No RAF freebies for you! Defence chief ’s blast at Chancellor
‘Expect the Treasury to pay on time’
THE Defence Secretary escalated a row with the Chancellor last night as he declared ministers who do not pay for VIP trips on RAF jets ‘don’t get to use them’.
Gavin Williamson made the remarks after Philip Hammond was banned from using a fleet of RAF aircraft this week because the Treasury owes a six-figure sum over previous flights he has made with No 32 Squadron.
Defence officials were said to have been ordered to refuse any more travel requests until the bill is settled, amid a growing spat between the pair over defence cuts.
Mr Hammond hit back last night by appearing to suggest Mr Williamson has yet to get to grips with the complexities of the defence budget. He insisted he was a ‘great champion’ of defence spending.
In relation to the row over the Chancellor’s use of MoD aircraft, Mr Williamson yesterday said the Ministry of Defence was ‘very fiscally responsible’ and that ‘if you are going to be using services you’re having to make sure that you are paying for those services – if you are not paying for them, you don’t get to use them.’
He added: ‘Obviously departments have to pay their bills and I’m sure the Treasury will have paid their bills. You wouldn’t expect the Treasury to be late payers. ‘
‘But if people aren’t paying for the services they don’t get to use the services do they? You would expect all government departments, the Treasury of all, to pay their bills on time.’
The ban came days after allies of Mr Hammond mocked Mr Williamson’s inexperience in defence matters and compared him to Private Pike from sitcom Dad’s Army. Then it was claimed Mr Hammond, who served as defence secretary from 2011 to 2014, had told the Prime Minister that the Army needs as few as 50,000 troops.
The claims came amid reports the Defence Secretary and Mr Hammond are locked in a briefing war over defence spending.
Mr Williamson is preparing to fight the Treasury for up to an extra £ 2billion a year for the armed forces to prevent a series of cuts as part of a defence review.
Giving evidence at a Treasury select committee yesterday, Mr Hammond appeared to ridicule Mr Williamson.
He said: ‘I expect that once he has had a chance to understand the situation in the Ministry of Defence and to get his head around the defence budget the new Defence Secretary will be wanting to come and talk to me and he will find no one more sympathetic to the challenges of defence than me.’
He added: ‘There is no greater champion of defence than me. I was defence secretary for almost three years. I’m a huge advocate for our armed forces.’
Mr Hammond said rumours about the defence budget being cut were untrue, and that it was in fact being increased.
The Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary and Brexit Secretary all have permission to use a fleet of RAF aircraft, which operates out of RAF Northolt.
Mr Hammond has used BAe 146 jets and A109 helicopters from the squadron on more than 20 official business trips this year. Some journeys are thought to have cost up to £20,000 each.
He has taken flights to Manchester, Brussels and Frankfurt. It is believed the total bill that he owes the MoD for the trip is a six-figure sum.
But although all other departments have covered the costs, the Treasury is yet to pay up for Mr Hammond’s travel.
This is understood to be because of ‘ administrative’ issues and the payment will be paid imminently.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there was an ‘administrative discussion’ going on between the Treasury and the MoD over the issue and it was being resolved.
He added: ‘My understanding is the Chancellor used a Government jet yesterday.
‘I gather there is an administrative discussion going on. This matter is being resolved.’
It is understood Mrs May is ready to meet Mr Williamson and Mr Hammond as early as next week to discuss the state of the armed forces.
A national security capability review that is being overseen by the Cabinet Office is due to be published early next year.