Oral Answers to Questions

Frank Dobson Excerpts

Monday 5th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Robathan]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question. I should declare an interest, in that I am an armed forces pensioner—under the 1975 scheme, I think. I am not entirely clear about the question, so perhaps he could write to me with the details, and I will certainly respond to him.

[Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)]

16. What role he will play in the appointment of a new Chief of the Defence Staff; and if he will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox)]

The outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff provides an assessment of his potential successors, together with his recommendation. I then discuss the recommendation with him and my Defence Ministers, before making a recommendation to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, the approval of Her Majesty the Queen will be sought.

[Frank Dobson]

Once the appointment is announced, will the Government ensure that both the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister make it clear that they support the new appointment, and do not indulge in the spectacle of competitive briefing, claiming that they were the individual who got rid of the predecessor?

[Dr Fox]

No, I can confirm that we will break the precedent set by the former Government, and that we will indeed give full support to whomever is chosen as the candidate.