Defence Equipment and Support Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment and Support

Tobias Ellwood Excerpts
Tuesday 17th July 2012

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Nick Harvey Portrait Nick Harvey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Nobody would suggest that everything that occurred under previous systems was not good. Clearly, there are exemplars—some contracts worked well. I am sure the facility in the hon. Lady’s constituency will be a great success and that it will support employment for many years to come, but the fact that we will have a more private sector-rooted procurement body will not have any negative impact on such contracts.

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con)
- Hansard - -

The shadow Minister spoke of the budgetary challenges facing all Governments, but was quick to gloss over her legacy—the budget was taken away from the MOD by Labour and given to the Treasury. Does the Minister share my surprise at Labour Members questioning the new avenues of efficiency when, if they looked at the National Audit Office major projects report 2010, they would see that the majority of major projects overran, including the A400M, the Astute and the Typhoon?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Order. The question was simply far too long. I do not know why the hon. Gentleman is smirking about it—

Tobias Ellwood Portrait Mr Ellwood
- Hansard - -

indicated dissent.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Order. He has abused his privilege and ought to learn from it.