Speeches by Twigg.

“Do you have any idea what the number of job losses or lack of opportunities to create jobs has been because of this delay at the moment? You have mentioned examples. Has there been any study or survey about that?”

“The Secretary of State is right to draw to attention to the fact that when he became Secretary of State, our armed forces were underfunded and very stretched. He and his team and the Government have done much to improve that, including bringing about additional funding for the armed forces. However, I am concerned that…”

“Order. Members can see that the debate is heavily subscribed, so it will be difficult to get every Member in. I am going to impose a two-minute limit to start. It is not in my gift to stop this, but if Members take interventions, that may further restrict the time that people have to speak. That is in your gift.”

“I think that the Member has finished speaking.”

“Order. Unfortunately, we are now going to have to move to a time limit of a minute and a half. I am still trying to get everybody in.”

“Order.”

“I remind hon. Members that they may make a speech only with the prior permission of the Member in charge and the Minister. As is the convention for 30-minute debates, there will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up.”

“Order.”

“Order. I reiterate that there is a strict two-minute time limit on speeches.”

“Will you remind us: what was the original timescale for it being delivered?”

“What is the current situation? What is the timescale? Is it still going to be done? Is there still going to be an end product, or is it all caught up in the defence investment plan?”

“So you say Wedgetail is a technology issue?”

“I do not think it means you.”

“I am conscious of the time.”

“There is also the cost, of course, which we will come on to in a minute and which I am not going to delve into. It is a serious issue. I will revert to the programme. Given what is going on in Iran and the strait of Hormuz, I note that one of the projects that is marked in red is the minehunting capability. That is a b…”

“One of the suspicions is that that is a reason for the delays, because there are real issues about affordability and the ability to deliver.”

“You are saying that, from now, these problems will not exist any more.”

“So why are we still struggling on communications and software systems—”

“Sorry, I just want to cut this down, because you spoke before about how you are driving simplicity. Coming back to that mantra of yours, there are serious issues with Defence Nuclear at the moment.”

“To follow on from Mike Martin’s question, we talk about reviews and everything that has been reviewed, but last year the MoD announced that it was going to accelerate the acquisition processes. It mentioned a number of things, and I will not go into the major platforms, but it said: “upgrades to communications and weap…”