House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
NATO: Space Technology
Question for Ministry of Defence
James Cartlidge
Conservative
outh Suffolk
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with NATO on (a) planning and (b) collaboration in space.
Answer
Luke Pollard
Labour
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Commons
Answered on 24 October 2024
We hold regular discussions with NATO on how the UK can support efforts to strengthen allied utilisation of the space domain.
The UK actively participates in tabletop exercises and wargames, and actively contributes to NATO satellite communications projects. At Octobers meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, the UK signed up to NATO’s STARLIFT programme, that could see allies use UK launch vehicles and space ports to deploy space assets, further developing NATO’s space capabilities.
Electronic Warfare
Question for Ministry of Defence
James Cartlidge
Conservative
South Suffolk
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the UK’s sovereign capabilities in cyber-warfare.
Answer
Luke Pollard
Labour
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Commons
Answered on 24 October 2024
UK Defence has invested significantly in sovereign cyber capabilities, standing up the National Cyber Force in 2020 to counter and contest those who would do harm to the UK or its allies. In addition, Defence has also invested in programmes to improve cyber resilience. The UK is a leading responsible and democratic cyber power and Defence is committed to further investment to both grow the National Cyber Force and build further defensive cyber capabilities. The importance of digital and cyber to future warfare is also being considered as a next step within the Strategic Defence Review. Defence will continue to work together with the Cabinet Office, National Cyber Security Centre and other partners as part of a whole of society approach to delivering the National Cyber Strategy.
UK Space Agency: Scotland
Question for Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Andrew Griffith
Conservative
Arundel and South Downs
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will visit the UK Space Agency’s office in Scotland.
Answer
Chris Bryant
Labour
Rhondda and Ogmore
Commons
Answered on 24 October 2024
The Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology will consider visiting the UK Space Agency’s Scotland office as and when his diary allows, and is committed to supporting the growth of the Scottish space sector. My Ministerial colleague, Lord Patrick Vallance, visited the UKSA’s office in Scotland this week (Wednesday 23 October).
Defence: Expenditure
Question for Ministry of Defence
Stuart Anderson
Conservative
South Shropshire
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing defence expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2030 for small businesses in supply chains.
Answer
Maria Eagle
Labour
Liverpool Garston
Commons
Answered on 24 October 2024
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in a vibrant and flexible UK defence industry, delivering innovation and supporting a wide variety of high quality jobs across the United Kingdom. The Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy will both help make defence a more attractive market for SMEs by encouraging small businesses to contribute fully in Defence procurement and make the most of future growth within the Defence supply chain.
Information Warfare
Question for Ministry of Defence
Mr Calvin Bailey
Labour
Leyton and Wanstead
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Joint Concept Note 2/18 entitled Information Advantage, published by his Department in November 2018, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the level of resources available to the BBC World Service on the UK’s (a) strategic information capability, (b) capacity to counter adversaries’ use of information as a weapon and (c) capacity to use digital technology to achieve influence.
Answer
Maria Eagle
Labour
Liverpool Garston
Commons
Answered on 24 October 2024
Joint Concept Note (JCN) 2/18, Information Advantage, sets out proposals for how Defence could use information differently, it is not Government policy. The BBC World Service is not part of Defence and therefore its funding is not a matter for the Ministry of Defence.