Defence. Fourth opposition day debate (part one). Main question negatived on division (208 to 277). Amendment agreed on question.

Defence. Fourth opposition day debate (part one). Main question negatived on division (208 to 277). Amendment agreed on question.

I thank the hon. Gentleman—that was very helpful. The cost of the three Astute class submarines has risen from £2.5 billion to £3.8 billion, and the Type 45 destroyers are costing £1 billion each—£1.5 billion over budget in total—and are two years late. There has been a whole plethora of...

I thank the hon. Gentleman—that was very helpful. The cost of the three Astute class submarines has risen from £2.5 billion to £3.8 billion, and the Type 45 destroyers are costing £1 billion each—£1.5 billion over budget in total—and are two years late. There has been a whole plethora of...

I have answered the second question, and the hon. Lady knows the answer to the first—we have been over it before. The skills base would not have been affected if we had made the decision at the beginning. We did not need to make all the decisions then, and the...

I have answered the second question, and the hon. Lady knows the answer to the first—we have been over it before. The skills base would not have been affected if we had made the decision at the beginning. We did not need to make all the decisions then, and the...

Why was the Secretary of State not prepared to give the assurance that the hon. Gentleman has been seeking from the official Opposition?

Why was the Secretary of State not prepared to give the assurance that the hon. Gentleman has been seeking from the official Opposition?

Defence is one of the most important areas of politics, and it ought to be debated fiercely, so I am astonished that the Opposition seem to have run out of steam. There seems to be no passion, fire, drive or urge for government, and we are only—what?—two months away from...

Defence is one of the most important areas of politics, and it ought to be debated fiercely, so I am astonished that the Opposition seem to have run out of steam. There seems to be no passion, fire, drive or urge for government, and we are only—what?—two months away from...

I can help out the hon. Gentleman, because last Thursday I, like the Secretary of State for Defence, had the pleasure of going to Portsmouth to attend the steel-cutting ceremony for the first of the aircraft carriers. I listened carefully to the Secretary of State, who said that the Government...

I can help out the hon. Gentleman, because last Thursday I, like the Secretary of State for Defence, had the pleasure of going to Portsmouth to attend the steel-cutting ceremony for the first of the aircraft carriers. I listened carefully to the Secretary of State, who said that the Government...

These are excellent questions, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will pose them to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell), who is sitting behind me and who is carrying out a review on this important matter, which must be considered...

These are excellent questions, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will pose them to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell), who is sitting behind me and who is carrying out a review on this important matter, which must be considered...

I might have missed this while I was out of the Chamber, but does my hon. Friend agree that on neither side of the House has anyone mentioned the role of civilians, such as cleaners, cooks, firefighters and logisticians? Will they, too, receive consideration in the Green Paper for the...

I might have missed this while I was out of the Chamber, but does my hon. Friend agree that on neither side of the House has anyone mentioned the role of civilians, such as cleaners, cooks, firefighters and logisticians? Will they, too, receive consideration in the Green Paper for the...

The hon. Gentleman is ruling out defence cuts under the Conservatives. Will he take this opportunity to rule out closure of important strategic assets, such as RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars?

The hon. Gentleman is ruling out defence cuts under the Conservatives. Will he take this opportunity to rule out closure of important strategic assets, such as RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars?

The hon. Member for Glasgow, South-West (Mr. Davidson) suggested that this had been a lacklustre debate. I take issue with him, because the opening exchanges between my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox)—as you know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, he has apologised because he is unable to be here...

The hon. Member for Glasgow, South-West (Mr. Davidson) suggested that this had been a lacklustre debate. I take issue with him, because the opening exchanges between my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox)—as you know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, he has apologised because he is unable to be here...

In large part, we have had a good and constructive debate, and despite the political hyperbole, there is a greater consensus on defence than is sometimes apparent. I wish to start, as did the Secretary of State, by paying tribute to our brave servicemen who have lost their lives in...

In large part, we have had a good and constructive debate, and despite the political hyperbole, there is a greater consensus on defence than is sometimes apparent. I wish to start, as did the Secretary of State, by paying tribute to our brave servicemen who have lost their lives in...

The hon. Gentleman will know that we are going to have a defence review, and I will talk about that in a moment. Above all, as my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring said, the Government failed, in the years of plenty, to fund their own SDR fully, creating a...

The hon. Gentleman will know that we are going to have a defence review, and I will talk about that in a moment. Above all, as my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring said, the Government failed, in the years of plenty, to fund their own SDR fully, creating a...

The hon. Gentleman and I have talked about these issues outside the House for many years, and we did so a few weeks ago. As he knows, the audience, comprising industrialists in the defence industry from Britain and Europe, made it clear that they did not believe that the Conservatives...

The hon. Gentleman and I have talked about these issues outside the House for many years, and we did so a few weeks ago. As he knows, the audience, comprising industrialists in the defence industry from Britain and Europe, made it clear that they did not believe that the Conservatives...

I will not at the moment, but I will try to do so later, time permitting. Manpower shortages across all three services amount to 2,500. Vital defence research expenditure has been cut by 23 per cent. in the past three years. Future equipment depends on today's investment, and that investment...

I will not at the moment, but I will try to do so later, time permitting. Manpower shortages across all three services amount to 2,500. Vital defence research expenditure has been cut by 23 per cent. in the past three years. Future equipment depends on today's investment, and that investment...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I am afraid I will not give way to the Under-Secretary: he has not been here for the whole debate. This debate is about the Government's record on defence, but some say that we are making a mistake in raising that aspect, and I must begin on a positive note....

I am afraid I will not give way to the Under-Secretary: he has not been here for the whole debate. This debate is about the Government's record on defence, but some say that we are making a mistake in raising that aspect, and I must begin on a positive note....

I beg to move,"That this House expresses its continued support for HM armed forces personnel and their families; notes that over 440 service personnel have been killed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001; further notes that the armed forces have operated over the original planning assumptions for years;...

I beg to move,"That this House expresses its continued support for HM armed forces personnel and their families; notes that over 440 service personnel have been killed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001; further notes that the armed forces have operated over the original planning assumptions for years;...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

That is a statement of the obvious. I will come in a moment to the economic backdrop against which future decisions will have to be made. The point that I am making is that we now know that troops were sent into harm's way in Iraq, without the proper equipment,...

That is a statement of the obvious. I will come in a moment to the economic backdrop against which future decisions will have to be made. The point that I am making is that we now know that troops were sent into harm's way in Iraq, without the proper equipment,...

May I go back to the point that the hon. Gentleman was making when I sought to intervene on him? He was speaking movingly about the shortfalls affecting the Navy. Is it true that the first act of a Conservative Government would be, as he said to the convenors of...

May I go back to the point that the hon. Gentleman was making when I sought to intervene on him? He was speaking movingly about the shortfalls affecting the Navy. Is it true that the first act of a Conservative Government would be, as he said to the convenors of...