Havant MP Alan Mak has used his first Ministerial meeting to lobby Defence Secretary Michael Fallon MP to maintain the UK’s defences.
At a meeting in the House of Commons on Wednesday 10 June 2015, Mak met Fallon and Philip Dunne MP, Minister for Defence Procurement, to discuss the government’s plans for defence investment during the 2015-2020 Parliamentary session.
Fallon said a Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) would be launched later this year, which would be a “comprehensive review” of the UK’s long-defence needs, including procurement in new equipment and personnel.
Mak was reassured by Fallon that the Government was committed to investing £163BN in military equipment over next 10 years. This includes investment that will pay for:
- two new aircraft carriers,
- 7 hunter killer submarines;
- seven new Astute class submarines
- the new Joint Strike Fighter aircraft; and
- 600 new armoured vehicles.
Fallon also pledged to protect the size of our regular armed forces, and praised Mak’s commitment to supporting our Armed Forces and veterans in his Havant constituency.
Mak hopes to arrange a visit by a Defence Minister to Havant in the near future to meet local veterans and defence contractors.
Alan Mak was Founder, and now President, of the Royal British Legion’s Young Professionals’ Branch, and says defence will be one of his major interests locally and at Westminster, together with the economy, schools and communities.
Alan Mak MP said, “I will always stand up for our Armed Forces and veterans. Havant is home to a large number of military veterans, especially from the Royal Navy, as well as defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin. I got the reassurance from Michael Fallon I wanted: the new Government will continue to invest in Britain’s defences.”
Alan Mak MP continued, “Britain has the best Armed Forces in the world and the second biggest in NATO. We must use the upcoming Strategic Defence Review to ensure we maintain our world-leading position in defence because we live in a dangerous and changing world.”
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