Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Walney Excerpts
Monday 27th November 2017

(7 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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My right hon. Friend always speaks with a high degree of common sense and truth. I pay tribute to him for the work he has done for the Ministry of Defence. I agree with his assessment, because ultimately a Government will be judged on how they defend the nation.

Lord Walney Portrait John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op)
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Maintaining capabilities is as important as creating them, so how much will it cost to upgrade the nation’s docking facilities now that it is necessary to refuel all the Vanguard submarines, which was not originally planned, alongside deep maintenance to the Astute class? Who will pay for that?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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We are working with our industrial partners on that, including Babcock, and looking closely at what the costs will be. I am unable to reveal those costs to the House at this moment, but that body of work is continuing.