WEAVER Vale MP Graham Evans has welcomed the publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review – hailing the Prime Minister’s statement as “a comprehensive plan to back our Armed Forces, counter-terrorism police and intelligence agencies with the resources they need.”
Mr Evans said in recent months, security services have foiled seven planned terror plots on UK soil.
He said: “The first and most important job of any Government is to keep its people safe. This is vital at a time when the threats to our country are growing as we have seen so horrifically when 130 people were so brutally murdered on the streets of Paris.
“Britain is fortunate to have some of the finest Armed Forces, counter-terrorism police and security services in the world. Using our renewed economic strength, we will equip them to defeat the terrorist threat and help keep us safe for generations to come.”
Mr Evans said the government t’s plan to invest £178 billion in defence over the next decade, includes:
*Creating two new strike brigades with forces of up to 5,000 personnel each who will be fully equipped to deploy rapidly and sustain themselves in the field.
*Increasing the size of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force by a total of 700 personnel.
*Renewing the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent – the “ultimate insurance policy”.
*Investing in nine maritime patrol aircraft to protect the nuclear deterrent, hunt down hostile submarines and enhance maritime search and rescue.
*Extending the life of the multi-role Typhoon for 10 extra years through to 2040, creating two additional squadrons.
*ccelerating the F-35 programme, by buying 42 jets by 2023.
*Investing £1.9 billion over five years in cybersecurity.
The MP added: “These investments are an act of clear-eyed self-interest to ensure our future prosperity and security.
“The Prime Minister could not have been clearer in his statement, our national security is ultimately dependant on our economic security. By working through our long-term economic plan to create a stronger economy, we are now in a position to invest further in our security.
“The first duty of any government is to keep the nation and our community’s safe – that is why this investment is fantastic news for the people of Weaver Vale. I am proud that we are the only major country in the world which is simultaneously going to meet the NATO target of spending two per cent of our GDP on defence and the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of our GNI on development, while also increasing investment in our security and intelligence agencies and in counter-terrorism.
For more Frodsham news, click here
http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/category/news/frodsham-life/
