Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Paulette Hamilton and Grant Shapps

Monday 20th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab)]

19. What steps he is taking to ensure that the UK meets its NATO obligations.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Grant Shapps)]

Our commitment to NATO is unwavering. In response to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, we have committed almost all our forces to NATO. We contribute to every single NATO mission and declare our nuclear deterrent to NATO. We show our commitment not least through our increase in defence spending to 2.5%.

[Mrs Hamilton]

The Public Accounts Committee has warned that

“deterrence can only be effective if our Armed Forces are credible.”

However, that has been “undermined” by recruitment issues, with more people leaving the forces than being recruited. What message does the Secretary of State think that sends to our NATO allies?

[Grant Shapps]

I am pleased to inform the hon. Lady and the House that we are now seeing a very high level of applications. Last week, the First Sea Lord told me that HMS Raleigh, where the training takes place, is the fullest it has been for more than eight years. We have seen a big increase in applications to all three services, and long may it continue.