Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with NATO on the UK’s role in EU defence programmes after the UK leaves the EU.

I regularly discuss the UK's leading role in European security with NATO counterparts. As NATO's leading European ally, the UK is clear that NATO forms the cornerstone of European defence and security. The Government intends to co-operate closely with the EU on defence and security as part of an ambitious security partnership; both on a case-by-case basis and when it is in our mutual interest. The UK has consistently called for any EU defence programmes and initiatives to be open to third parties and complementary with NATO.