Future Capability of the Armed Forces

Lord Mott Excerpts

Thursday 16th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Mott (Con)]

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to take part in this debate, which was secured and opened so powerfully by my noble friend Lord Harlech. I begin by referring the House to the register of interests, in particular my support for the charity Ukrainian Action, which provides humanitarian assistance, recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine. When you visit Ukraine, you see first hand not only the destruction caused by Russia’s illegal invasion but something else: I saw a country that continues to innovate, to manufacture and to adapt, despite fighting a war for its very survival. That resilience deserves not only our admiration but our attention, because Ukraine is no longer simply a recipient of military assistance; it has become one of Europe’s foremost centres of defence innovation, as highlighted earlier by the noble Lord, Lord Empey.

One of the defining lessons of this conflict is that innovation has become a strategic capability in its own right. Modern warfare is no longer determined solely by who possesses the most sophisticated equipment, but increasingly by who can improve it most quickly. Ukraine has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to shorten the cycle between identifying a problem on the battlefield, developing a solution, testing it under operational conditions and rapidly scaling production. That culture of continuous innovation is something all Ukraine’s allies should be studying carefully. I believe that Britain has much to learn from Ukraine, and Ukraine has benefited from our support.

That is why I believe the next phase of our partnership should place greater emphasis on defence industrial co-operation. The United Kingdom possesses one of the world’s leading defence technology sectors. Alongside our established defence companies, we have innovative SMEs developing autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and electronic warfare capabilities. These businesses have enormous expertise to offer, yet many tell us that procurement remains slow, that barriers remain high and that opportunities to work alongside Ukrainian partners are often more difficult than they should be. Of course, there must always be appropriate safeguards around defence exports, technology transfer and national security. No one would argue otherwise, but speed has become a capability in its own right, and procurement systems designed for peacetime must continue to evolve if they are to keep pace with modern conflict.

Ukraine is already moving in this direction. Earlier this month it expanded its drone deal framework, creating long-term partnerships centred on joint production, technology transfer, industrial co-operation and significantly faster approval processes for participating partners. More than 20 further countries are now in discussions on joining similar arrangements.

At the same time, only this week the European Union announced a new defence industrial partnership with Ukraine, recognising that it is no longer simply receiving capability but helping to shape Europe’s future defence industrial base. Our defence industry has much to contribute. Can the Minister update the House on what discussions the Government have had with Ukraine about establishing a similarly deep defence industrial partnership with the United Kingdom—one that enables greater collaboration between British defence technology companies and Ukrainian partners and supports faster technology transfer, joint production and defence exports where appropriate—including the status of the ongoing negotiations for the UK to join the drone deal?

Ukraine continues to defend not only its own sovereignty but the security of Europe. It also demonstrates remarkable ingenuity, resourcefulness and technological innovation under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. We should continue standing with Ukraine. We should continue learning from Ukraine, and we should build with Ukraine.

Ukraine

Lord Mott Excerpts

Friday 31st October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Mott (Con)]

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Barrow, on his maiden speech and look forward to many more of his speeches to come. I also congratulate and thank the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, for such a powerful opening, particularly in the light, perhaps, of some of the recent speeches in this debate. I refer the House to my support for the charity Ukrainian Action, which provides emergency support, humanitarian aid, recovery and reconstruction. I thank all the hundreds of volunteers who make a difference every day.

When I visited Kyiv recently, I saw at first hand not just the scars of war on that brave country but the determination of a nation fighting for its future. We must recognise that what is at stake extends beyond the front line, as many noble Lords have said today, and indeed beyond the borders of Ukraine. The war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is not simply territorial; it is existential. It threatens the principle that a free people can choose their own path. That is why the United Kingdom’s ongoing support for Ukraine is not charity; it is principled and necessary.

The numbers tell a stark story. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that, in July, at least 286 civilians were killed and 1,388 injured—the highest monthly casualty figure since May 2022. In the first half of the year, some 6,754 civilians were killed or injured, a 54% rise compared with the same period in 2024. Nearly all the harm recorded occurred in territory under the Ukrainian Government’s control, emphasising the brutality of long-range missile strikes and the assaults by Russia on civilian lives.

At the same time, since Russia’s illegal invasion, the United Kingdom Government have committed up to £21.8 billion in support to Ukraine for military assistance and in humanitarian support. This is significant and underscores the depth of our involvement not as spectators but as partners to our friends and allies in Ukraine, as powerfully outlined by many noble Lords today. Our continued role must be sustained and strategic. I wish to identify three priority areas where the Government’s focus is most urgent.

