Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Indo-Pacific

Monday 25 March 2024 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific and is working on a long-term strategic approach.
  • The Defence Secretary supports ensuring that the base on Diego Garcia remains permanently available for British and US use.
  • The UK has increased its military presence in the Indo-Pacific with ships like HMS Spey and HMS Tamar having a permanent presence there.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Henry Smith Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP asked about steps being taken by his Department to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Answer from Grant Shapps

The UK is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and we are putting our regional approach on a long-term strategic footing. I returned this weekend from Australia, where we have been talking to our colleagues there, working hard on the Indo-Pacific programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments not provided

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Q2 Henry Smith Con
Defence
Context

The MP questioned the assessment of the military base and the island of Diego Garcia remaining under full British sovereignty for countering threats.

Question

Stability in the Indo-Pacific has been largely aided by the military base presence on Diego Garcia. What assessment has the Defence Secretary made of the military base and the island of Diego Garcia remaining under full British sovereignty, so that we can help to counter the many threats of the modern world, whether that be China, Iran or others?

Answer from Grant Shapps

As I think my hon. Friend knows, I share the goal of ensuring that the base on Diego Garcia remains permanently available for our use, and for the United States. It is strategically positioned, it is absolutely vital and there is read-across to our military facilities elsewhere.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment not provided

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Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP inquired about the impact of reducing international aid investment from 0.7% GDP on the UK's ability to influence stability in various regions.

Question

When assessing our ability to influence the stability of that region, or any other, has the Secretary of State conducted any kind of impact assessment of the reduction of our investment in international aid from 0.7% of GDP, or the fact that we have the smallest standing Army in the United Kingdom for 200 years?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The hon. Gentleman will recognise that I look after the Defence budget, rather than the overseas development budget, but I think he will welcome the fact that, because of the Indo-Pacific tilt, we have ships with a permanent presence there—HMS Spey and HMS Tamar—and the littoral response group south, which operates in the Indo-Pacific.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Impact assessment not provided

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Q4 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Defence
Context

The MP praised the Armed Forces Minister for his dedication and questioned why the Defence Secretary had given key parts of AUKUS leadership to a junior minister.

Question

As you did, Mr Speaker, I pay tribute to the Armed Forces Minister at his last Defence questions. Since the last election, we have had five Chancellors, four Foreign Secretaries, three Prime Ministers and two Defence Secretaries, but only one Armed Forces Minister. He has been a rare constant in the turmoil of Government, totally committed to defence. We thank him for that and wish him well. On the Indo-Pacific, we welcome last week's updated defence agreement with Australia, further progress on AUKUS, and today's 10-year plan for Barrow to support AUKUS. This is our most important strategic alliance beyond NATO, so why has the Defence Secretary given the leadership of key parts of AUKUS to the most junior Minister in his Department?

Answer from Grant Shapps

As I explained, I have just been in Australia talking about AUKUS. I have previously been to Japan, I think at least twice but possibly three times, on AUKUS, and to Italy—sorry, not to Italy, obviously, on AUKUS; that was on GCAP, but with an Indo-Pacific tilt.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific reason for junior minister's leadership not provided

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