Defence Budget and Transformation Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Defence Budget and Transformation

Bob Russell Excerpts
Monday 14th May 2012

(12 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Given the number of right hon. and hon. Members still seeking to catch my eye, and the fact that the debate to follow is very heavily subscribed, I repeat my exhortation to single, short supplementary questions and the Secretary of State’s typically pithy replies.

Bob Russell Portrait Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)
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Britain’s national and international defence interests are not best served by having a smaller Army, a smaller Navy and a smaller Air Force. We are now told that the budget is in balance, so, looking to the home front, can the upgrade and modernisation of the family accommodation be brought forward?

Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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Not without busting the budget again, I am afraid. There is a programme for the modernisation of accommodation, part of which is continuing. Another part of it has been put on hold until 2014-15, and I am afraid that is where it will have to stay for the moment.