Monday Volume 515 13 September 2010 No. 44 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 13 September 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 577 13 SEPTEMBER 2010 578 some of our European allies—he will not stay in the House of Commons Cabinet, but resign and protest against such an attack on our status as a world armed power? Monday 13 September 2010 Dr Fox: We are subjected to quite a lot of humbug in the Chamber, but that takes the biscuit. This Government The House met at half-past Two o’clock are committed to the security of the United Kingdom, but we will have to deal with defence expenditure in the PRAYERS light of the huge economic disaster that we inherited from the outgoing Labour Government, and of the fact that we have a massively overspent and overcommitted [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] defence programme, for which the previous Government never bothered to put any money into the budget. Oral Answers to Questions NATO Reform 2. Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): What recent discussions he has had on the reform of NATO. DEFENCE [14518] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence The Secretary of State was asked— (Mr Gerald Howarth): As my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary made clear at the meeting of NATO NATO Responsibilities Defence Ministers in June, reform of NATO is a key priority for the UK. Defence Ministers will have further 1. Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): What discussions on reform at their next meeting in October. recent discussions he has had on NATO responsibilities We also have frequent bilateral discussions with fellow outside the north Atlantic area. [14517] NATO Ministers and the Secretary-General on the importance of both ensuring that the alliance has the The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox): right capabilities and structures to carry out its missions, NATO’s responsibility is to provide for the collective and on making better use of resources by making it a security of its allies against an increasingly diverse leaner, more efficient and more effective organisation. range of security challenges, both within the north Atlantic area and beyond. This is being reflected in Richard Ottaway: In the coming months three major work on the alliance’s new strategic concept, on which I developments will have a profound impact on Britain’s look forward to further discussions with the Secretary- foreign and defence policy in the medium term: the General and fellow NATO Defence Ministers at our comprehensive spending review, the strategic defence next meeting in October. review and the NATO summit. Does my hon. Friend agree that, although it goes without saying that NATO Mr Turner: There is growing concern off the coast of should be effective and efficient, it must also be flexible? Somalia, where cargo ships and holiday craft are regularly Will he focus on flexibility in his pursuit of the reforms challenged by pirates seeking ransom from western that NATO needs? Governments. With 90% of EU imports arriving by sea, is NATO doing enough to ensure safe passage through Mr Howarth: May I take this opportunity from the the Arabian sea and the Indian ocean? Dispatch Box to congratulate my hon. Friend on his election as Chairman of the Select Committee on Foreign Dr Fox: My hon. Friend is quite right. For a nation Affairs? As a result, the Committee is in very safe hands such as the United Kingdom, where 92% of all our indeed, and the House should be grateful for that. He is trade is by sea, the security of the high seas is vital. We absolutely right: we do need to be flexible, and we do contribute in a number of ways: through the NATO need to make NATO much leaner and more able to mission and through the EU’s Operation Atalanta, react to circumstances as they arise. However, he is also which we command and to which we make a military right to point out the pressures under which we are all contribution. It is also worth pointing out that there are labouring at the moment. As my right hon. Friend the contributions from other countries, which are increasingly Secretary of State said, we have inherited no money in recognising that the security of the high seas goes a lot the kitty with which to defend the country. wider than any of the alliances I have mentioned— particularly given the importance of trade—and is in Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East) (Lab): NATO’s fact a global security responsibility. new draft strategic concept—to be discussed at the NATO summit—suggests that participation in missile Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Britain’s defence is open to all allies. What conclusions has the contribution to NATO, after the United States and Minister drawn regarding Britain’s involvement in new along with France, is by far the most important, because missile defence systems? we spend a good chunk of our GDP on defence. Can the Secretary of State confirm that he is doing everything Mr Howarth: As the hon. Gentleman knows well, the to ensure that we spend more than 2% of GDP on strategic concept will be discussed at the Lisbon summit, defence in the coming review, and that if we fall below but as yet the Secretary-General’s paper on it has not 2%—to the level of the runtish, anaemic armies of been seen. However, I understand that missile defence is 579 Oral Answers13 SEPTEMBER 2010 Oral Answers 580 a matter of interest, and I know that, as a former that has been going on there. That is improving the member of the Select Committee on Defence, the hon. whole time. I should say that this is a new development, Gentleman takes a keen interest in such matters. Indeed, and things will evolve as we move forward. when he and I were on the Committee, we both looked at missile defence. This is an important area that NATO Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con): One of the needs to address, and I hope it will be addressed squarely centres will be in Bulford and Tidworth, in the constituency in the context of the strategic concept. of my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Claire Perry), and it will open in 2012. Does the Minister agree Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con): that, as well as looking after the injured servicemen, My hon. Friend knows of my long-standing interest in there are two elements that we must not lose sight of? the kingdom of Morocco. What future does he think The first is to look after their families, who often suffer NATO’s European Mediterranean dialogue has? In greatly. The second is to find really practical ways of particular, what future does NATO’s relationship with giving these people jobs and putting them in touch with Morocco have, in the light of Morocco’s participation employers, so that they can be employed for many years in the Mediterranean dialogue since 1995, its assistance to come. in the Balkans and its activities in Operation Active Endeavour? Does he agree that Morocco, as one of our Mr Robathan: Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. oldest allies, has a strong part to play in future NATO Families play a hugely important role in that regard. operations? Indeed, I regularly meet members of the families federations of the Army and the other forces, and I can assure him Mr Howarth: I know that my hon. Friend takes a that they let me know their views in no uncertain terms. keen interest in Morocco; indeed, he is the chairman of Regarding his second point, the Army recovery capability the all-party parliamentary group on Morocco. He has is working on ensuring that, whatever the future of the rightly pointed out that that country is part of Operation personnel it is treating, they have a future either in the Active Endeavour, although I understand that certain armed forces or in civilian life. technical difficulties currently preclude it from contributing to naval shipping. I must also point out to him that Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): I am sure Morocco is not involved in Afghanistan. However, we that the Minister has seen in The Sun newspaper this welcome support from wherever we can obtain it, and I morning the proposal to throw out of the armed forces hope he will be able to use his good offices to that effect. those who have been severely wounded on active service. I note that the Ministry of Defence and the Secretary of Army Recovery Capability State are citing the introduction of manning control points as a justification for that. When I was the Minister 3. Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): What plans he responsible for these matters, I resisted the introduction has for the future of the Army recovery capability; and of manning control points, and it was only after intense if he will make a statement. [14519] pressure from the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, and the Army Board that they were introduced. What was clear, however, was that they would not be The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence used as a way of getting rid of brave servicemen and (Mr Andrew Robathan): The coalition Government are women injured in the defence of this country—a position fully committed to supporting injured servicemen and that was underlined when General Richards and I launched women who have sacrificed so much for our country’s the Army recovery capability in February.