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Business of the House

The hon. Gentleman knows full well that we have regular defence debates. Although they are given particular titles, the underlying arrangements have never changed, whereby right hon. and hon. Members can contribute across the range of defence issues. That has always been the practice. Debates on defence take place more regularly than those on most other subjects. There was an opportunity for discussion in the Chamber when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made a statement on the deployment to Afghanistan, so I do not accept that there are no opportunities for Members to raise those issues. They are important and are discussed on a regular basis.