Questioning Defence Secretary Wes Streeting on British action to support Ukraine in the war, Sir John welcomed the Government’s continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing threat from Russia to Ukraine, the UK and wider Europe. In Parliament, he called for a public awareness campaign to help people understand the changing security threat and asked what message the Government would send to companies continuing to trade in Russia and potentially undermining sanctions.
Watch his full question here:
Transcript
John Whittingdale Conservative, Maldon
I strongly welcome the Secretary of State’s confirmation of our continuing support for Ukraine. He has set out the sustained threat from Russia facing not just Ukraine, but this country and the whole of Europe, yet for too many people, it is still business as usual. First, will he consider a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the threat, like those in Finland and the Baltic states? Secondly, what message does he have for the companies that continue to trade in Russia and, in doing so, both undermine sanctions and provide funds for Russia’s war machine?
Wes Streeting The Secretary of State for Defence
I will have to think of some parliamentary words, in response to the second part of the right hon. Gentleman’s question. It is an extremely serious issue, and I think the companies concerned, and those with executive decision-making responsibility, ought to think about the risk involved to this country and this continent, and to the values that we are trying to uphold by supporting our friends in Ukraine. Let me reassure him that the national conversation that we need to have is very high on my list of priorities, because we do need to raise awareness—but not alarm—in both a conventional defence and security content and a wider national resilience context. I will report back to the House on plans for a national conversation.