All 1 Debates between Laura Sandys and Liam Fox

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Laura Sandys and Liam Fox
Monday 14th March 2011

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Laura Sandys Portrait Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con)
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13. What resources his Department has allocated to strategic planning in 2010-11.

Liam Fox Portrait The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox)
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At departmental level, strategic planning is overseen by the director general, strategy. He has 51 military and 75 civilian staff, and an overall budget for 2010-11 of some £12 million. If my hon. Friend is interested, I recommend that she should read the excellent report by the Select Committee on Administration.

Laura Sandys Portrait Laura Sandys
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I have certainly read the executive summary. Does the Secretary of State agree that we should continue to maintain a focus on building our risk assessment strategic planning and scenario capacity, to ensure that we can anticipate the future in a changing environment and the threats to our national interest?

Liam Fox Portrait Dr Fox
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My hon. Friend is entirely right, and that is why in the strategic defence and security review we chose an adaptable posture for the UK’s defence and security. We specifically rejected the concepts of fortress Britain or an over-committed Britain, which would result in a lack of agility. The events of recent days have shown how unpredictable the external environment can be. That is why we were correct to maintain that flexibility and agility in our armed forces.