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Defence Reform Bill

I recognise some of the hon. Gentleman’s concerns, but does he not see that this is a long-term project? By accepting the substance of new clause 1, what we have put in place is a mechanism by which there will be an annual independent report, which will be laid before Parliament and which we fully expect to give rise to a debate. That will allow the progress of this programme to be tracked over many years. New clause 3 would create a one-off hurdle, which sends a negative signal now. That is not an equivalent provision.