Strategic Defence Review

Ian Roome, the Member of Parliament for North Devon, asked the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, about the progress made on the strategic defence review. Mr. Mark Francois, the Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford, also asked when the Secretary of State plans to announce the outcome of the strategic defence review. In response, the Secretary of State explained that the Prime Minister commissioned the strategic defence review within two weeks of taking office. He stated that the review will ensure the UK's security at home and strength abroad, both now and in the future. The Secretary of State acknowledged the three external lead reviewers, Lord Robertson, General Sir Richard Barrons, and Fiona Hill, and noted that they will make their final report to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and himself in the first half of 2025. Ian Roome followed up, expressing concern about the long backlog of new recruits trying to get through medical assessments in all three branches of the armed forces. He asked the Secretary of State for assurances that the strategic defence review will address this issue. The Secretary of State agreed that the review will place people at its heart and acknowledged the recruitment and retention crisis inherited from the previous government. Mr. Francois, the Chair of the Defence Committee, raised the issue of the defence of the UK's overseas territories, specifically the deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands. He asked the Secretary of State to provide details on the amount the UK has offered to pay Mauritius over 99 years for the military facility, and which department will be responsible for the payment. The Secretary of State responded that the full details will be properly set out when the treaty comes before the House, allowing for scrutiny and approval. The new Chair of the Defence Committee, Mr. Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, welcomed the strategic defence review and expressed hope that it will include a serious analysis of the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of China's recent military drills around Taiwan. He asked the Secretary of State to condemn these actions and outline the government's efforts to work with international allies to de-escalate tensions. The Secretary of State acknowledged the importance of the Indo-Pacific region and stated that the review will be an all-party approach, consulting various stakeholders. Mrs. Emma Lewell-Buck, the Member of Parliament for South Shields, welcomed the strategic defence review and expressed concern about the previous government's impact on the armed forces' personnel, capabilities, and funding. She asked the Secretary of State to ensure that the experts conducting the review will have an ongoing focus on the UK's sovereign defence industrial base, with a particular emphasis on regions like the north-east. The Secretary of State assured Mrs. Lewell-Buck that the review will indeed focus on the UK's defence industrial base and its regional impact, building on the work done by the previous Minister for defence procurement.