Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts
Monday 24th November 2014

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Mr Graham Allen. Not here.

Jim Cunningham Portrait Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)
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T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Michael Fallon Portrait The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon)
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My immediate priorities remain our current operations in Afghanistan and against ISIL and Ebola as well as the commitments reached at the NATO summit and the delivery of Future Force 2020. I want to build up our reserve forces and invest in the equipment that our armed forces need to keep Britain safe.

Jim Cunningham Portrait Mr Cunningham
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Has the Secretary of State noted the comments made today by the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Sir Peter Luff) who said that he is very disappointed

“that there appears to be no public dialogue about the Strategic Defence and Security Review in advance this time round?”

Why are the Government so reluctant to have an open and transparent debate about the future of Britain’s defence?

Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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There certainly will be a public dialogue and debate about the security review, but the review is planned for next year, and it would be premature to start it before then.