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Written Question
EU Countries: Security
Friday 26th September 2025

Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NATO allies following the announcement that the United States intends to phase out security assistance programmes for European countries bordering Russia.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK Government is aware of the Trump Administration’s intention to cut funding for the Baltic Security Initiative. Recent airspace violations in Estonia, Poland and Romania by Russia demonstrate that we must do all that we can to support our allies. That’s why NATO Allies agreed to increase their spending at this year’s Summit in The Hague. The UK’s commitment to NATO remains unshakeable.

Written Question
NATO Countries: Defence
Thursday 13th July 2023

Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government which NATO countries that are also members of the G7 contribute less than 2 per cent of their GDP on defence spending; and what that spending is as a percentage of their GDP.

Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)

The UK has consistently met or exceeded NATO’s Defence Investment Pledge to spend 2% on defence.

NATO publishes on their website (https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49198.htm) an annual compendium of defence spending data for all Allies, based on a common definition of defence expenditure.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 15 Mar 2022
National Shipbuilding Strategy

"My Lords, I welcome the strategy announced by the Government and the Statement that has been made. I welcome the opportunities set out in it for yards across the United Kingdom to benefit, thereby helping to strengthen the union. Will the Minister’s department hold discussions with the devolved Governments and …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: National Shipbuilding Strategy
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 11 Mar 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, I am very grateful for the opportunity to take part in this important debate. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Dannatt, and others for bringing forward Amendment 31 which would require the Government to

“establish a duty of care standard in relation to … support provided to service …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 11 Feb 2021
Armed Forces Act (Continuation) Order 2021

"My Lords, I thank the Minister for the clear way in which she explained the purpose of today’s order to the House and for setting out so elegantly the extent of the work and service undertaken by today’s Armed Forces. I add to what other noble Lords have said by …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Act (Continuation) Order 2021
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 Jan 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, I thank the Minister for her introductory remarks. I too begin by paying tribute to members of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Their courage and professionalism are truly remarkable and it is important that we recognise them not just by …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 03 Nov 2020
Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

"My Lords, it is a great honour indeed to make my first contribution in your Lordships’ House and to follow my noble friend Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton in this important debate. I thank all noble Lords for the warm welcome I have received in recent days. In particular, I thank …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
Written Question
Iraq: Islamic State
Monday 18th February 2019

Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Department for International Development's press release entitled UK aid removing Daesh explosives and helping Iraqis return home, published in January 2019, what personnel deployment is part of the extra £5 million allocated by the Government to assist with clearing Daesh explosives in Iraq.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The extra £5 million allocated by the Department for International Development in January to demining is all going to the UN Mine Action Service, who will work with contractors to clear explosive devices in Iraq. This work is humanitarian in nature, with the focus being on the removal of mines from hospitals, schools and people's homes. No military personnel are therefore deployed to this task. However, UK forces are training the Iraqi Security Forces in countering improvised explosive devices (IED) in a military context. This training increases the capabilities of the Iraqi forces to deal with the ongoing threat the country faces from Daesh IEDs.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 20 Jun 2018
NATO

"The right hon. Gentleman will remember the discussions we had about NATO and defence spending when he was wearing a different hat about a year ago. Will he go into more detail about the other countries that are not contributing 2% of GDP? When does he estimate that some of …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: NATO
Written Question
EU Defence Policy
Thursday 10th May 2018

Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) civilian and (b) military overseas operations the UK has participated in under the EU's Common Security and Defence policy.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

Records show that the UK has contributed to 13 Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) civilian missions and 11 CSDP military missions and operations.