mr john baron (basildon and billericay)>> i very much associate myself with the remarks of my right honorable friend regarding lord frank field, who was a good man. i very much welcome the government™s firm commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030. it is something that will send the right message to our allies and potential adversaries alike, and it is something on which the 1922 defence committee has been campaigning for a little while. however, would my right honorable friend do what he can to ensure that some of that increased money is spent on additional recruitment”including, if necessary, increasing wages sufficiently”to ensure that the navy can manage ships, the air force can maintain its aircraft and the army can dominate ground? deputy pm dowden: i know what a staunch advocate my honorable friend is for the armed forces and for funding the armed forces. all of us can take great pride that we are putting the resources in to meet the challenges that the nation is likely to face over the next five years. we will be working through the allocation of that, but i