[Several hon. Members rose –

Mr Speaker: I call the good doctor, Dr Julian Lewis.]

Dr Julian Lewis: Thank you, good Speaker. Will the Secretary of State confirm that the service provided by BBC Monitoring to open-source intelligence is of vital interest to the MOD? Does he agree that it would be totally unacceptable if the BBC inflicted swingeing cuts in the Monitoring service, as is proposed, including the closure of Caversham Park?

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon): It is always good to be able to find common ground with my right hon. Friend on a defence matter. I certainly confirm the first part of his question, and I will do what I can to convey the gist of the second part to the BBC, too.

Mr Speaker: Very prudent and wise of the Secretary of State, I am sure.]