Economic Situation

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 13 July 2009.

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Photo of Alan Reid Alan Reid Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland), Shadow Minister (Scotland) 2:30, 13 July 2009

What assessment he has made of the effect on UK defence expenditure and capabilities in the long term of the current financial situation.

Photo of Bob Ainsworth Bob Ainsworth The Secretary of State for Defence

The available resources for defence expenditure are set during spending rounds. The most recent comprehensive spending review set the Department's budget for the financial years 2008 to 2011. The Department's expenditure plans after 2010-11 are not yet agreed. We review the detailed allocation of the defence budget during regular planning rounds to ensure that we match available resources to defence priorities and commitments.

Photo of Alan Reid Alan Reid Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland), Shadow Minister (Scotland)

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. We recently found that the carriers would require an extra £1 billion. Can he tell us whether the Government are fully committed in all circumstances to a like-for-like replacement for Trident and to two new aircraft carriers and, if they are, what their strategy is for ensuring over the next 20 years that the Ministry of Defence can provide the resources required to ensure that our troops are fully equipped for all the challenges that they face?

Photo of Bob Ainsworth Bob Ainsworth The Secretary of State for Defence

There seems to be a little contradiction between the hon. Gentleman and Danny Alexander, who is sitting right next to him-

Photo of Bob Ainsworth Bob Ainsworth The Secretary of State for Defence

Indeed, and this is not unusual.

As I have just said, we are committed to Trident and to the carriers. There has been an increase in the programme costs of the carriers, as Mr. Reid suggests, but we are committed to both projects.