Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Hanson of Flint Excerpts
Monday 5th July 2010

(14 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Peter Luff Portrait Peter Luff
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Like my hon. Friend, I have severe doubts about that particular practice, and I can assure him that I am watching it very carefully.

Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)
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Can the Minister tell the House when he expects to agree the contract signed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth) for the A400M, which is built in Bristol and serviced in north Wales? Twenty-two planes with 22 sets of wings are under contract by the Labour Government, but they have been frozen by the Conservative-Liberal Government.

Peter Luff Portrait Peter Luff
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I wish I could answer the right hon. Gentleman’s question at length, but all I can say is that the A400M, like all other major projects, is part of the strategic defence and security review—the long overdue strategic defence and security review.

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Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)
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T6. On reflection, does the Secretary of State think that the best way to advise of the retirement of the Chief of the Defence Staff is through the pages of The Sunday Times even before the Prime Minister has been consulted or before the Queen has been provided with that information?

Liam Fox Portrait Dr Fox
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If that were entirely true, the right hon. Gentleman would be correct.