Ukraine must not just survive; it must be secured. The UK has pledged military support “for as long as it takes”, but words alone do not suffice. We need an architecture of deterrence. That requires security guarantees, backed by credible capability, allied resolve and UK leadership. That means a long-term commitment to training, logistics and intelligence sharing, building on the success of Operation Interflex, which has already been mentioned today and has already trained more than 60,000 Ukrainian personnel here in the United Kingdom.

We must also ensure that any future peace settlement does not leave Ukraine vulnerable to renewed aggression but establishes the kind of durable security that allows reconstruction. War has destroyed and damaged much of Ukraine, but rebuilding offers renewal. In Ukraine, communities are already turning rubble into resolve, reopening schools, restoring infrastructure and keeping civil society alive under fire. The UK has committed significant sums towards reconstruction efforts, yet the scale must match what the moment requires. The UK must use its expertise, whether in infrastructure, finance or civil society, to support Ukraine’s recovery and ensure that the future it rebuilds is resilient and one where Ukrainians can flourish and the scars of war can begin to heal.

Let us not forget that there are horrific crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine. Families are being torn apart and the very identity of Ukraine is under threat. Some 7.5 million children have been impacted by this war, affecting their health, education and family life. Russia is using children as a weapon, with up to 35,000 children taken from their families and forced to forget their lives; they are being psychologically coerced to stay in Russia and to forget their identity. Others are being conscripted into the Russian youth army and could be forced to fight against their own people, their own friends and family. The trauma that these families are facing is constant; it is hard to imagine having your son or daughter taken—children and babies just months’ old taken from their mothers’ arms—and relocated to a country they do not know. The Government must ensure that our support assists with evidence preservation, assists Ukrainian judicial institutions and helps to make sure that Russian war criminals are brought to justice. I also pay tribute to Johanna Baxter from the other place for her work in this area.

Ukraine’s battle is not just for the future of its sons and daughters; they are fighting for the principle of self-determination and democracy. The United Kingdom must stand by our friends in Ukraine, as well as our values, and our support must be enduring, not because it is easy but because it is the right thing to do.

Ukraine: UK Policy

Lord Mott Excerpts

Monday 17th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Mott (Con)]

My Lords, I refer the House to my support for the charity Ukrainian Action, which provides emergency support, humanitarian aid, recovery and reconstruction. It has recently launched a programme to help injured servicemen and women to rehabilitate.

However, reconstruction is not merely about rebuilding infrastructure; it is about restoring hope, dignity and opportunity to a nation scarred by conflict, and it is about the people of Ukraine. Ukraine’s recovery must be comprehensive, addressing not only physical rebuilding but economic revitalisation and social cohesion. That requires international collaboration, innovative funding mechanisms and a commitment to ensuring that the rebuilding process is inclusive and transparent. The UK, alongside its allies, must play a leading role in that effort, offering expertise, resources and unwavering solidarity. It requires a guarantee on Ukraine’s security.

The Prime Minister is to be congratulated on his leadership in his work so far, as is the Minister. I also thank my noble friend Lord Blencathra for his wisdom in preparing for this speech, and the work carried out so far by the Council of Europe.

Democracy, as we know, is the cornerstone of a free and just society. It is fragile yet resilient, and must be nurtured with care. As Ukraine moves towards peace, we must ensure that its democratic processes are robust, secure and reflective of the will of its people. Ukraine needs time to recover, with so many potential voters serving on the front lines or living abroad as refugees. That means supporting civic participation at all levels, safeguarding against misinformation and cyber threats, and ensuring that electoral laws and practices meet the highest possible standards.

Democracy cannot be rushed. It must be built on a foundation of stability and trust. As policy is updated at pace, I wonder if the Government should consider building on the UK-Ukrainian 100-year partnership agreement by using Article 11 of the treaty to build civic participation and democracy into it, perhaps by hosting a conference on democracy. I hope the Minister may be able to answer that.

I want to see peace urgently, but how Ukraine moves forward as a democratic country is going to be fundamental to its future and to Europe. Let us reaffirm our commitment to standing with Ukraine, not just in its time of need but in its journey toward a brighter, democratic future.

Defence Spending

Lord Mott Excerpts

Thursday 25th April 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Mott (Con)]

My Lords, I welcome the Statement on which my noble friend is responding today. Many important questions have been raised today. Will my noble friend give us an update on, and perhaps not forget, the accommodation that our Armed Forces personnel live in, and make sure that their conditions are not forgotten and that the upgrades and improvements that are required are part of this plan?

[The Earl of Minto (Con)]

My Lords, that is a very good point. Accommodation is critical in recruitment and retention. Within the plan, there is £4 billion expenditure over the next 10 years to upgrade and build new service accommodation. At the moment, 97% of what we have meets the Government’s decent homes standard, but we continue to work with suppliers to make sustained improvements on the existing portfolio of properties. It is a point extremely well made that we must make certain that not just accommodation but all service pay and conditions are at the highest level.