steps being taken to increase this support are requested.

Question

What steps he is taking to increase military support to Ukraine. What specific actions and funding allocations will be implemented to ensure sustained support?

Answer from Grant Shapps

We continue to support Ukraine's priorities, including air defence to protect national infrastructure, further artillery ammunition, and support to sustain capabilities, including 10,000 Ukrainians to be trained in the first half of 2024.

Answered
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Q2 Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills
Ukraine
Context

The UK, Norway, and other nations have joined a maritime capability coalition to provide further support to Ukraine. The speaker wants the Secretary of State to re-emphasise the need for continued cooperation with NATO allies.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend join me in welcoming the new maritime capability coalition, which builds on the support the UK, Norway and others are providing to Ukraine? Will he also re-emphasise the need for us to continue to work very closely with our NATO partners and allies to continue to provide and strengthen support to Ukraine, and make sure those resources reach where they are needed?

Answer from Grant Shapps

I absolutely will. As my right hon. Friend says, the new maritime capability coalition, which I launched at Admiralty House in December, has now been joined by 10 further nations, together with Norway, who will help to ensure that Ukraine's success in Crimea and the Black sea continues.

Answered
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Q3 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Ukraine
Context

There is potential for a shift in the US Senate's political leadership, which may affect additional aid to Ukraine. The speaker wants assurance that the UK will continue its support regardless of these changes.

Question

In the United States, additional aid to Ukraine remains stuck in the Senate and there is the potential for a shift in its political leadership later this year. Considering we are still awaiting this Government's promised action plan for Ukraine, how assured can we be that the Secretary of State is discussing with our NATO allies all future scenarios to ensure there will be no lapse in collective military support for Ukraine?

Answer from Grant Shapps

I really hope that there can be no doubt about this Government's commitment to Ukraine. Not only were we first with the training, but with tanks, missiles and commissioning to enable Ukraine to continue this fight in all manner of different ways.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was partially addressed by reiterating UK's commitment but did not fully address how discussions are being had for future scenarios ensuring continued support.

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Q4 Nia Griffith Lab Llanelli
Ukraine Defence
Context

The speaker is concerned about the development of a stockpile strategy for Ukraine's military support, in collaboration with NATO allies, to ensure ongoing supply and UK defence industry readiness.

Question

Labour fully supports providing military aid to Ukraine, but what steps is the Secretary of State taking to speed up the development of a stockpile strategy, in collaboration with NATO allies, to replenish supplies and ensure that Ministry of Defence procurement and parts of the defence industry are on an urgent operational footing both to support Ukraine for the long term and to rebuild UK stocks for any future conflict?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The hon. Lady is absolutely right. We already have a huge amount of military munitions and equipment on order both to replenish and to help continue to support Ukraine.

Answered
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Q5 Ben Wallace Con
Ukraine Defence
Context

The speaker acknowledges the work done by the Defence Secretary and seeks assurance that plans are being made for future funding. The previous request for 2024-25 funding is mentioned, but no updates have been provided.

Question

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the work he has done as Defence Secretary since taking on the Department. His long experience in government has shown to the fore and I am delighted at the work he has done so far. In June last year I wrote, at the request of No. 10 and the Cabinet Office, to request the 2024-25 funding for support to Ukraine. The funding requested was between £2.3 billion and £2.6 billion. Unfortunately, since that time we have heard nothing from the Government about what they plan to do for the next financial year. Planners in the Ministry of Defence need time, as do the Ukrainians, to get used to it.

Answer from Grant Shapps

Mr Speaker, can I start by thanking my right hon. Friend on behalf of everybody in this House? He had the foresight to supply NLAWs to Ukraine ahead of time and the foresight to start training troops for Ukraine ahead of time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was partially addressed by acknowledging previous actions but did not provide a timeline or funding announcement for the next financial year.

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Q6 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Ukraine
Context

Russia's increasing attacks on Ukraine are prompting calls for stepped-up military aid. The current funding runs out soon, with previous requests for new money not yet addressed.

Question

In just five days last week, Russia fired 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine. Putin is stepping up his attacks, so we must step up UK support, but current military aid funding runs out in a matter of weeks. The former Defence Secretary said—although not today—that without new money it is 'very hard to continue the leadership the UK has been taking on Ukraine'. I asked the current Defence Secretary about the 2024 Ukraine funding in the House in November. The former Defence Secretary wrote about it eight months ago. Seven weeks from when I asked, I ask again: when will new military aid funding for Ukraine be announced, and will it be multi-year?

Answer from Grant Shapps

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman did not hear my previous answer: it will not be long. To correct the record for the House, the funding—£2.3 billion—continues through to April this year, so it is not in any way, shape or form in danger of running out.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was partially addressed by stating that current funding continues until April but did not provide a concrete announcement date for new funding.

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