Speeches by Roome.

“Minister, you mentioned that Norway has recently become the ninth European country to sign up to French nuclear protection. What implications, if any, does Norway’s deal with France have for the UK’s own contribution to NATO’s deterrence in the High North?”

“Is that to enable them to meet article 5 requirements?”

“I want to speak about the deterrence implications. The consequences of a continued shift in US priorities from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region have profound implications for deterrence, as adversaries may see a weakening of the US commitment to Europe as eroding NATO’s ability to deter. A credible, collective deterre…”

“Minister, given that combat capability is only as effective as the logistics that sustain it, will you commit to visiting the commandos in North Devon, please?”

“Minister, are you satisfied that the DIP meets the requirements of the SDR?”

“Does anybody have anything to add to that?”

“Yes.”

“It has changed since you have been there.”

“Do you think that Canada should be part of the JEF?”

“This is quite a selfish question. In my North Devon constituency, I have the fantastic Commando Logistic Regiment, which deploys to the High North every year for training. Given that the DIP highlights an expansion of the commando force, but expeditionary operations rely on robust logistics, how is the Government inves…”

“The UK strategic nuclear deterrence remains committed to NATO. Regarding the High North, how does it help deter aggression? What role will the new sub-strategic capability play, and will the UK practice forward-deploying these nuclear-capable aircraft into the region, as has been mentioned in the DIP with the F-35s?”

“What do the panel believe to be the main priorities of the JEF? When we were out in the High North, we heard from the CHOD in Norway, who said that it is neither under the command of NATO, nor does it answer to NATO. What do you see as the JEF’s role going forward?”

“Nuclear.”

“I thank the hon. Member for Isle of Wight West (Richard Quigley) for securing this important debate. I want to speak up for Ilfracombe in particular, and the challenges that will be familiar to coastal communities everywhere. Devon county council has identified Ilfracombe as one of the most vulnerable towns in Devon. I…”

“The MCA has told MPs that it has data to back its claim that CROs would rather be volunteers than employees. Can the Minister confirm that those findings can be shared? This has a massive bearing on the MCA’s decision, and may greatly undermine the essential lifeline that CROs provide to coastal communities like mine i…”

“I agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and I thank him for his distinguished service too. We are seeing that in how we are learning lessons from Ukraine. I have been out there and seen the systems, so I totally agree. Defence reform is a very important element that the MOD should look at, and I am sure the Minist…”

“I certainly do, and I will come that later in my speech. There are areas where the Government seem to have cut corners: munitions reserves, medical support, industrial resilience—all essential for enduring a longer crisis. Professionals talk logistics. In 1940, Sir Winston Churchill appointed Lord Beaverbrook to rapidl…”

“I thank my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mike Martin) for securing this debate. There are moments in politics when delay is not just a mistake, but a danger. This is one of those moments. The truth is that the world has become more dangerous much faster than Britain has become ready. The strat…”

“From the beginning, do you wish that we had had some quick wins with the SDR? When announcing the SDR, we could have said, “We could get some quick wins here” to give it credibility.”

“I was outside this process at the beginning. On lessons learned, I would have thought that it would have been better if the DIP were done in conjunction with the SDR, to stop all the confusion with industry this year and to give industry clarity. What are the lessons learned from not doing it that way round?”