National Security Capability Review Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Ministry of Defence
Diana Johnson
Main Page: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)Department Debates - View all Diana Johnson's debates with the Ministry of Defence
(7 years, 1 month ago)
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Gavin Williamson
I think that I will refer that question to Treasury questions as something the Chancellor might like to take up.
Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
While we are talking about the Chancellor, will the Defence Secretary say what he thinks about the fact that early last month the Chancellor is understood to have told defence chiefs that an army only needs 50,000 full-time professional soldiers?
Gavin Williamson
As already touched on, there is an awful lot of speculation, and I am sure that much of it is not based on fact. The Chancellor was a great defender of the armed forces when he was Defence Secretary and is passionate about what they do. I am sure that that passion still burns in his heart today.