Modernising Defence Programme Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Modernising Defence Programme

Robert Courts 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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We have made clear that we are not looking at making capability cuts in the MDP; we have been looking at how we invest in our armed forces and new capabilities.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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The Secretary of State is right that retention is a challenge. Mindful of the use of reservists at Brize Norton, particularly in the AirTanker programme, will he consider expanding the use of reservists in the RAF?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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We always look at how we can expand the use of reservists. Their use is critical to what we do in so many of our defence functions, and we should not see them as separate from what our armed forces do; they are absolutely critical and will always be so.