As one of the Defence Ministers at the time, let me say that it was a most unpleasant experience, as a Conservative, having to make cuts in our armed forces. However, the truth was that the Budget deficit we inherited of £156 billion was itself a threat to our national security. We had to take action. Sadly, defence had to take some of those cuts. Where would the hon. Lady have made cuts, if not in defence?
Report of the Iraq Inquiry
Proceeding contribution from
Gerald Howarth
(Conservative)
in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 13 July 2016.
It occurred during Debate on Report of the Iraq Inquiry.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
613 c330 
Session
2016-17
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Librarians' tools
Timestamp
2022-08-30 10:15:45 +0100
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