I said that.

I said that.

I will not give way; I do not have time. I think that the three hon. Gentlemen on the Conservative Front Bench argue their point of view quite sincerely, because all three are strong advocates of the armed forces and supporters of the defence sector, but they will come up...

I will not give way; I do not have time. I think that the three hon. Gentlemen on the Conservative Front Bench argue their point of view quite sincerely, because all three are strong advocates of the armed forces and supporters of the defence sector, but they will come up...

As usual, the debate has been wide ranging. The contributions were not only well informed but covered interesting subjects. Today, on the Conservative Front Bench we saw the neo-cons versus the Cameroons. The hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) is a strong advocate for the nuclear deterrent—I would...

As usual, the debate has been wide ranging. The contributions were not only well informed but covered interesting subjects. Today, on the Conservative Front Bench we saw the neo-cons versus the Cameroons. The hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) is a strong advocate for the nuclear deterrent—I would...

I will not. The hon. Member for Woodspring touched on the subject of mental health, which was also mentioned by the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey). The hon. Member for Woodspring asked whether the issue was at the centre of the Ministry of Defence's concerns. I am determined...

I will not. The hon. Member for Woodspring touched on the subject of mental health, which was also mentioned by the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey). The hon. Member for Woodspring asked whether the issue was at the centre of the Ministry of Defence's concerns. I am determined...

I am sorry, but I will not. The hon. Member for Woodspring raised the issue of decompression. Every time I have been to theatre, I have asked about the issue. I was in Afghanistan a few weeks ago and asked again whether the decompression period was long enough. It is...

I am sorry, but I will not. The hon. Member for Woodspring raised the issue of decompression. Every time I have been to theatre, I have asked about the issue. I was in Afghanistan a few weeks ago and asked again whether the decompression period was long enough. It is...

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....

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 hon. Lady's point was that the vehicles were being used in convoys, and that that is not the purpose for which they were designed. I was in Afghanistan three weeks ago and saw convoys crossing deserts, wadis and other difficult terrain. It is simply not the case that these...

The hon. Lady's point was that the vehicles were being used in convoys, and that that is not the purpose for which they were designed. I was in Afghanistan three weeks ago and saw convoys crossing deserts, wadis and other difficult terrain. It is simply not the case that these...

The hon. Lady misunderstands the nature of the convoys that take place in Helmand province. They go over not tracked and tarmacked roads, but wadis, deserts and difficult terrain, which is the function that the vehicle is designed to carry out.

The hon. Lady misunderstands the nature of the convoys that take place in Helmand province. They go over not tracked and tarmacked roads, but wadis, deserts and difficult terrain, which is the function that the vehicle is designed to carry out.

I recognise the problem of PTSD, but does the hon. Gentleman not recognise that the number of people involved is small? It is higher among those deployed, as we would expect, but the important thing is to ensure that we do not confuse the broader issue of the mental health...

I recognise the problem of PTSD, but does the hon. Gentleman not recognise that the number of people involved is small? It is higher among those deployed, as we would expect, but the important thing is to ensure that we do not confuse the broader issue of the mental health...

Debate to consider the matter of defence in the UK.

Debate to consider the matter of defence in the UK.

I am listening carefully to my hon. Friend. I have an unfortunate problem in that I have seen this from both sides; that includes tabling amendments to the Select Committee report on this subject. Does he recognise that the report said that one of the problems could be found within...

I am listening carefully to my hon. Friend. I have an unfortunate problem in that I have seen this from both sides; that includes tabling amendments to the Select Committee report on this subject. Does he recognise that the report said that one of the problems could be found within...

indicated dissent.

indicated dissent.

Debate on a motion to consider the matter of defence in the UK.

Debate on a motion to consider the matter of defence in the UK.

I am sad to hear about the case to which the hon. Gentleman refers. Would he send me the details of it, so that I can take it up?

I am sad to hear about the case to which the hon. Gentleman refers. Would he send me the details of it, so that I can take it up?

As I said to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), if my hon. Friend has specific cases that she wants me to consider, please will she feed them through to me and I will look at them?

As I said to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), if my hon. Friend has specific cases that she wants me to consider, please will she feed them through to me and I will look at them?

I start by associating myself with the expressions of sympathy to those who have fallen over the summer and those who have been injured in the service of their country. I thank everyone for their kind words during the debate, although I am not sure how long they will last,...

I start by associating myself with the expressions of sympathy to those who have fallen over the summer and those who have been injured in the service of their country. I thank everyone for their kind words during the debate, although I am not sure how long they will last,...

As the hon. Gentleman says, it will be the only time. I also thank everyone for the kind letters that I have received, including one from a member of the Defence Committee, which said, ““Your moving on is a little like toothache: you miss it when it's gone.”” I also...

As the hon. Gentleman says, it will be the only time. I also thank everyone for the kind letters that I have received, including one from a member of the Defence Committee, which said, ““Your moving on is a little like toothache: you miss it when it's gone.”” I also...

I fully support what is being done, because we need to balance the urgent operational requirements and the kit that we are now buying with the longer-term decisions. That is correct, but may I ask the Minister's civil servants—his Department—to hold their hands up for once and say that things...

I fully support what is being done, because we need to balance the urgent operational requirements and the kit that we are now buying with the longer-term decisions. That is correct, but may I ask the Minister's civil servants—his Department—to hold their hands up for once and say that things...

Does the Minister agree that the decisions outlined by the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) are for commanders on the ground, not politicians sat in the comfort of this Chamber? If my right hon. Friend or any other Minister in the Ministry of Defence were to intercede in these...

Does the Minister agree that the decisions outlined by the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) are for commanders on the ground, not politicians sat in the comfort of this Chamber? If my right hon. Friend or any other Minister in the Ministry of Defence were to intercede in these...

When the permanent secretary gave evidence to the Defence Committee, I predicted that the defence industrial strategy and the tempo of change in the procurement process would not survive the departure of Lord Drayson. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that prediction has come true?

When the permanent secretary gave evidence to the Defence Committee, I predicted that the defence industrial strategy and the tempo of change in the procurement process would not survive the departure of Lord Drayson. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that prediction has come true?