Friday, 24 January 2007

Robert Key says...

The defence of our nation is the first duty of Government. The protection of Britain's interests and trade around the world means we must be prepared to pay for the military forces to do the job professionally. Our security at home from hostile interests is vital. HM Forces are not only the finest in the world, they give us total dedication and outstanding value for money. But there are limits to what we can expect of the men and women of whom we are so proud. They must be equipped with the best kit, trained to fight high-intensity wars as well as to keep the peace, paid properly and housed to a high standard. We must look after the families of those who follow the flag. We must care for them all properly after they have served their country.

This analysis explains how the Conservative Party sees the state of British Armed Forces. Within my Party I have always pressed for more and better spending on Defence in the national budget. As a Member of the House of Commons Defence Committee I actively scrutinise Government policy, spending and procurement and I visit HM Forces to listen to the voices of those in the thick of action.

I never forget that the effectiveness and efficiency of our Forces at the sharp end depends on thousands of scientific, industrial and administrative civil servants as well as thousand more who work in defence-related private industries, many of them in South Wiltshire. They are part of our nation's defence commitment.

Our prosperity and our quality of life depends on all these people - and they must be able to depend on us.

To read the PDF (2.2mb) presentation about the armed forces please CLICK HERE