Armed Forces Redundancies Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence
Tuesday 22nd January 2013

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Mark Francois Portrait Mr Francois
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Yes, I will attempt to keep my hon. Friend in touch, as he requests. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were affected in tranches 1 and 2. Tranche 3 relates solely to the Army.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

How many additional special forces does the Minister foresee being needed in the light of yesterday’s statement by the Prime Minister?

Mark Francois Portrait Mr Francois
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

We are normally slightly circumspect about commenting in the House of Commons on special forces, and particularly on special forces operations, for reasons that the House will understand very well. In principle, however, as we look to rebalance the size of the armed forces—both regular and reserve—we will clearly look at our special forces requirements in the light of that exercise.