Jim Cunningham
Main Page: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)Department Debates - View all Jim Cunningham's debates with the Ministry of Defence
(8 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley) (Lab)
3. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the planned 30% reduction in his Department’s civilian workforce on front-line service personnel.
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)
10. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the planned 30% reduction in his Department’s civilian workforce on front-line service personnel.
Mark Lancaster
No, I do not, because the savings of approximately £300 million that we will be able to make will ultimately be reinvested in front-line capability.
Mr Jim Cunningham
Does the Minister think that expertise may be lost as a result of the cuts to the civilian force?
Mark Lancaster
Under the “whole force” approach, we have tried to find the balance both between regular and reserve service personnel, and between MOD civilians and contractors. This is a mix that successive Governments have followed. We try to use the right people in the right place at the right time.