Extract from Commons
statement on the Modernising Defence Programme
(Barrow and Furness)
(Ind): The Secretary of State is right to push for more
creativity in thinking about the future capability of our
underwater environment, but is it not time for him to confirm
that that will be based on a submarine platform?
The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin
Williamson): The hon. Gentleman tempts me to do so, but
it is fair to say that our investment in submarines is currently
vast, involving both the Astute and Dreadnought programmes. We
want to think about innovation, and how we can best tap into the
skills that are held by BAE Systems and the people of Barrow to
develop the platforms that will succeed Astute, and we hope to be
able to update the hon. Gentleman and the House on how we expect
to do that in the not too distant future...
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Extracts from
Lords statement on the Modernising Defence Programme
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)
(Con):...The noble Lords, Lord and Lord Campbell, asked
about the additional money we were granted in the Budget. The
first thing to say is that the additional money granted to us
this year and next will enable us to proceed with programmes that
we are clear are priorities. One of these is our defensive cyber
programme; another is stockpiling and spares. A further priority
is the work we are doing at pace on offensive cyber. The money
will also enable us to proceed with a more cost-efficient
profiling of payments relating to the Dreadnought programme.
More generally, the money is excellent news for our modernisation
programme in a number of areas. The report spells those out. Some
would say that the significant thing about the Budget settlement
is that we are not anywhere near making or talking about the
kinds of cuts to military capability that some commentators were
predicting earlier in the year. That sends an important
message...
(Lab):...The reality is that numbers count, but that is
not my point. I feel this is rather a damp squib, to be quite
honest, and so was the Statement in July. It is full of
platitudes—motherhood and apple pie-type statements. There are
lots of things that I would expect to be going on anyway. If they
were not, somebody ought to be taken out and shot. It is really
very disappointing. The good thing is that the Secretary of State
for Defence managed to get £1.8 billion extra for defence, which
was fantastic, and he has managed to kick into touch, or into
next year, when the really interesting things will happen in the
spending review decisions about defence. Not long ago, it looked
as if decisions would be made to cut things that would have been
quite disastrous for the nation, so he has managed to slip that
sideways. To be quite honest, this Statement is not exciting. It
is like a glossy brochure, as the noble Baroness said, and I find
that very disappointing. The £1.8 billion figure has been talked
about before. The £800 million was for Dreadnought and has been pulled
forward. We were told that the £1 billion was
for Dreadnought, anti-submarine warfare and
cyber. It seems that some of this has been purloined for other
things. I will be interested in how much of it is for
anti-submarine warfare, which is what was mentioned by the
Secretary of State when he said we have an extra £1
billion...
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