05 Oct 17. Defence Committee- The Indispensable Ally?
US, NATO And UK Defence Relations
Tuesday 10 October 2017
Committee Room 16, The Palace of Westminster
Witnesses:
At 11.30am
• Dr Dana Allin, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Dr Nicholas Kitchen, Associate Professorial Research Fellow, LSE
This is the first evidence session in an inquiry which was ongoing at the time of the General Election and has subsequently been re-established. Evidence received in the last Parliament can be found here. Focusing on the UK/US relationship, the Committee will explore the following terms of reference:
• What will be the effect of the Trump Presidency on the further development of a European defence identity and on the level of investment in defence by European NATO member states?
• With the new administration in Washington, is there potential for strengthening the ‘Special Relationship’?
• What does the UK offer the US that is not available elsewhere and vice-versa?
• What are the implications of the new Administration’s policies for UK major equipment programmes and the UK nuclear deterrent?
05 Oct 17. The Defence Committee has relaunched three inquiries which had to be cut short last April as a result of the snap election and the temporary dissolution of all Committees.
• Parliament TV: The indispensable ally? US, NATO and UK Defence relations
• Inquiry: Defence Acquisition and Procurement
• Inquiry: The indispensable ally? US, NATO and UK Defence relations
• Inquiry: Defence in the Arctic
• Defence Committee
US, NATO and UK Defence relations examined
Witnesses
Tuesday 10 October 2017, Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
At 11.30am
• Dr Dana Allin, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Dr Nicholas Kitchen, Associate Professorial Research Fellow, LSE
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
Asked on: 12 September 2017
Ministry of Defence
AWE Aldermaston
HL1561
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston has been placed on special measures for the fourth year running; whether the AWE has produced a plan for dealing with high levels of radioactive waste; if not, why not; and whether they have made an assessment of the extent to which any failure to do so puts staff and residents in the area surrounding that establishment at risk.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 25 September 2017
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has stated that safety at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites is acceptable. The ONR’s decision to place the AWE Aldermaston site under enhanced regulatory attention was due to issues relating principally to ageing facilities, which do not pose any immediate safety concerns.
AWE has a plan in place for the long-term safe management of radioactive waste and this has resulted in the successful closure of the ONR’s Improvement Notice regarding this matter.
The Ministry of Defence works closely with AWE, monitoring all aspects of its performance, including regulatory compliance.
Q
Asked by Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley)
Asked on: 12 September 2017
Department for International Trade
Arms Trade: Trade Fairs
10243
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support the Government is providing to the DSEI arms exhibition in London from 12 to 15 September 2017; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Mark Garnier
Answered on: 20 September 2017
The Government provides a range of support to Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), including the provision of military assets. The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Defence and Security Organisation invites a number of international delegates on behalf of the Government, including overseas Ministers and senior Government officials and military staff. All invitations to overseas delegations follow a stringent process of scr