---

Defence in the UK

I am surprised by what the hon. Lady is saying, because I know that, like me, she is something of an armoured-vehicle anorak. She is aware of the range of vehicles currently in operation in Afghanistan that the Government provided—indeed, during our last debate she congratulated the Government on them. The ultimate decision on the ground, however, is for individual commanders. It would be wrong of any politician, including me, or of anyone else to start to direct what our commanders should do operationally and which equipment they should use. They have a range of equipment, which is there to be used.