Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, MoD, James Duddridge MP, Julian Brazier MP
Foreign Office and MoD Ministers questioned by Arctic Committee
16 December 2014
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Arctic will take evidence from James Duddridge MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Defence Minister Julian Brazier MP, in the final evidence session of their inquiry.
Witnesses
Tuesday 16 December, Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster
At 10.45am
- James Duddridge MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Julian Brazier MP, Defence Minister, Ministry of Defence
The Ministers will be accompanied by departmental officials Nick Gurr, Director of International Security Policy at the MoD and Jane Rumble, Head of the Polar Regions Unit at the FCO.
Likely questions
Areas the session will cover include:
- Has the UK been upfront in making clear its interests in the Arctic? Is the UK’s approach overly cautious compared to the extensive and rapid engagement undertaken by new Arctic Council observer states?
- How well is the UK engaging with the multiple different international organisations relevant to the country’s Arctic interests?
- How can the UK best influence the Arctic Council?
- How has the loss of British maritime patrol aircraft affected the UK’s surveillance capacity and ability to support search and rescue in Arctic and near-Arctic waters? Does the potential increase in maritime traffic in and around the Arctic challenge the UK’s surveillance capabilities?