Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): I warmly congratulate my right hon. Friend, together with his colleagues in the Ministry of Defence-civilian, political and military-on a remarkable achievement. Will he tell us whether, in light of the decks having been cleared, It is his intention to start work now on the preparatory work for the next strategic defence review, which comes along much quicker than one thinks?

The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP; Secretary of State for Defence: I can tell my right hon. Friend that work is in hand. A body within the Department is already sitting and considering issues that need to be brought to the fore and thought through for the next strategic defence review. The five-yearly cycle will allow us to look at the strategic changes during it, while making tactical decisions within the five-year period to manage the budget and the programme.