Monday Volume 530 4 July 2011 No. 181 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 4 July 2011 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 1205 4 JULY 2011 1206 Dr Fox: The new operating model incentivises delivery House of Commons by accountable senior leaders. We understand entirely the need for the transformation process to be rigorous and for the reforms to be pushed through. I assure my Monday 4 July 2011 hon. Friend that we will give all the energy required to ensure that that happens. The House met at half-past Two o’clock Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): How many people will be made redundant as a consequence PRAYERS of the Levene report? Dr Fox: The original numbers for a reduction of [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] 25,000 in the civil service took into account what we estimated would be some of the reductions under the Levene proposals. Oral Answers to Questions Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire) (Con): When will the Ministry of Defence’s three-month review of procurement projects report? Will it, as the name implies, take three months? If so, when did it begin? DEFENCE Dr Fox: We are approaching the end point of that The Secretary of State was asked— review, and it will certainly be in the next few weeks. There are a number of complex issues to sort out, as my right hon. Friend understands, not least how to go Defence Reform about setting a long-term budget that allows the MOD to plan with certainty. When we have finished those 1. Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) (Con): What deliberations, we will make them known. progress his Department is making in implementing the recommendations of Lord Levene’s report on defence Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): The Secretary of reform. [63132] State is aware that the decision on military basing is imminent and that an all-party submission has called The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox): for the retention of RAF Lossiemouth as an air base on Before I answer my hon. Friend’s question, I confirm to defence and security grounds. He is also aware of the the House that a British serviceman is missing in unique economic threat to the economy of Moray and Afghanistan and that an extensive operation to locate the north of Scotland of a double base closure. Will he him is under way. The individual was based in central take this opportunity to say when he will make a Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours of statement to the House on the military basing review? this morning. His next of kin have been informed and will be updated as the operation continues, so no other Dr Fox: I fully understand all the hon. Gentleman’s family need be concerned. I recognise that there will be arguments. As I have always said, we regard the military many questions, but speculation on an issue of this elements as having paramount importance, but we nature is unhelpful. I urge restraint from colleagues and understand the other elements. Having taken a number the media, and assure the House that the United Kingdom of the key decisions over the weekend, I hope that we and the international security assistance force are taking will make progress very shortly. all necessary and appropriate action. In answer to my hon. Friend, all parts of the Ministry Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): I warmly commend of Defence, civilian and military, are committed to my right hon. Friend for the determination he is bringing making the reforms happen, and some have already to bear to push through the Levene reforms. Does he been put in place. I have chaired the first meeting of agree that one of the most important issues affecting the new Defence Board; we have introduced the new the three services is the need for “purple” command and infrastructure organisation and corporate service models; control and for decisions to be taken on a tri-service and the new Defence Business Services organisation basis, and that that should be pushed through? stands up today. We will put all the other elements in place as quickly as possible. Lord Levene’s recommendations Dr Fox: That is the natural way in which defence is will mean the biggest change to the MOD in a generation. developing in this country, as in others. We wanted to It will take time to do it all and get it right. set up the joint force command to carry that process forward in a constructive and transparent way. It will Matthew Hancock: As a member of the Public Accounts also, as I said in my statement to the House, allow Committee, I know that our reports have frequently career progression right up to four-star level for those shown that attempts to reform the MOD have failed who might not get preferment through the traditional through lack of consistency and leadership, and that as single-service structure. It is therefore not only good for a result the Secretary of State is having to deal with the defence but is a thoroughly meritocratic reform. shambles that he inherited. Will he assure me that he will not make the same mistakes as the previous Mr Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire) (Lab): I associate Government, and instead see through the radical reform the Opposition with the Secretary of State’s comments that is needed? about our missing soldier in Afghanistan, and I appreciate 1207 Oral Answers4 JULY 2011 Oral Answers 1208 the fact that he took the time to brief me personally it is too early for planning. The situation in Libya could earlier this afternoon. We all know that our forces are go on for some time yet, but equally the forces of the both brave and brilliant, and this is a reminder of the uprising could be in Tripoli at any time. Is he seriously daily danger they face. The Opposition, the entire House suggesting that we still have to wait to plan for the and, more importantly, everyone in the country, regardless conflict’s aftermath? I do not think it is going to be like of their view on the conflict in Afghanistan, will wish what happened in Tunisia—it will be a lot more difficult the Government and our forces well in rescuing this than that, and somebody will have to provide some individual soldier. support. Will the Secretary of State assure us that not a penny piece that is currently planned for supporting the operation Dr Fox: A great deal of planning, looking at a range in Afghanistan will be affected by the implementation of scenarios, is being undertaken by the National Security of the recommendations of the Levene report? Council and across Whitehall Departments, and a range of important discussions are being held with our allies, Dr Fox: Yes, I can give the right hon. Gentleman that not least at the large gathering of military leaders in assurance. We have ensured that nothing in our military London last week. We could well see the collapse of the planning, nothing that we are doing in Libya and nothing Libyan regime over a short period, but it could take that is happening financially will in any way undermine some considerable time yet. I am afraid that I think it is our operations in Afghanistan. unlikely that the opposition forces will enter Tripoli in the near future. Post-conflict Security (Libya) Middle East and North Africa 2. Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East) (Lab): What role he expects his Department to play in establishing post-conflict security in Libya. [63133] 3. Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox): middle east and north Africa; and if he will make a We are in discussions with Whitehall colleagues, statement. [63134] international organisations and allies regarding a post- conflict solution in Libya. It is too early to speculate on 8. Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): what might be required and who might be involved. What recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the middle east and north Africa; and if he Mr Crausby: Can the House be assured that the plan will make a statement. [63140] for peace in Libya will be as robust as the plan for war? Is the Secretary of State absolutely certain that we will 16. Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): What recent not underestimate the size of the task in the way that assessment he has made of the security situation in the pretty well everybody did in the case of both Iraq and middle east and north Africa; and if he will make a Afghanistan? statement. [63149] Dr Fox: The hon. Gentleman asks a key question. The Minister for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey): As How the transition occurs is of key importance. If there the Foreign Secretary has said, demands for greater is some political settlement and an orderly handover to political, social and economic participation will continue a new authority in Libya, the chances of maintaining in the middle east and north Africa. We assess that the order are much greater. We are working towards that security situation will remain fragile unless Governments with the contact group and others, and it makes sense in the region work to fulfil the aspirations of their for NATO and the United Nations to plan for all people.