Cameron: National security depends on economic strength

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 12:00 AM

David Cameron makes his statement on the completion of the strategic defence and security review to the House of Commons:

"This is not simply a cost-saving exercise to get to grips with the biggest budget deficit in post-war history.

"It is about taking the right decisions to protect our national security in the years ahead.

"Our national security depends upon our economic strength and vice versa.

"Over four years the defence budget will rise in cash terms and fall by only eight per cent

"Even after this review we expect to continue with the fourth largest military budget in the world.

"I want to be clear there is no cut whatsoever in the support for our forces in Afghanisatan.

"This review sets out a step change in the way we protect this country's security interests.

"From a Ministry of Defence that is too big, too inefficient and too overspent to a Department that is smaller, smarter and more responsible in its spending.

"From a strategy over-reliant on military intervention to a higher priority on conflict prevention.

"We were left a situation where we had a budget £38 billion overspent armed forces at war, overstretched, under-equipped and ill-prepared for the challenges for the future.

"I believe we have begun to deal with all these things sorting out the legacy and fitting Britain's defences for the future."

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