Oral Answers to Questions

Alison Bennett Excerpts

Monday 19th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[John Milne (Horsham) (LD)]

2. If he will make it his policy to negotiate a defence and security agreement with the EU.

[Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex) (LD)]

15. If he will make it his policy to negotiate a defence and security agreement with the EU.

[Alex Ballinger (Halesowen) (Lab)]

21. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a security and defence partnership with the EU on NATO.

--- Later in debate ---

[John Healey]

Quite simply, the answer to both the hon. Gentleman’s first question and his second question is exactly the partnership deal that we have signed this afternoon.

[Alison Bennett]

I welcome the news that the UK is deepening defence ties with the European Union, including participation in the €150 billion Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, defence fund. However, given that France has previously said that it wants the UK’s access to be limited to 15%, will the Secretary of State confirm what level of access has been agreed?

[John Healey]

This is a big step today—a broad and bespoke agreement between the European Union and the UK on security and defence—but it is a first step. Settling the details and the terms of access for European programmes, including the SAFE funding programme, is exactly the task beyond today.