Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy for the UK not to participate in the European Defence Fund after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The UK/EU Political Declaration states that the UK and the EU will consider UK industry participation in European Defence Fund programmes in order to facilitate interoperability and to promote joint effectiveness of our armed forces.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the Government plans to ensure that the UK does not become part of the EU’s military unification project in the event that the UK remains in the European Defence Agency, the European Defence Fund, the European Defence Industrial Development Programme and the Permanent Structured Co-operation programme.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
NATO will remain the cornerstone of our defence and security, and the UK will retain full sovereign control over its defence policy and decision making. A deal with the EU will, however, enable us to cooperate on foreign and security policy issues of shared interest. Accordingly, the Political Declaration agreed in November 2018 states that the UK's future relationship with the EU should benefit from cooperation on capabilities that facilitate interoperability and to promote joint effectiveness of Armed Forces. It thereby provides the option for the UK to participate in mutually beneficial capability projects and initiatives on a case-by-case basis, through the European Defence Agency, the European Defence Fund and PESCO, subject to conditions in Union law.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of leaving the EU (a) with a deal and (b) under a no-deal scenario on the legal status and chain of command for UK armed forces personnel serving on EU-led missions.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Political Declaration on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom sets out the basis for our future cooperation as a third country. This includes providing the legal framework, in the form of a Framework Participation Agreement, for the UK to contribute to EU crisis management operations and missions, on a case-by-case basis and when in the mutual interests. Such a partnership must respect the sovereignty of the UK, the UK will maintain control over its defence policy and decision making.
In a No Deal scenario, the UK would withdraw from Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations - both military and civilian, and associated personnel seconded to the EU institutions. The UK would continue to act through other multilateral fora, including through the UN and NATO.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their objectives contained in the Draft Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union include continued participation in the European Defence Agency.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK and the EU will continue to work together closely on foreign and security policy issues as part of an ambitious new security partnership. This partnership will be based on the UK and the EU’s shared values, and commitment to work together to respond quickly and effectively to changing threats.
The Political Declaration provides for the UK and the EU to collaborate on capability development to ensure armed forces remain capable and interoperable. The UK and the EU have agreed that UK participation in relevant European Defence Agency (EDA) projects and initiatives, now and in the future, will be beneficial for both parties. Through the negotiation of an Administrative Arrangement — which is the formal agreement through which third countries can participate in EDA projects — the UK and the EDA can continue to work together on projects of mutual interest.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 77 of the July 2018 White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm 9593, whether he plans to assign UK armed forces personnel to the European Union's Military Planning and Conduct Capability as part of the Government's proposals set out in that paragraph.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There is currently one UK Service person working in the Military Planning and Conduct Capability cell. The relationship between the UK and the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, including possible staffing arrangements, after we leave the EU is a matter for the negotiations.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on bilateral relationships with European partners in relation to the Eurofighter Typhoon after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
We believe an open and inclusive approach to European capability development is in our mutual strategic security interests, and will help strengthen our Armed Forces and our defence industries. We will continue to work with our allies and partners on the development of capability that we need and much of this, including Typhoon, already takes place outside of an EU framework. Our membership of NATO is what drives the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, with the four nations working together under the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA).
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect the EU policy of strategic autonomy on the future availability of advanced weapon systems to the UK's armed forces.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The EU's policy of strategic autonomy entails the ability to act and cooperate with international and regional partners wherever possible, while being able to operate autonomously when and where necessary. We believe an open and inclusive approach to European capability development is in our mutual strategic security interests, and will help strengthen our Armed Forces and our defence industries.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made any changes to it's STEM recruitment policies since the vote on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Armed Forces recruitment and retention policy has not changed since the UK's decision to leave the EU.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the level of recruitment to the armed forces.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Following the EU Exit referendum, as part of the formulation of Ministry of Defence strategy, an assessment was undertaken of the potential impact of Brexit on Armed Forces recruitment and retention. It concluded that Brexit was unlikely to impact directly on Armed Forces recruitment, given our nationality requirements, but there could be a secondary impact should Brexit increase demand for scarce skills in the UK. This could, indirectly, impact on Armed Forces recruitment and retention. Given uncertainty over the nature of the final Brexit arrangements and the subsequent impact on the UK skills base there are a range of potential consequences which will inform future Armed Forces recruitment and retention policy.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the ability of the armed forces to recruit STEM graduates after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Following the EU Exit referendum, as part of the formulation of Ministry of Defence strategy, an assessment was undertaken of the potential impact of Brexit on Armed Forces recruitment and retention. It concluded that Brexit was unlikely to impact directly on Armed Forces recruitment, given our nationality requirements, but there could be a secondary impact should Brexit increase demand for scarce skills in the UK. This could, indirectly, impact on Armed Forces recruitment and retention. Given uncertainty over the nature of the final Brexit arrangements and the subsequent impact on the UK skills base there are a range of potential consequences which will inform future Armed Forces recruitment and retention policy.