Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces: Security Threats

Monday 20 May 2024 · 2 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

  • Theresa Villiers inquired about the government's measures to ensure the armed forces are adequately resourced to address evolving security threats.
  • The government responded with a commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and invest in warfighting capability and procurement reform.
  • Theresa Villiers also asked about specific actions taken to defend against drone attacks, to which the government mentioned learning from Ukraine and holding an industry day to strengthen responses.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Theresa Villiers Con
Defence
Context

The question arises from concerns about whether current defence spending and equipment are sufficient to address emerging security challenges.

Question

I am concerned about the steps being taken to ensure that our armed forces have adequate resources to deal with evolving security threats, such as those mentioned in recent announcements. What specific measures is the government implementing?

Answer from James Cartlidge

We have strengthened the UK's defence in recent years, with a commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. We are investing in warfighting capability and reforming procurement processes to embrace innovation and strengthen our industrial base.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about steps being taken regarding equipment, but the answer focused on overall defence spending increases without detailing specific measures related to equipment.

How: We Are Embracing Innovation, Investing In Warfighting Capability And Bolstering The Uk'S Industrial Base By Reforming Procurement.

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Q2 Theresa Villiers Con
Ukraine Defence
Context

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine highlights the importance of drones in future conflicts, prompting questions about how to prepare UK armed forces for similar threats.

Question

Given the significant role drones are playing in the conflict in Ukraine, what specific actions is the government taking to ensure that our armed forces have the necessary equipment and strategies to defend against drone attacks?

Answer from James Cartlidge

We are learning from Ukraine and have joint leadership of both the drone capability coalition with Latvia and the maritime coalition with Norway. We are improving governance to cohere that learning across defence and into our armed forces, and we will hold an industry day next month to strengthen relationships with drone companies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about steps taken regarding equipment for defending against drones but the answer focused more on governance improvements and upcoming industry engagement without specific details on equipment.

How: Two Key Steps We Are Taking: Improve Governance To Cohere That Learning Across Defence, Have A Strong Relationship With Industry.

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