Defence Responsibilities

Debate between Frank Roy and Liam Fox

Monday 10th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his very kind words. We will continue to focus on those issues because we cannot afford not to. They are literally a matter of life and death and they have to be what we give our greatest attention to. These political matters are matters of extreme discomfort for those of us in the firing line and for our families; however, we have to recognise that the trials and tribulations that we face in public life are nothing compared with the threats facing those in our armed forces.

[Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)]

The Secretary of State has just told the House that Mr Werritty had no access to confidential material. The House knows that the Secretary of State’s diary is highly confidential. Has the Secretary of State ever shown Mr Werritty a copy of his diary, or discussed what was in his diary?

[Dr Fox]

As I have said, it is entirely appropriate for Ministers to show anybody they like what is in their diary. What is not acceptable, under departmental rules, is for the Department to release a diary to any third party when that is not agreed by a Minister. However, because of the question that the hon. Gentleman raises, I have instructed the Department not to release any part of my diary, on paper, to any individual—friend or otherwise.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Frank Roy and Liam Fox

Monday 4th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The new operating model incentivises delivery by accountable senior leaders. We understand entirely the need for the transformation process to be rigorous and for the reforms to be pushed through. I assure my hon. Friend that we will give all the energy required to ensure that that happens.

[Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)]

How many people will be made redundant as a consequence of the Levene report?

[Dr Fox]

The original numbers for a reduction of 25,000 in the civil service took into account what we estimated would be some of the reductions under the Levene proposals.