UK's Nuclear Deterrent Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

UK's Nuclear Deterrent

Barry Sheerman Excerpts
Monday 18th July 2016

(8 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend makes a valid and important point, and this issue must be looked at in the round, not just as one set of figures.

Barry Sheerman Portrait Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)
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I congratulate the Prime Minister on her appointment. I shall be voting for the motion this evening because I believe that the historical role of the Labour party and Labour Governments has been on the right side of this issue. I love the fact that she is showing strong support for NATO, but there is a niggle: have we the capacity and resources to maintain conventional forces to the level that will match our other forces?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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The answer to that is yes—we are very clear that we face different threats and need different capabilities to face them. We have now committed to 2% of GDP being spent on defence, and we have increased the defence budget and the money that we spend on more conventional forces.