Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he plans for the (a) Chief of the Defence Staff and (b) single service chiefs of staff to play in negotiations about the size of the defence budget in the next Spending Review. [184238]

Mr Philip Hammond: Negotiations for the next spending review will be led by the Permanent Secretary and the Director General Finance.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will play a key role in preparations for the spending review both as the most senior military adviser to the Secretary of State and as a member of the Defence Board. The Single Service Chiefs of Staff will also have an important role, and input their views to CDS as members of the Armed Forces Committee.

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