House of Commons Defence Committee Formal Minutes Session 2017-19 TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER2017 Members present: Rt Hon Dr JulianLewis, in the Chair1 Leo Docherty Gavin Robinson Martin Docherty-Hughes Ruth Smeeth Rt Hon Mark Francois Rt Hon John Spellar Graham P Jones Phil Wilson 1. Declaration of interests Members declared their interests, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 ( see Appendix). 2. Committee working methods The Committee considered this matter. Ordered, That the public be admitted during the examination of witnesses unless the Committee orders otherwise. Resolved, That the Committee examine witnesses in public, except where it otherwise orders. Resolved, That witnesses who submit written evidence to the Committee are authorised to publish it on their own account in accordance with Standing Order No. 135, subject always to the discretion of the Chair or where the Committee orders otherwise. Resolved, That the Committee shall not consider individual cases. Ordered, That John Spellar take the Chair of the Committee, if present, in the absence ofthe Chair. 3. F-35 Procurement The Committee considered this matter. 4. Future programme The Committee considered this matter. 5. Oral evidence: F-35 Procurement Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor, The Times, Alexi Mostrous, Head of Investigations, The Times and Justin Bronk, Research Fellow, RUSI, gave oral evidence. In the absence of the Chair, Mr John Spellar was called to the chair. Justin Bronk, Research Fellow, RUSI, gave further oral evidence. [Adjourned until Wednesday 13 September at 2:30pm. 1Electedbythe House (Standing Order No. 122B ) 12 July 201 7, see Votes and Proceedings 12 July201 7 TUESDAY 7NOVEMBER2017 Members present: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis, in the Chair Rt Hon Mr Mark Francois Rt Hon John Spellar Ruth Smeeth Phil Wtl.son I. Investigations into Fatalities in Northern Ireland involving British Military Personnel: Government response to the Committee's Seventh Report ofSession 2016-17 Draft Special Report (Investigations into Fatalities in Northern Ireland involving British Military Personnel: Government response to the Committee's Seventh Report of Session 2016-17), proposed by the Chair, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to. Resolved, That the report be the Third Special Report ofthe Committee to the House Ordered, That the Chair make the Report to the House. 2. Discussion offuture programme The Committee considered this matter. 3. Appointment ofSpecialist Advisers The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That Dr Duncan Depledge be appointed as the Specialist Adviser for the Committee's inquiry into Defence in the Arctic. 4. UK Visits The Committee considered this matter. 5. Bulletin The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned until Tuesday 14 November at 10.45 am Leo Docherty Mrs Madeleine Moon Martin Docherty-Hughes Gavin Robinson Rt Hon Mr Mark Francois Rt Hon John Spellar GrahamP Jones Phil Wilson Johnny Mercer I. For agreement by the Committee Veterans Mental Health Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Alison McDowell (VMH0004) 2. Washington visit The Committee considered this matter. 3. Future programme The Committee considered this matter. 4. Anyother business The Committee considered this matter. 5. Oral evidence: Modernising Defence Programme Professor Andrew Dorman, King's College London; Tom McKane, Former Director General Security Policy, MoD; James de Waal, Senior Consulting Fellow, Chatham House, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Monday 5 March. MONDAY OS March2018 Members present: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis, in the Chair Martin Docherty-Hughes RuthSmeeth Rt Hon Mr Mark Francois Rt Hon John Spellar Johnny Mercer Phil Wilson I. The Indispensable Ally? US, NATO and UK Defence Relations The Committee considered this matter. 2. Oral evidence: The Indispensable Ally? US, NATO and UK Defence Relations. Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Chief Executive Offker, Centre for a New American Security; Representative Mike Turner; Dr Heather Conley, CSIS; Dr Nile Gardiner, Heritage Foundation; and, Dr Tom Wright, Brookings Institute, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Tuesday 13 March at 10.45 anL TUESDAY 13 March2018 Members present: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis, in the Chair Leo Docherty Mrs Madeleine Moon Martin Docherty-Hughes Gavin Robinson Rt Hon Mr Mark Francois RuthSmeeth GrahamP Jones Rt Hon John Spellar Johnny Mercer PhilWu.son I. The Modernising Defence Programme The Committee considered this matter. 