HC Deb 17 September 2004 vol 424 cc1863-4W
Mr. Wood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely impact of proposed changes in defence speeding on resources available to respond to UK civil emergencies. [189499]

Mr. Ingram

Our White Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities" made clear our continued commitment to supporting the civil authorities charged with the safety and security in the United Kingdom, both through routine tasks and our preparedness to support them in a time of crisis. The changes we have announced, underpinned by the increases in defence spending provided in the 2004 Spending Review, will make our armed forces even more flexible and adaptable.