CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

DEFENCE – REDUNDANCY OF TRAINEE PILOTS - 15 February 2011

DEFENCE – REDUNDANCY OF TRAINEE PILOTS - 15 February 2011

Dr Julian Lewis: On the future loss of so many pilots of fixed-wing aircraft, I am sure that my right hon. Friend would never admit to acting under duress, even if his toenails were being torn out by the Treasury. However, can he at least reassure us that some degree of flexibility in the availability of future fixed-wing aircraft pilots will be preserved, just in case we need them in the next 10 years?

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox): All redundancies will be carried out under the compulsory redundancy process so that we have the correct shape of armed forces – and I can tell my hon. Friend that these days, even the Treasury conforms to the norms of human rights.]