argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): It gave me great pleasure to be present at RAF Marham on Wednesday to welcome the first four F-35s. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the first 48 are fully paid for and committed to. We are looking at everything in the modernising defence programme, but the current situation is that we still anticipate the purchase of 138 F-35s.
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure that the Secretary of State shares my view that the Public Accounts Committee does an important job, but it is important to state that the assumptions made in the National Audit Office report, which underpin the report of the Public Accounts Committee, highlight the possibility that every single project will end up with no efficiency savings and that the worst-case scenario will be achieved on cost controls. We are very confident we have an equipment plan that is affordable but, as I have stated, we are looking at all issues as part of the modernising defence programme.
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): The key submission for the Type 31 is that the procurement is going extremely well. It is currently on target, and our expectation is that the £1.25 billion budget for five Type 31 frigates will be achieved.
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Andrew Campbell Bowie (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree that the arrival of the F-35s on British shores is a signal to the world that "global Britain" is not empty rhetoric, as some would have us believe, but a demonstrable fact?
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with my hon. Friend that that is a statement of our aspiration, and it is also a significant statement on the contribution of defence to our national prosperity. Some 3,500 F-35s will be procured worldwide, and 15% of them will be produced here in the United Kingdom. That is equivalent to 525 platforms, which is a significant vote of confidence in UK industry.
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): The situation, as per the shipbuilding strategy and as per the letter I sent to the hon. Lady, is that we are looking to procure the fleet solid support ships. The shipbuilding strategy aims to ensure that we have a strong shipbuilding sector, and a strong sector also needs a degree of competition. We are protecting warships as a national capability, but we are opening other elements of the shipbuilding strategy to international competition.
Equipment Plan 2017 to 2027 — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I would say, at the risk of repeating myself, that the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee do important work for this House, but I should highlight the fact—I have said this once but I will say it again—that the figures quoted in the NAO report were a worst-case scenario. It looked at every single project hitting the worst-case scenario and at no efficiencies whatsoever being created within the programme. We are considering all these issues as part of our modernising defence programme, but I genuinely say to the hon. Gentleman that he should read the report with a bit more care and understand it.
Cyber-attacks — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): The Ministry of Defence takes cyber-threats very seriously, and we regularly assess our ability to defend against them. We are strengthening our defences against increasingly sophisticated attacks through a wide range of technical, operational and administrative measures, including close co-operation with the National Cyber Security Centre.
Cyber-attacks — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful for that question as it gives me the opportunity to highlight that we have invested and continue to invest in cyber-capabilities, including with the opening of the defence cyber-school in March, a £40 million investment in a new cyber-security operations capability, and £265 million towards a new cyber-vulnerability investigation programme.
Cyber-attacks — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I think that we are well on our way. The 2015 national security strategy reaffirmed cyber as a top tier 1 risk. That was precisely why we opened the NCSC, which helps to co-ordinate the work of government and the private sector. It is also why we now consider cyber to be essential in our armed forces’ core skills.
Security Threat: Russia — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I met NATO Defence Ministers met last week to discuss progress towards next month’s summit. The UK wants NATO to strengthen its deterrence and defence capabilities while ensuring that dialogue with Russia continues as part of the alliance’s commitment to avoiding misunderstanding and miscalculation.
Security Threat: Russia — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): In my discussions with the US Defence Secretary, he has been clear about the US commitment to NATO and European defence. Let us not underestimate how supportive the US has been of NATO, or its commitment over the next couple of years to pump resources, troops and money into ensuring that our defence is the very best we can possibly have.
Security Threat: Russia — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We have seen a considerable increase in Russian activity in the high north, and we have seen an increase in our activity in the high north as well, with HMS Trenchant taking part in ICEX—Ice Exercise 18—and the announcement of the additional Astute class submarine, HMS Agincourt. This is all about how we invest to keep ourselves safe and the north Atlantic free from threats.
Security Threat: Russia — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We have been working closely with Romania, with Royal Marines working closely with Romanian defence forces, but more recently the Royal Air Force has been deployed in Romania to deliver air policing over that country and its neighbours. As a result of that RAF support, there has been a significant drop-off in the number of Russian incursions.
UK Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): We are committed to supporting a thriving and internationally competitive defence sector. We have published our national shipbuilding strategy and refreshed our defence industrial policy, and we are developing a combat air strategy. In March, the Defence Secretary announced he had invited my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) to conduct a review of the defence contribution to prosperity, and I look forward to the publication of that report shortly.
UK Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I have consistently argued that the national shipbuilding strategy should be supported across the House, as it offers real support for our shipbuilding industry. We designate warships as a sovereign capability to be built in the UK. Other ships are open to international competition, but I am confident that there will be British yards putting in bids for that work.
UK Defence Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Questions: When considering a replacement for the RAF’s airborne warning and control system fleet, will the Minister commit to holding an open competition so that bids from all defence partners—from the UK as well as abroad—can be considered? Will he also consider whether Sentry and Sentinel may in future be replaced by one aircraft type?
