Modernising Defence Programme Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Modernising Defence Programme

Diana Johnson Excerpts
Tuesday 18th December 2018

(5 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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What is clear is that if we want a party that will come to the defence of our armed forces, invest more money in our armed forces and ensure that we continue to keep a nuclear deterrent, it is the Conservative party that will always do that.

Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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The Conservative party has a dogma about outsourcing everything possible to the private sector even when there are clear failures, as there are with the Capita contract around recruitment. So will the Secretary of State admit now that doing that is failing the armed forces and taxpayers?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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We will always look at new models and new ideas for how to deliver the best services for our service personnel, which they rely on so much. We do use outsourcing, as the Labour Government previously did, and we will continue to do so, but we will continue to look at how we drive the best value and, most importantly, the best quality of service.