11 Dec 20. The Committees on Arms Export Controls will hold an oral evidence session with NGOs on Tuesday 15 December 2020. The meeting will be held virtually and can be watched live here. The Committees will take evidence from:
At 10.00am:
- Oliver Feeley-Sprague, Programme Director for work on Arms Control, Amnesty International UK
- Roy Isbister, Arms Unit, Saferworld
- Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman, Research Coordinator, Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT)
Topics expected to be covered at the session include:
- The Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2019;
- Consequences for the arms export control system of the DfID/FCO merger;
- The work undertaken by the Department for International Trade and the Export Control Joint Unit as a result of the Appeal Court judgment in June 2019; and
- Consequences of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU for arms export controls, including potential deviation from the existing EU-based ‘Consolidated Criteria’ rules and information-sharing arrangements.
10 Dec 20. Sub-Committee on Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain to hear from Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Quin. On Monday 14 December, at 15.15, the Defence Sub-Committee on Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain will hold its final evidence session, hearing from Nadhim Zahawi MP, Minister for Business and Industry (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) and from Jeremy Quin MP, Minister for Defence Procurement (Ministry of Defence).
The Sub-Committee will likely examine the National Security and Investment Bill with the Minister for Business and Industry, exploring the powers within the Bill, comparative international regimes, whether foreign direct investment will be impacted and how the ‘Investment Security Unit’ will operate. The Sub-Committee will also question the Minister for Defence Procurement likely on the effect recent geopolitical trends will have on foreign investment in defence and the extent of hostile foreign involvement within the defence supply chain, citing specific examples. The Sub-Committee is likely to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on defence supply chains and the defence industry, including civil aerospace.
15.15, 14 December:
Panel 1 (15.15)
- Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Business and Industry), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Dr Sarah Mackintosh, Deputy Director for National Security and Investment, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Panel 2 (16.00)
- Jeremy Quin MP, Minister of State (Minister for Defence Procurement), Ministry of Defence
- Huw Walters, Director Economic Security and Prosperity, Ministry of Defence
- Air Marshal Richard Knighton, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability), Ministry of Defence
- Lieutenant General Jim Hockenhull OBE, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Ministry of Defence
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Defence Exports: NATO
Show full question
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 909802, tabled on 7 December 2020
Question
Marco Longhi
Conservative
Dudley North
Commons
What steps his Department is taking to support defence exports to NATO partner countries.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
7 December 2020
The Ministry of Defence leads on strategic campaigns but engages fully with our NATO partners more widely on defence exports. The Department is keen to support our allies with excellent British capabilities and in doing so support British jobs. Many such roles and export opportunities are embedded across the Midlands.
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 909827, tabled on 7 December 2020
Question
Anna McMorrin
Labour
Cardiff North
Commons
What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the climate emergency on UK defence preparedness.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
7 December 2020
The Department recognises that climate change is already having a potential impact on Defence. A review is ongoing to assess the strategic implications and how these can be best addressed.
Navy: Deployment
Question
Simon Jupp
Conservative
East Devon
Commons
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of recent Royal Navy deployments to the Black Sea.
Answer
Mr Ben Wallace
Conservative
Wyre and Preston North
Commons
Answered on
7 December 2020
HMS DRAGON and HMS ENTERPRISE have both recently operated in the Black Sea conducting a highly successful programme of regional defence engagement activity with Georgia, Ukraine and Romania. This included joint exercising with the Ukrainian and Romanian Navies to share expertise and knowledge, as well as delivery of a package of maritime interdiction training to the Georgian Coastguard. This is a further demonstration of the UK’s ability to provide reassurance to allies and partners, as well as a deterrent effect across the Euro-Atlantic area.
Type 31 Frigates: Exports
Show full question
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 125941, tabled on 7 December 2020
Question
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings Ministers in his Department have held with stakeholders on potential Type 31e exports in the last 12 months; and on what dates those meetings were held.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
10 December 2020
Ministry of Defence (MOD) Ministers have regular engagement with stakeholders across Government and with our industry partners concerning potential Arrowhead 140 (AH140) export opportunities. MOD and UKDSE continue to actively support UK industry in pursuit of AH140 export orders.
All Ministerial meetings with industry partners are published on GOV.UK in quarterly transparency returns as part of the Government’s commitment to publishing transparency information.
This can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-ministry-of-defence