This in today's (28 Feb) Telegraph:
Sir - Lord Bach criticises Nicholas Soames for his observations on the failures in the Government's defence procurement record (letter, Feb 24). But it is the constitutional duty of the Opposition to look through and brush aside the smokescreen of half-truths and selective "good news" to which defence ministers so regularly resort.
Over the past eight years, the Government has squandered taxpayers' money, diverting £1.7 billion of the MoD's finances into uncontrolled equipment projects - enough to cover the annual cost of 40 regiments. That, along with the Chancellor's refusal to fund the Armed Forces adequately for the tasks the Prime Minister gives them, is why there have been so many recent cuts, and such dangerous ones.
Lord Bach repeats that the Government intends to build the two new aircraft carriers. We welcome this intention - but are concerned that it remains no more than an intention. The Landing Ship Dock contract may well work, but only at a 32 per cent cost over-run.
The Conservative Party is more than happy to make the management of defence procurement an election issue - as well as the inadequacy and misdirection of defence spending generally.
Lord Astor of Hever, Shadow Defence Minister, House of Lords, London SW1