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is well known for his championing of issues to do with the Royal Air Force. It is important to say that the Ministry of Defence is currently going through a process of considering the replacement for that capability, and we are also considering the situation with regard to Sentinel moving forward. A decision will be made in due course, and he will be informed at that point.
Afghanistan — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): No decisions have been taken on sending additional UK troops to Afghanistan. The UK makes an important contribution to the non-combat NATO mission in Afghanistan, where our troop commitment is kept under regular review to ensure that it remains suited to the needs of the mission.
Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): On reflection, Mr Speaker, I think I did receive some message that you were heading there We can be extremely proud of our armed forces, but if we are to continue to recruit the brightest and best, we must continue to invest in our equipment and training, but also in the welfare of our people. I am pleased that we are moving forward with the future accommodation model, which will give our armed forces personnel three choices: to remain on the garrison in the unit, inside the wire; to step outside and rent accommodation; or to get on the housing ladder by purchasing property.
Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): Recently, concerns have been expressed to me about the quality of grounds and buildings maintenance at armed forces accommodation at Woodhouse in my constituency. The Minister’s commitment to our armed forces personnel is well known and clear. Can he reassure me that the future accommodation model will include high-quality maintenance, and will he meet me to discuss that specific issue?
Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): Accommodation is very important. As I have mentioned, equipment and training are one thing, but we must ensure that we look after our people. The level of accommodation is one of the reasons why armed forces personnel choose to leave, which is why we are investing in more modern accommodation. I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the issue. The Secretary of State and I take very seriously the matter of upgrading the accommodation that we offer our armed forces personnel.
Accommodation Model — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Tobias Martin Ellwood (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman raises a number of matters. I agree with that there is a question mark over what happened in the past, but it did happen, and we now need to move forward to provide the necessary offering for our armed forces personnel. As I mentioned, we are working with the families federations to ensure that we get the deal necessary to make accommodation affordable for our troops.
Combat Aircraft Design — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments, the UK aerospace sector, academia and international partners to explore the UK’s future approach to combat air capabilities. We intend to publish the initial findings this summer.
Combat Aircraft Design — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I think it is fair to say that we are undertaking a combat air strategy because the UK is a global leader in the field. UK industry’s export capabilities in combat air are well known, with £6 billion of exports last year, so we are approaching partnerships across the globe. The Department has written to partners in the US, across Europe and further afield.
Leaving the EU: Aerospace Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): The Ministry of Defence is working closely with the defence industry to understand the implications and opportunities presented by the UK’s departure from the European Union. We want to explore how our industries can continue working together, but it is worth noting that current collaborative capability projects, such as Typhoon, are managed bilaterally or with groups of partners, rather than through the EU.
Leaving the EU: Aerospace Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): What we need moving forward is a strong relationship with the European Union to ensure that we have as frictionless trade as possible with the European Union. I do not think that remaining within the customs union is a prerequisite for a successful defence industry.
Leaving the EU: Aerospace Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): I wish I could offer the guarantee that the hon. Lady requests, but it is not possible to do so, because the steel required for the parts of the ships that we are building is not currently available from the United Kingdom. In the work that we are doing on the Type 26 frigate, for example, well over 50% of steel, by value, is from the United Kingdom. However, I am sure that the hon. Lady would be the first to complain if we had defects in our capability as a result of buying incorrect steel.
Leaving the EU: Aerospace Industry — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): That is a crucial question, because our involvement with Galileo is important not just for our own security but for that of the European Union. We have committed significant funds to Galileo over the years. We have an obligation to our industry and to our defence capabilities to ensure that we investigate thoroughly the possibility of remaining within the Galileo programme. However, work is being undertaken on potential alternatives in case they are necessary.
Defence Procurement: SMEs — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): Small businesses play a crucial role in our defence capability. To support them, we have launched a supplier portal that brings together a range of information and advice for new suppliers, and we have appointed a champion for smaller businesses to drive engagement. We also now require our largest suppliers to advertise their subcontracting opportunities on Government platforms.
Defence Procurement: SMEs — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Jeremy Mark Quin (Conservative, Centre-right): Anti-drone technology produced by an SME in Horsham has been used very successfully by US forces on operations for more than a year now. Will the Minister assure the House that the MOD will always go for best in class in procurement, and that this is open to smaller manufacturers, as it is with our allies?
Defence Procurement: SMEs — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Guto ap Owain Bebb (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes a really important point about the importance of SMEs in innovation and capability. Our refreshed defence industrial policy published last December highlights how we are encouraging competition within the defence sector, maximising opportunities for SMEs. For example, we have produced new short-form contracts that make it easier for SMEs to bid into MOD opportunities.
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I have regular discussions with the Chancellor. The modernising defence programme will ensure that our armed forces have the right capabilities to address evolving threats. The Government are committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on defence, and the defence budget will rise by at least 0.5% above inflation every year of this Parliament, taking it to almost £40 billion by 2021.
