Trident Alternatives Review

Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom Excerpts

Wednesday 17th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Baron]

rose—

[Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con)]

rose—

--- Later in debate ---

[Danny Alexander]

I am here to set out the details of the review. Those are the terms of the debate today. I will set out my own views in the course of my speech, if my hon. Friend will allow me time to get on with it.

[Mr Arbuthnot]

rose—

[Danny Alexander]

I will, however, give way to the Chairman of the Select Committee first.

[Mr Arbuthnot]

I am grateful to the Chief Secretary. I am trying to take this document seriously, but I am having some difficulty, not least because of the removal by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister of the excellent Liberal Democrat Minister from the Ministry of Defence, which shows something of his party’s attitude towards defence. Does the Chief Secretary to the Treasury accept that his policy would destroy the submarine building industry of this country?

[Danny Alexander]

No, I certainly do not accept that, but I join my right hon. Friend in paying tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), who made an enormous contribution to this review.