Speeches by Healey.

“Mr Thomas, those were not the two lodestars that you saw driving defence decisions under the last Government. We set this out as a Government in the manifesto that you and I were elected on and we have captured it in this first-ever of its kind Strategic Defence Review published last year. It is that Strategic Defence …”

“It is clear we did not have the full facts in the lead-up to decisions about the initial operating capability. That IOC has been withdrawn. The Army is no longer in charge of this programme. A new senior responsible officer, SRO, is now in place. I have been clear that we must back it or scrap it. The work is being don…”

“With respect, those are quite narrow questions. You asked me for priorities. I am saying to you that those are set out quite clearly in the Strategic Defence Review, including in the 62 recommendations we have accepted. You asked me whether I can evidence any of the priorities; I can do that with the actions and decisi…”

“In the last three months, we have confirmed a decade-long £9 billion injection and a new Defence Housing Strategy. We did the first stage of the legislation for a new housing service yesterday in the House. That was a major priority that goes beyond the capabilities that have always been looked at in the past. In my vi…”

“I understand that. First on the Puma, that was a decision I took last year. We are in a process. It is a big challenge for a new Government to deal with what was a defence equipment programme that was heavily overcommitted, badly underfunded, and in many areas unsuited to the changing threats that we face. As we make o…”

“You will understand that there is a contract process under way and that has not been completed yet. I am deeply aware of just how important the skills of the workforce are and the potential that they have to play a part in the transformation that we need to see, in the technology we develop, the manufacturing we produc…”

“Luke Pollard, Minister for DRI, updated the House quite properly last week. I am furious that vital information was withheld.”

“Mr Chairman, you have been around long enough to know not to take what you read in the press at face value. When it was completed and published, the SDR was fully affordable within the financial commitments that we made; that was confirmed by the Prime Minister when he published it. You will know that there is £6 billi…”

“Yes.”

“Which one do you want to ask me about?”

“With respect, that was discussed yesterday in the House of Commons when we had the Second Reading of the Armed Forces Bill. It is set out in the Explanatory Notes of the Bill that we welcome your contribution that way as this Bill goes through Parliament.”

“We have largely done that, yes, and I can provide a running log of where we have been hitting the SDR report-attached target timelines for the Committee; I can give the Committee a rundown on those.”

“I am sure that would be part of the perspective and the evidence that you will look for as part of your inquiry.”

“Thank you for that welcome. You rightly describe this Committee as a critical friend, partisan about defence but properly demanding of us in Government. Can I place on record my and our appreciation for the work that you, your members and your staff do and for the constructive challenge that you offer to the work that …”

“It has reinforced the case that we have made as a Government since July 2024 and the vision and imperative of transformation that was set out in last year’s Strategic Defence Review. In the context that we see and that you outlined there, Mr Chairman, we have certainly seen demands on defence rising and uncertainties i…”

“They will be part of what we plan to deliver over the next decade, which is, of course, the period of the SDR.”

“They will be part of what we look to pursue over the next decade because we want to implement those parts of the SDR.”

“Will we be investing in more UK sovereign capability? Yes. An argument I made for several years before the election and we declared at the election when we were elected to Government is that we would look to direct British defence investment first towards British-based firms, new jobs and innovation in this country. Th…”

“No, this is a Prime Minister who refuses to be drawn on what he sees as false binary choices, US or Europe, China trade or China concerns about security. In this complex world—particularly with a complex country like China—there are both enormous, important trading opportunities with China and security concerns that ar…”

“This Committee will receive the information it has traditionally had on budgeting, annual reports and accounts and you will be able to take me and the new permanent secretary to task on the areas that you want to cross-examine.”