Defence Reform Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Defence Reform

Bob Russell Excerpts
Monday 27th June 2011

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Liam Fox Portrait Dr Fox
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But of course this is not a process that is run by the CDS. As part of the defence board, we have purposely set up the chiefs of staff committee so that the views of the chiefs of staff can be discussed collectively before the defence board and reflected to it by the CDS, not formulated unilaterally by the CDS.

Bob Russell Portrait Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)
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The Secretary of State referred to a “radical new approach to the management of defence” and a “new, leaner defence board”. In that spirit, how many ministerial posts are going to be axed?

Liam Fox Portrait Dr Fox
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As my hon. Friend knows, it is not for me to determine the number of Ministers in Her Majesty’s Government. What we have said, however, is that when we have had time to address the Levene report in greater detail, we may well look at the designation of Ministers— their titles and specific roles—to see whether we can bring the organisation of the ministerial team better into line with the organisation of the Department.