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Written Question
Armed Forces: Finance
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to the armed forces.

Answered by Grant Shapps

UK defence spending is at its highest level in history and increasing in real terms. We have increased the budget for our Equipment Plan and set out our longer-term aspiration to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence.

We continue to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single NATO mission and tackling attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Written Question
Challenger Tanks
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the military capability provided by (a) Challenger 3 armoured vehicles and (b) other tanks.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The Army’s Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank Programme will deliver 148 modernised Main Battle Tanks, providing Defence’s only guaranteed, 24 hour, all weather, mobile anti-tank capability, delivering a step change in lethality and survivability over its predecessors. Alongside Ajax and Boxer, Challenger 3 will form the backbone of the Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, which are the cornerstone of the UK warfighting capability and an essential component of NATO’s deterrence objectives.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 11 Oct 2022
Ukraine

"Putin’s murderous actions over the weekend are a surefire sign of his desperation, which comes partly from the host of desertions among the Russian military, including from an army, thought to be his pride, that is in retreat. Should we be making the point that every person in Russian uniform …..."
Toby Perkins - View Speech

View all Toby Perkins (Lab - Chesterfield) contributions to the debate on: Ukraine
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 22 Sep 2022
Ukraine

"The Minister spoke about the mood in Moscow. We saw President Putin’s ludicrous recent announcement that he would consider any attack on any areas that he now considered Russian to be an attack that could be met with a nuclear response. Will the Minister reaffirm the conviction of this House …..."
Toby Perkins - View Speech

View all Toby Perkins (Lab - Chesterfield) contributions to the debate on: Ukraine
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 05 Sep 2022
Ukraine Update

"As it becomes accepted that Russia has failed in all its objectives, and as the public accept the success of the Ukrainian defence, the risk is that that will lead to complacency about the dangers facing the Ukrainians and that public interest will start to wane. The Secretary of State …..."
Toby Perkins - View Speech

View all Toby Perkins (Lab - Chesterfield) contributions to the debate on: Ukraine Update
Written Question
Ukraine: Military Aid
Tuesday 21st June 2022

Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Ukraine has the military weapons required to defend its territories.

Answered by James Heappey

Defence continues to play a leading role in helping Ukraine defend its territories, working with Allies and partners to support Ukraine's right to be a sovereign, independent and democratic nation.

We have already committed £1.3 billion for military operations and aid, including giving Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, to meet Ukrainian Armed Forces' requests for assistance. We are also making a major contribution to the coordination of military support from our Allies and partners to enable Ukraine to repel Russian aggression.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 11 May 2022
Ukraine: UK Military Support

"The Minister talks about the agility of the British Army, but do we not also need some agility in the thinking of Defence Ministers? It is clear that the integrated review was written with a very different world in mind. It almost entirely overlooked the threat of war in Europe, …..."
Toby Perkins - View Speech

View all Toby Perkins (Lab - Chesterfield) contributions to the debate on: Ukraine: UK Military Support
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 25 Apr 2022
Ukraine Update

"The Secretary of State is right to salute the bravery of the heroic Ukrainian forces and highlight the failures of the Russians, but that should not in any way allow us to become complacent about the threat that Russia continues to pose. I hear what he said about the Ukrainians …..."
Toby Perkins - View Speech

View all Toby Perkins (Lab - Chesterfield) contributions to the debate on: Ukraine Update
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Jan 2022
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank you, Mr Speaker, for what you said about Jack Dromey; his loss is felt by all of us across the House.

I take on board what the Minister said about pay below £24,000, but being as tough as it is for all those people, we think that that …..."
Toby Perkins - View Speech

View all Toby Perkins (Lab - Chesterfield) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 15th November 2021

Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

What recent assessment he has made of the strength of the armed forces.

Answered by James Heappey

The total strength of the Armed Forces is 168,880.