Defence

The Government's position, as outlined by the Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, is that the strategic defence review commissioned within two weeks of the new Prime Minister taking office will ensure the UK is secure at home and strong abroad, both now and in the years to come. Healey stated that the review, the first of its kind in the UK, will place people at its heart and address the recruitment and retention crisis faced by the armed forces over the past 14 years. The official opposition, represented by James Cartlidge, expressed concern over the Government's wording on the timeline for reaching the 2.5% of GDP defence spending target, noting the shift from "as soon as possible" to "in due course". Cartlidge urged the Secretary of State to fight hard with the Treasury to reach the 2.5% target in the upcoming Budget. The debate that followed covered a wide range of topics. On Ukraine, the Government emphasised its commitment to providing £3 billion a year in military aid, as well as medical and rehabilitation support. The importance of the UK's leadership in NATO and working with international allies to support Ukraine was also highlighted. Discussions on the AUKUS strategic partnership focused on the opportunities it presents, particularly for the defence industry in Barrow and Furness, and the need to strengthen supply chains and industrial capacity. The adequacy of progress on AUKUS and the importance of computer chip supply chain resilience were also raised. Regarding veterans' issues, the Government acknowledged the unacceptable treatment of LGBT veterans in the past and committed to implementing the recommendations of the Etherton review, including a financial redress scheme. The importance of supporting local veterans' charities was also emphasised. The debate also touched on the future of the UK's defences, with discussions on the need to accelerate innovation, strengthen the defence industrial base, and ensure adequate training and funding for the armed forces. The role of the Gurkha Regiment and the protection of veterans who served during the Northern Ireland troubles were also discussed. Finally, the Government's commitment to defence research and development, including the importance of AI and frontier technologies, was debated, with concerns raised about potential cuts to these areas. Overall, the debate covered a wide range of defence and security issues, with the Government outlining its plans and priorities, and the opposition raising questions and concerns about the Government's approach.