Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Whitehead Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd November 2011

(12 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend makes an important point. The defence budget overall is £35 billion and it will continue at pretty much that cash figure throughout this Parliament. It will still be the fourth largest defence budget anywhere in the world. I assure him that there are no current plans to reduce the number of Ministry of Defence police at the Faslane or Coulport naval bases. Those are vital sites, as he knows, but obviously we have to look at all the costs at the Ministry of Defence and ensure that we are getting the safety that we need.

Alan Whitehead Portrait Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab)
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Q11. Does the Prime Minister favour the establishment of local authorities that meet only to give out contracts to others and that provide no direct services to the local population?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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What I support is local authorities that provide good services and keep their council taxes down. I think that the hon. Gentleman’s part of the world has had the advantage of a bit of change and some common-sense conservatism.