The Minister has not been able to reassure me that commanders have a choice, because we know perfectly well that they do not. I have praised the Government in the past for their procurement of many protected vehicles, but there are still so few Mastiffs and there will be so...

The Minister has not been able to reassure me that commanders have a choice, because we know perfectly well that they do not. I have praised the Government in the past for their procurement of many protected vehicles, but there are still so few Mastiffs and there will be so...

The Minister has completely ignored my request for reassurance about the choice available to commanders in the field. That is because he knows that they do not always have a choice—that, in fact, they rarely have a choice.

The Minister has completely ignored my request for reassurance about the choice available to commanders in the field. That is because he knows that they do not always have a choice—that, in fact, they rarely have a choice.

It is a pleasure to speak in what has so far, quite rightly, been a wide-ranging debate. I begin by paying tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of this country since the last defence debate, and to their families, who are left to bear the...

It is a pleasure to speak in what has so far, quite rightly, been a wide-ranging debate. I begin by paying tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of this country since the last defence debate, and to their families, who are left to bear the...

I am very grateful to the Minister. In fact, most of my information comes from the people who have performed all those tasks in Afghanistan. That is what I have been told by them, and sometimes I prefer to rely on what they say. Commanders do not have a choice....

I am very grateful to the Minister. In fact, most of my information comes from the people who have performed all those tasks in Afghanistan. That is what I have been told by them, and sometimes I prefer to rely on what they say. Commanders do not have a choice....

That is the point that I was seeking to make, and my right hon. Friend has made it much more succinctly. Of course, he is absolutely correct. Decisions are being made now, but the payment problem will not arise until after the next general election. That will exacerbate the situation...

That is the point that I was seeking to make, and my right hon. Friend has made it much more succinctly. Of course, he is absolutely correct. Decisions are being made now, but the payment problem will not arise until after the next general election. That will exacerbate the situation...

I have been listening carefully to the hon. Gentleman, and he must forgive me if I have forgotten, but I am not sure whether he has mentioned the overall cost of this magnificent project at St Athan, which is due to begin in 2010. What investment is required from the...

I have been listening carefully to the hon. Gentleman, and he must forgive me if I have forgotten, but I am not sure whether he has mentioned the overall cost of this magnificent project at St Athan, which is due to begin in 2010. What investment is required from the...

I too shall try to be brief, because I know that so many others wish to contribute to this reasonably wide-ranging defence debate. In spite of the current economic difficulties, now is not the time to cut the military budget, especially when times are so uncertain and when the very...

I too shall try to be brief, because I know that so many others wish to contribute to this reasonably wide-ranging defence debate. In spite of the current economic difficulties, now is not the time to cut the military budget, especially when times are so uncertain and when the very...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and on defence procurement.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and on defence procurement.

I have been applying for this debate for several months, so it is somewhat ironic that I have secured it so soon after Thursday’s debate in the House on defence in the United Kingdom. That is, however, extremely convenient, because it enables me to enlarge on what I have said...

I have been applying for this debate for several months, so it is somewhat ironic that I have secured it so soon after Thursday’s debate in the House on defence in the United Kingdom. That is, however, extremely convenient, because it enables me to enlarge on what I have said...

I remind the Minister gently of my two specific questions, to which I would like a reply before the end of the debate. First, why did the recent announcement appear on the European Defence Agency website and not the MOD website? Secondly and more importantly, when will the order for...

I remind the Minister gently of my two specific questions, to which I would like a reply before the end of the debate. First, why did the recent announcement appear on the European Defence Agency website and not the MOD website? Secondly and more importantly, when will the order for...