Ministry of Defence: Expenditure - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 11:07 am on 25 July 2024.

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Photo of Lord Coaker Lord Coaker The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence 11:07, 25 July 2024

The noble and gallant Lord makes an important point. Of course there are competing pressures on any budget, whatever its size, but infrastructure—the hangars, runways and accommodation—is an important consideration. He also makes a point about the level of skills training. He will know, as will many Members in this House, that there are serious skills shortages in all the Armed Forces, and we face a challenge to meet the requirements we have because of that skills shortage. Skills training, accommodation and infrastructure will play an important part in any review that the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, conducts.