Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Monday 18th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We want to enjoy the benefits of the Minister’s mellifluous tones. That was my only exhortation. It is quite understandable that a Minister looks back at a Member, but the rest of the House wants to savour the experience of hearing him.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of the importance of NATO to UK national security.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)]

Last week I joined NATO Defence Ministers to discuss progress made towards fairer burden-sharing and increasing the readiness of all our armed forces.

[Michael Tomlinson]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, as we leave the European Union, we will of course continue to co-operate with our European friends and allies, but that it is NATO that is the bedrock of European security? Does also he agree that all talk of an EU army is an unhelpful distraction?