Strategic Defence and Security Review Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Cabinet Office
Eric Joyce
Main Page: Eric Joyce (Independent - Falkirk)Department Debates - View all Eric Joyce's debates with the Cabinet Office
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Eric Joyce Excerpts(14 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Prime Minister
I can absolutely give my hon. Friend that assurance. The Royal Marines have done fantastic work for our country over recent years, not least in Afghanistan. I know how loved they are, not just in the south-west but across the country. There will not be a reduction in their capabilities but clearly, just as with the Army, there will be some regard to ensuring that there are not issues of top-heaviness, if I can put it that way. The Royal Marines are here to stay. They do a fantastic job and will go on doing so—so much so that I have actually employed one as a private secretary.
Eric Joyce (Falkirk) (Lab)
The Prime Minister has mentioned a reduction in service numbers. Can he give us his assurance that that will not involve the use of manning control points as a cheap alternative to proper redundancy payments?