Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Hanson and Gavin Williamson

Monday 9th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct in his analysis. We have to make sure that NATO has the ability to respond to the challenges of the future, which is why we are investing more in NATO’s command structure to make sure it can act more speedily against emerging threats.

[David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

What message does the Secretary of State believe President Trump should take from the NATO summit to President Putin the following day?

[Gavin Williamson]

I was hoping President Trump would come to visit Britain before going to visit President Putin, but he should take a message of unity, of European nations and our north Atlantic partners standing shoulder to shoulder to make sure that Europe and the north Atlantic remain safe.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Hanson and Gavin Williamson

Monday 11th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I would be more than delighted to make sure that my hon. Friend gets that information.

[David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

Will the ministerial team recognise the work of service dogs in the Army, Air Force and Navy, and in particular, welcome the establishment next week in this House of a memorial charity to those animals, to be based in Delyn constituency in north Wales?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Hanson and Gavin Williamson

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I thought my hon. Friend was incredibly eloquent.

Let us be clear that there is one reason why we have had peace right across the continent of Europe since the second world war: NATO, and the fact that it has acted as a deterrent to those who wish to prosecute aggressive campaigns against the west. I am very proud of the work that has been done, and will be done in the future, with our allies.

[David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

Will the Secretary of State tell me what the pound-dollar rate was at the time of the commissioning of the F-35 programme, what it is now and how much extra taxpayers’ money is being paid as a result?

[Gavin Williamson]

I am afraid I not have details of the exchange rates with me, but I will write to the right hon. Gentleman with them. I can tell him that exchange rate changes over the past few years have cost us about a quarter of a billion pounds extra for the defence budget, as a result of the movement of the pound.