Overseas Aid and Defence Expenditure Debate

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Department: Department for International Development

Overseas Aid and Defence Expenditure

Lord Boyce Excerpts
Monday 13th November 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bates Portrait Lord Bates
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The noble Lord is absolutely right and we share that concern. It is a joint commitment, which had widespread support on all sides of the House when it went through. We can stick to the legislation and be proud of it because we are saving lives.

Lord Boyce Portrait Lord Boyce (CB)
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My Lords, if the Minister believes that there is no problem with the defence budget, why at the moment are illustrative savings being looked at, for example to close out an Army brigade, do away with the Army Air Corps, and completely undermine and shred our amphibious capability?

Lord Bates Portrait Lord Bates
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The noble and gallant Lord will be aware that a national security capability review by the national security adviser is under way. As part of that all options are being looked at, as he would expect when a review takes place, but no decisions have been made at present and the comments on the budget remain.