Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence
Monday 13th July 2015

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Of course, repetition is not a novel phenomenon in the House of Commons.

Simon Hoare Portrait Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con)
- Hansard - -

T6. Does my right hon. Friend agree with my analysis that the very welcome investment in both Typhoon and the joint strike fighter to provide the Royal Air Force with the best aircraft possible is a direct result of, first, a growing economy and, secondly, sorting out the basket case of an MOD budget that we inherited?

Philip Dunne Portrait Mr Dunne
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My hon. Friend lights on a very important point—that defence plays a part in the prosperity of this nation. ADS, the trade association, has estimated that some £22 billion of economic activity is attributable to the defence industry and it employs some 200,000 people in this country. The combat jet component of that is significant.