Royal Naval Deployment: Mediterranean Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Royal Naval Deployment: Mediterranean

Alex Chalk Excerpts
Monday 7th March 2016

(8 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alex Chalk Portrait Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con)
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The Royal Navy deployment that was announced today will turn up the heat on the traffickers and help to keep migrants and asylum seekers safe. Does not our ability to take these steps, alongside our other commitments, underscore why it is right to increase defence spending for each year of this Parliament?

Michael Fallon Portrait Michael Fallon
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Yes, it does. The Royal Navy itself is the biggest beneficiary of the increase in defence spending that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in his July Budget, and of which we gave more details in the strategic defence review. Defence expenditure will start to rise again in three weeks, for the first time for six years, and will continue to rise in every year of the current Parliament. That is because we are putting the public finances that we inherited in order, and because we are running a strong economy.