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Julian Murray Lewis (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Secretary of State for that helpful reply. Would he like to take this opportunity to endorse the suggestion by his immediate predecessor that we should aim to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by the end of this Parliament? Does he agree that that would be a useful staging post on the road to the 3% that we really need? Finally, would the forthcoming NATO summit not be an excellent opportunity to announce any such advance?
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I think my right hon. Friend is saving that for the next Defence questions We need to be looking at the threats that are starting to evolve right across the world, including in Europe. Those threats are increasing dramatically, and we have to ensure that we have the right capabilities to meet them. That is why we have the modernising defence programme to look in detail at how those threats are evolving, and why we are leading that analysis in the Ministry of Defence rather than any other part of Government. We want to come up with the solutions and answers to ensure that Britain and our allies are defended to the very best of our capability.
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Kirstene Janette Hair (Conservative, Centre-right): As my right hon. Friend will agree, we must adequately fund our armed forces to support those who selflessly put their lives on the line for our country—a concept that the Scottish Government do not seem to understand. Can he update the House on the measures that the UK Government are taking to mitigate Nicola Sturgeon’s Government’s tax hike for those brave service personnel?
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thought for a moment that we were going to have an apology to the 70% of service personnel who are having to pay extra taxes as a result of the Nat tax that the hon. Gentleman’s party has introduced This Government are absolutely committed to shipbuilding. That is why we will be building eight Type 26 frigates in Glasgow and five offshore patrol vessels in Govan. The hon. Gentleman should welcome that.
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): They are different in West Yorkshire What we are doing is taking the time to look at the threat and the challenges this nation faces. Over the past 10 years, we have seen the threat picture change so much. This is not just something we have noticed; from sitting down with our NATO allies, I know we are all seeing exactly the same. The world is getting increasingly dangerous, with state actors playing an ever greater role. It is right that we look at that closely, and make sure our armed forces have the equipment and resources they need to defend this nation against those threats.
Departmental Funding — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): It was the Treasury that announced the changes on public sector pay, but we are working very closely with the Armed Forces Pay Review Body to get to the point where we can make such an announcement as swiftly as possible. I and my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will be working closely together to ensure that that is done as swiftly as possible.
Leaving the EU: Defence Policy — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): What we are seeing with the Galileo project is, frankly, the European Union acting in a most unusual and strange way. Why on earth would it wish to exclude Great Britain from a project that is so integral to the security of the whole of the European Union and many other countries? As Britain is currently the largest spender on defence in the European Union, we would have thought that it welcomed our involvement in the project and that it hoped that we would continue to support it, but if it does not want us, we can do this independently.
Leaving the EU: Defence Policy — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Rebecca Faye Clark (Pow) (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK Hydrographic Office, which makes most of the world’s shipping charts, is the only fundraising arm of the Ministry of Defence. It is based in Taunton, and I am pleased to say that the Ministry of Defence has retained it and is now investing in and helping to support a new state-of-the-art facility. Is this not exactly the kind of asset on which we should be building as we leave the EU to increase our prosperity and influence in the world?
Leaving the EU: Defence Policy — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I know my hon. Friend fought a major fight to ensure that the investment came to her constituency and to preserve this important asset. It is a brilliant example of how the Ministry of Defence and our armed forces can play an important role not just in supporting defence, but in creating prosperity and jobs.
Armed Forces: Personnel Levels — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): There have certainly been challenges, particularly with the introduction of the defence recruiting system, but 12,360 recruits joined the British Army last year. I have met the chief executive of Capita on several occasions, and an improvement plan is in place at the moment—I think we need to provide an opportunity for it to be run through—but, absolutely, there is an alternative if need be.
Armed Forces: Personnel Levels — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): I understand the SNP’s desire to get more service personnel in Scotland, as that is more service personnel they can tax under their Nat tax—[Interruption.] At least the hon. Gentleman finds it amusing. I am pleased to say that there are 14,000 regular and reserve personnel in Scotland. Also, let us not forget that all of the Royal Navy submarines will be moving to Faslane, and there is the new Typhoon squadron in Lossiemouth and our infantry brigade too.
Armed Forces: Personnel Levels — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Margaret Ann Throup (Conservative, Centre-right): Cadet detachments are an ideal training ground for those young people considering a future career in the armed forces. Can my right hon. Friend outline what he is doing to increase recruitment from cadet forces and will he consider visiting my constituency to see the hard work and dedication put in by cadets in Erewash?
Armed Forces: Personnel Levels — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Mark Lancaster (Conservative, Centre-right): We do not directly target cadets for recruitment in the armed forces. However, it is a fact that nearly 18% of members of the armed forces were once cadets and 4% of cadets go on to join the armed forces.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2018-06-11
Topic: Defense
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I start by paying tribute to Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, who fulfilled his last day in the role of Chief of the Defence Staff before moving on to the role of chairman of the NATO Military Committee. Sir Stuart has served the Royal Air Force and his country for a long period and made such a difference to making sure that our armed forces have been properly represented I am also incredibly proud to be able to announce the four new cutting-edge F35s that arrived at RAF Marham just last week.