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Defence in the United Kingdom

My hon. Friend and neighbour makes a good point. It again highlights the difference between the Minister’s rhetoric and the reality on the ground. The Minister rightly said that equipment is important. One fifth of our tanks and a quarter of our surface ships have gone, as have 130 of our aircraft. Is that what he meant when he proclaimed that"““we must ensure that the armed forces are well equipped to do the job””?—[Official Report, 31 October 2002; Vol. 391, c. 1032.]" It is not only the reserves but the regular forces that have had difficulty in recruitment and retention. The total intake for the three services, if we stop being selective about one or two Scottish regiments, has seen a steady drop in numbers, while the total outflow of United Kingdom regular forces has been increasing. That is the reality.