2. For agreement bythe Committee Armed Forces and Veterans Mental Health Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Combat Stress (VMH0006) Child Soldiers International (VMH0007) Trixie Foster (VMH0009) The Quinism Foundation (VMH0013) The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (VMHOOI 4) Walking With The Wounded (VMHOOI6) Dr Beverly Bergman (VMHOO 17) The Naval Families Federation (VMH0018) The Veterans Hub (VMH0020) Help for Heroes (VMH0021) ForcesWatch (VMH0023) Contact (VMH0026) Big White Wall (VMH0027) Glen Art (VMH0028) Ministry of Defence (VMA0029) Global Islamist Terrorism Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Steven Merley (GIT0002) The Henry Jackson Society (GIT0003) Defence in the Arctic Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: The Scottish Government (DTA0002) 3. UK visits The Committee considered this matter. 4. MoD Snpplementary Evidence The Committee considered this matter. 5. Future programme The Committee considered this matter. 6. Anyother business The Committee considered this matter. 5. Oral evidence: Modernising Defence Programme Larisa Brown, Defence and Security Editor, Daily Mail; Alistair Bunkall, Defence and Security Correspondent, Sky News; and Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor, The Times., gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Tuesday 20 March at 10.45am. TUESDAY20 March2018 Members present: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis, in the Chair Leo Docherty Mrs Madeleine Moon Rt Hon Mr Mark Francois Gavin Robinson Graham P Jones RuthSmeeth Johnny Mercer Rt Hon John Spellar I. Consideration ofHeads- ofReport: Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2017 The Conunittee considered this matter. 2. Specialist Advisers The Conunittee considered this matter. 3. For agreement by the Committee Armed Forces and Veterans Mental Health Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: The Royal British Legion (VMH0037) Medact (VMH0030) NHS England (VMH0031) Anglia Ruskin (VMH0032) Ashley Croft (VMH0033) Brig Gen Donald Bolduc (VMH0034) 4. Russia The Conunittee considered this matter. 5. Locally EmployedCivilians The Conunittee considered thi'> matter. 6. Visit wash up The Committee considered this matter. 7. Future cooperationwith the French Defence Committee The Committee considered this matter. 8. Bulletin The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned till Tuesday 27 March at 10.45am. TUESDAY 27 March2018 Members present: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewi-;, in the Chair Leo Docherty Gavin Robinson Martin Docherty-Hughes Ruth Smeeth Rt Hon Mr Mark Francois Rt Hon John Spellar Mrs Madeleine Moon Phil Wilson I. Armed Forces andVeterans Mental Health The Committee considered this matter. 2. Consideration ofdraft report: North Korea The Draft Report (Rash or Rational? North Korea and the threat it poses), proposed by the Chair, brought up and read. Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph. Paragraphs 1 to 103 read and agreed to. Summary agreed to. Resolved, That the Report be the Fourth Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, That the Chair make the Report to the House. Ordered, That embargoed copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 134. 3. For agreement bythe Committee Armed Forces and Veterans Mental Health Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Forward Assist (VMH0022) Veterans First Point Scotland (V1v1H0024) Ulster University Veterans Research Group (VMH0039) Royal College of General Practitioners (VMH0040) 4. The Government's Brexit position paper The Committee considered this matter. 5. Mechanised Infantry Vehicle The Committee considered this matter. 6. Bulletin The Committee considered this matter. 7. Anyother business 8. Oral evidence: Armed Forces and Veterans Mental Health Sir Simon Wessely and Professor Nicola Fear, Directors, the King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College London, Matt Fossey, Director and Professor Susan Klein, Professor ofHealth and Social Care, Veterans and Families Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, gave oral evidence-. [Adjourned till Tuesday 17 April at 10.45am. TUESDAY 17 April 2018 Members present: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis, in the Chair Leo Docherty Johnny Mercer Martin Docherty-Hughes Gavin Robinson Rt HonMr Mark Francois RuthSmeeth Graham P Jones Rt Hon John Spellar I. Modernising Defence Programme. The Committee considered this matter. 2. For agreement bythe Committee Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2017 Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Ministry of Defence (AFCOOOl) Departmental Priorities Ordered, That the following written evidence be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Ministry ofDefence (DPSOOOI) Modernising