Debates between Harriett Baldwin and Gerald Howarth during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Harriett Baldwin and Gerald Howarth
Monday 7th November 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Harriett Baldwin Portrait Harriett Baldwin
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As P.G. Wodehouse said:

“It is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine.”

Gerald Howarth Portrait Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con)
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As the former Minister responsible for Type 26s, may I warmly welcome the order for them, although I and the nation could well do with more? I also welcome the decision to maintain defence expenditure at 2%, but may I remind my hon. Friend that last year that was done only by viring £1.2 billion of expenditure from the Department for Work and Pensions to the Minister of Defence? Why is it that I am hearing from senior officers that their budgets are being cut this year and that they are having to find in-year savings? Where is the extra cash?

Harriett Baldwin Portrait Harriett Baldwin
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I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his enormous contribution. He has always made the case for a growing defence budget. I am sure that he, too, will welcome not only the announcement we made last week about the Type 26 frigates, but the announcement made at last year’s strategic defence and security review that we would develop a general purpose frigate and commit to at least five of those.