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Ministry of Defence

Any debate that has the word ““defence”” in it usually ends up being wide ranging and the situation is no different today. We have covered quite a gamut of subjects, but there has been a core to the debate. I will do my best to reply to all the points that have been raised. It is always useful in a winding-up speech to be able to say, ““If time permits,”” but I am conscious of the fact that there is quite a lot of time available, which will mean that I may have to expand on some answers because I do not have answers to other points. Let me just make this point in passing to the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire (Mr. Arbuthnot), who opened the debate. It was not long ago that he was a Minister. I suppose that if he had laid down new reporting procedures for the Department when he was there, this debate would be taking place in a different context. Only he can say why he did not think it necessary at the time to push for that. However, the Committee has raised issues that have provoked debate on matters of interest, which I will seek to address—perhaps not wholly satisfactorily today, but I will indicate the way forward on that. I also thank him for the considered way in which he opened the debate. He could have taken longer, as it turned out, and helped me by leaving a shorter time for my winding-up speech. His favourable comments on the role of the Defence Procurement Agency—there is also the Defence Logistics Organisation, which he did not mention—in the processing of urgent operational requirements were well made. Those organisations work extremely hard. The issue is not just about those who are seeking to purchase; as he knows only too well, it is also about those who are seeking to deliver. Sometimes the industry is in-house, sometimes it is external, but it really delivers for us in these times of urgent need. I will deal with the key elements of the report. I want to deal with two major contributions, although I will try to deal with all the contributions. I welcome the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey) to his new role. This is a more substantial debate than he experienced in his early introduction to that role. He should keep a close eye on the Order Paper because he is likely to be busy in the period ahead and he may reflect on why he took on such a task. I do not underestimate the massive learning curve experienced by all of us who become engaged in defence, but if that means that there is an opportunity to score political points off him, I will. I was not clear whether he supports the expenditure that we are now committing to the conflict in Iraq.