Baroness Verma (Con)

My Lords, I refer to my interests in the register. It is a great honour to be present for this debate. I will ask the Minister three questions. First, when will we start supporting British companies that are developing innovative defence systems but find themselves having to go abroad to countries such as the USA to manufacture their British products, because they do not get the funding or support from the UK Government? We then end up buying those products back for the defence of our great nation. Given the importance of being self-reliant and resilient, perhaps it is time we start to look at bringing back manufacturing and backing those fantastic entrepreneurs who, if backed properly, would create thousands of jobs and put us back at the forefront of leading the world with world-class systems. It would also help the Government’s economic growth agenda. Will the Minister therefore commit to putting the interests of British entrepreneurs at the heart of their support by funding and helping them to invest in this country? This would include the manufacturing of PPE and other necessary uniforms. I was horrified to find that only 6% of all uniforms for the military are produced in this country. We need to put the economic growth of our country first. That does not stop us engaging in closer co-operation with our allies old and new. Secondly, when will we work more closely with our friends and allies across the African continent? Like all nations, we have an economy that needs to grow into a more knowledge-rich, new technology-based and clean power-based country. We need critical minerals. While the Chinese, the Americans and many of our European allies have been engaging actively for many years, we seem to lack a coherent, joined-up strategy with the African continent—especially with countries with which we have long-standing relationships. This is important not just for British businesses but for our presence in the wider debate through soft diplomacy. We can do so much more that benefits not just us but our partners and allies across the continent. Will the Minister urge the Government to strengthen our embassies and high commissions, particularly in countries where it will generate opportunities for British businesses and our excellent, talented and skilled workforces that support us to export goods globally? Cutting the strength of embassies and high commissions is shooting ourselves in the foot. We need a strong presence across the world, and our embassies and high commissions are the first outward-facing connections that those countries have with our country. In these uncertain times, will the Minister tell us what the Government’s strategy is to have strong access to virgin steel, because without it we will not be able to manufacture SMRs, defence capabilities and infrastructure? No discussions are taking place with UK businesses that are willing to work with the Government to help support the steel industry. Will the Minister therefore meet and speak to those businesses that wish to come in and support the infrastructure in this country to help build our defence mechanisms? The security of this country is very unpredictable and we are living in a very unpredictable world. Although the noble Lord, Lord Forbes of Newcastle, is not in his place, I agreed with everything he was saying. It is time that we put the growth and security of our country first, working with old and new allies. We cannot dither; we need to make decisions. That is what is needed in this time of turmoil. My last piece of advice to the Minister, who I know will listen carefully to his colleagues the noble Baroness, Lady Ashton, and the noble Lord, Lord Robertson—who have huge experience of the terrors and turmoil that goes on—is that it is perhaps time to bring them into the tent and take their advice on how to work and negotiate. Their experience is huge and they would greatly benefit the Government and the wider nation.