Defence Spending
A bill which aims to enshrine in law a coalition pledge to spend 0.7 per cent of the gross domestic product on aid is to be debated in the House of Lords today in a bid to protect Britain’s defence budget by tying it to overseas aid. The Times and The FT report that a growing number of MPs and Lords are voicing anxiety about cuts to the defence and foreign office budgets.
The Defence Secretary Michael Fallon recently said:
Defence spending under this Government continues to give the UK the second largest defence budget in NATO and the largest in the European Union. We are committed to spending 2% of GDP on Defence with decisions on spending after the financial year 2015/16 to be determined in the next spending review.
We are investing over £160Bn on equipment and support over the next 10 years which will provide new strike fighters; more surveillance aircraft; hunter killer submarines; two new aircraft carriers; the A400Ms transport aircraft and the most advanced armoured vehicles – all of which will keep Britain safe.
The UK continues airstrikes and training to combat ISIL in Iraq – carrying out the second highest number of airstrikes after the United States – and has 750 military personnel deployed toSierra Leone to help fight Ebola. The UK remains a truly global military power with more than 90,000 servicemen and women deployed last year on more than 300 commitments in 50 countries.
Russia
It is reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to turn off Russia's gas supply and plunge British homes into a deep freeze. The Daily Star reports that he is demanding advance payments from Ukraine for its gas amid a ceasefire between the two countries.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has today announced the appointment of David Mitchard as its new Chief Executive under the Strategic Business Partner contract with Capita. David is currently the Managing Director of Air Tanker Ltd, which manages the Ministry of Defence PFI contract for the Voyager, the RAF’s new generation multi-role tanker transport aircraft.
Image of the day
![HRH Prince Edward has presented Afghanistan Operational Medals to soldiers of 2 Rifles who have just returned to their barracks at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn and the end of key deployment establishing the UK’s ongoing commitment to the region following the ending of combat operations. The soldiers have spent the last six months in both Kabul providing security and at Camp Souter closing down the base which had been an operational centre since 2002. [Picture: Crown Copyright]](https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/142/2015/02/2-Rifles-web.jpg)
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