Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"Does the Minister agree that we as employers in this House—every single Member of Parliament—should become covenant employers in our own right and that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority should work with us to deliver that? We should not have to go through the MOD to deliver that; we should …..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"That would be a wonderful intervention by the Minister, but I have tried to make that suggestion in private to IPSA and have not been very successful, so any help the Minister can give me to ensure that IPSA allows us all to become covenant employers would be very welcome...."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"Does my hon. Friend agree that one issue that is really difficult for many schools to understand is the impact of Remembrance Day on children whose parents are serving? There might be only one or two children of service personnel in each school, and when children are taught about what …..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"Does the hon. Lady agree that it is even worse for those in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, who were not entitled to a pay rise at all, which is why they are currently consulting on an industrial dispute?..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"It is an honour and privilege to speak in this debate, and a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Luke Graham). I find myself in the unenviable position of being the first member of the Defence Committee to speak today, but I see two colleagues …..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"I am being heckled by my hon. Friend. It is indeed my own birthday party.
What is so wonderful about our Armed Forces Day parade is the intergenerational conversations that happen, with our service personnel, our veterans community and our cadets—sea, air and Army—talking to each other and telling stories. …..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention and, more importantly, I thank his father for his service.
Not only have we had the opportunity to celebrate our D-day veterans, but next year we as a country will be able to enjoy VE-day. This gives the whole country the …..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 26 Jun 2019
Armed Forces Day
"I could not agree with the hon. Lady more, as I do on most, if not all, issues. One thing that we miss with those who are currently serving is the burden that is placed on their families, who have to deal with not only the tax burden and costs …..."Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
View all Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Armed Forces Day
Written Question
Thursday 30th May 2019
Asked by:
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she makes of the potential merits of retaining sovereign capabilities when undertaking procurement contracts with SME suppliers; and where retaining sovereign capabilities ranks on the MOD Procurement scorecard.
Answered by Stuart Andrew
- Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a responsibility to procure the right capability for our Armed Forces and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer in the goods and services that we buy, regardless of the company's size.
We are clear that international competition is at the heart of our approach. This allows our Armed Forces to secure the best equipment from an open, global marketplace to meet evolving threats. We also recognise, however, that defence procurement needs to protect UK freedom of action and operational advantage. These strategic considerations shape our procurement strategies. Our refreshed Industrial Policy sets out the basis on which we will develop specific sector approaches to protect national security.
There is no single MOD procurement scorecard. Once we have launched a commercial competition, the MOD considers a wide range of factors when awarding our contracts to obtain the best value for money outcome for defence and the taxpayer.
Written Question
Thursday 30th May 2019
Asked by:
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the policy priorities are for Defence Equipment and Support with respect to procuring with domestic SME's in emergent markets.
Answered by Stuart Andrew
- Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Ministry of Defence (MOD), including Defence Equipment and Support, has a responsibility to get the right capability for our Armed Forces and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer in the goods and services that we buy.
The MOD is committed to making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to do business with defence. In March 2019, we published our SME Action Plan which explains how we will increase our spend with SMEs, and addresses behavioural, policy and process change.
I also chair SME Forums around the UK to understand the issues facing SMEs, the most recent of which was held on 9 May 2019 in Broughton.