Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NATO Defence Industrial Capacity

Monday 24 March 2025 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst questioned the Minister about France blocking EU countries from using SAFE funds for British weapon procurement
  • Mr Calvin Bailey inquired about the challenges of supporting troops in Estonia and mentioned the Rail Baltica project
  • The Minister expressed willingness to meet Mr Bailey to discuss the issues raised

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The issue of France blocking European Union countries from allowing SAFE funds to be used for the procurement of British weapons. This is in the context of a multilateral, NATO-wide procurement strategy.

Question

I concur with my hon. Friend the Member for South Suffolk that it is deeply disappointing that France has blocked EU countries from allowing SAFE funds to be used for the procurement of British weapons. With that in mind, what has the Minister done to ensure that actions are being taken to guarantee a multilateral, NATO-wide procurement strategy, with the UK at its centre?

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry (Maria Eagle)

I have met a number of my equivalents bilaterally. We welcome the ReArm initiative and it is in all our interests for SAFE to allow member states to partner with the UK. We will continue to emphasise the need for EU defence financing and wider defence industrial initiatives to include third countries like the UK. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in answer to an earlier question, we want to conclude a UK-EU defence and security pact that will give us access to that scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions taken by the UK to secure a multilateral procurement strategy were not detailed. Instead, the Minister referred to general efforts and initiatives like ReArm and the desire for a UK-EU defence pact.

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Q2 Calvin Bailey Lab Leyton and Wanstead
Defence Transport
Context

The Chief of the General Staff highlighted challenges in supporting troops in Estonia, mentioning the Rail Baltica project, a transnational railway connecting to the Baltic states that received significant funding from EU’s Connecting Europe Facility and NATO. The project includes HS1 capacity expansion.

Question

I thank the Minister for her response. Last week, the Defence Committee met the Chief of the General Staff, who highlighted the challenges of supporting our troops in Estonia. I highlighted the Rail Baltica project, which received significant funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility and NATO, linking my constituency via HS1 to the Baltics using British steel. Will the Minister meet me to discuss supporting the expansion of HS1 capacity, as it is an opportunity for growth within defence industrial capacity, improving deterrence and commitment to European allies while bringing high-quality jobs to east London?

Answer from The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry (Maria Eagle)

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As I hope hon. Members from around the House are starting to realise, if I am asked for a meeting my general answer is yes. I am very happy to meet him.

Answered
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