I thank Alun Davies for that question. He draws attention to a very important point. Wales is 5 per cent of the UK population, yet we provide 9 per cent of serving personnel, and we have 2.5 per cent of them based here in Wales. So, we contribute nearly twice our population share, and yet we have half our population share in terms of the basing strategy of the armed forces. I have raised this directly—I’m sure others have too—with UK Ministers who are responsible for the UK Government’s integrated review, which they are currently carrying out. I think they’re right to be concerned about that review. The future of the Brecon barracks is not settled. There is a very important army presence in west Wales, which we know is—well, let’s put it no more than 'under consideration' as part of that review.

The current UK Government talks a lot about its commitment to the United Kingdom. One of the bits of the glue that holds the United Kingdom together, I believe, is that we have a common set of armed forces across the whole of the UK. It’s therefore, I think, incumbent upon the UK Government to demonstrate to all component parts of the United Kingdom that they get a fair share of the practical impact of those armed forces in the four nations. Wales doesn’t have that at present, I believe. I hope the integrated review will help to put that right. Alun Davies asked about a Government statement, and I’m happy to say that we would be prepared to make such a statement once the results of the integrated review are published, which are expected this autumn.