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Written Question
Ukraine: Weapons
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the manufacture of military weapons in Ukraine.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Yes. On 13-14 Dec 2023 we held the UK's first trade mission visit to Kyiv. This brought together UK and Ukrainian government officials with key stakeholders from UK and Ukrainian industry to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation. The agreements signed between UK and Ukrainian companies will enhance resilient defence industrial facilities inside Ukraine.


Written Question
British Indian Ocean Territory
Thursday 25th January 2024

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on the US contribution to the military balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.

Answered by James Heappey

The UK's priority is the long term continued effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia and Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. We continue to work in lockstep with the US to this end and have their full support. The Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary Austin discussed the British Indian Ocean Territory in Washington DC on 1 December 2023.


Written Question
British Indian Ocean Territory: National Security
Thursday 18th January 2024

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the recent military action in Yemen on the level of national security risk associated with the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Answered by James Heappey

Our clear aim is the continued full operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in national, regional and global security. Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. The joint UK/US military facility helps to keep people around the world safe, combatting some of the most challenging threats to international peace and security.

We must look at all the risks there could be in any change of circumstances. The UK will only enter into an agreement that protects our national interests and those of our partners.


Written Question
Ukraine: Ammunition
Friday 12th January 2024

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help increase production of 155mm shells for Ukraine.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) placed an order in June 2023 with BAE Systems to provide an eight-fold increase in production capability of 155mm shells. The MOD contract is for significant initial quantities of 155mm shells which will reinstate and build sovereign capability and stockpiles.

In respect of artillery ammunition being providing to Ukraine, since the start of the conflict, the UK has donated over 300,000 rounds of artillery ammunition - including 155mm and Former Soviet Union calibres.


Written Question
British Indian Ocean Territory: National Security
Friday 12th January 2024

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks to national security of the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Answered by James Heappey

The joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in combating some of the most challenging threats to regional and international security.

The UK and Mauritius have conducted several rounds of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.


Written Question
Diego Garcia: Military Bases
Friday 12th January 2024

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reassurances his Department has received from the government of Mauritius on the future of the military base in Diego Garcia.

Answered by James Heappey

The joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in combating some of the most challenging threats to regional and international security.

The UK and Mauritius have conducted several rounds of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.


Written Question
British Indian Ocean Territory: Mauritius
Tuesday 19th December 2023

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Answered by James Heappey

We are in regular contact with the US administration on matters related to the British Indian Ocean Territory at both Ministerial and official levels.


Written Question
Guyana: Visits Abroad
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will visit Guyana to show support for its territorial integrity.

Answered by James Heappey

There are no plans for a visit at this time. The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and the Secretary of State are in contact with their counterparts in Guyana and CDS will be visiting Guyana in late January 2024 for the annual UK–Caribbean Chiefs of Defence conference.


Written Question
Taiwan Strait: Shipping
Wednesday 13th September 2023

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help safeguard passage through the Taiwan Strait.

Answered by James Heappey

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any action which changes the facts on the ground, raises tensions and hinders the chances of peaceful settlement of the disputes. We will therefore continue to encourage open communication and de-escalation. As a P5 country, we have an interest in upholding international law and freedom of navigation. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration declared that China has no legal basis to claim its "historic" rights in the South China Sea.

Our maritime presence in the region has grown, with the deployment of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR, supporting our persistent presence approach. HMS SPEY last navigated through the Taiwan Strait in January this year and the People's Liberation Army Navy response to her transit was assessed as safe and professional.


Written Question
Poland: Guided Weapons
Tuesday 27th June 2023

Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release Record £1.9 billion UK-Poland missile export deal set to bolster European security, published on 28 April, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for collective security of that deal.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

MBDA's export agreement announced on 28 April will see 22 Polish Air Defence batteries equipped with the UK's Common Anti-air Module Missiles (CAMM) and launchers. It is testament to the increasingly close bilateral defence and security relationship between the UK and Poland; the largest ever UK defence export to Poland and one of the biggest deals of its kind in NATO. It provides a significant enhancement to the short-range air defence capability of a key Ally on NATO's strategically important eastern flank, bolstering both Poland's and the Alliance's security.