“It
is deeply concerning that the size of the Army has fallen yet again on this
Government’s watch.

“Since
Michael Fallon became Defence Secretary in 2014, the number of fully trained
soldiers has fallen by over 7,000. That trend is simply not sustainable and it
has very real consequences for the UK’s defence capabilities.

“We
know that satisfaction with pay and service life are some of the biggest
reasons why servicemen and women are leaving the Armed Forces in their droves.

“If
the government was serious about tackling this crisis in recruitment and
retention, they would agree to lift the public sector pay cap to give our Armed
Forces the pay that they deserve.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow
Transport Secretary, commenting on the Government’s scrapping of plans to electrify
the Great Western Mainline between Cardiff and Swansea, said:

“The Tories have been promising the electrification of the Great
Western Mainline from Paddington to Swansea since 2012 and today’s announcement
confirms that they have been taking people for a ride.

“The cancellation of
works means passengers will be denied the faster, greener, more reliable train
journeys they were promised, and South Wales will miss out on the economic
activity that improved rail services deliver.

“The decision betrays
a promise to South Wales and the Transport Secretary sneaking out the news on
the final day before he goes on his summer holidays adds insult to
injury. 

“The Tories do not act
in the interests of the whole UK. They have put their own survival,
finding £1 billion for a deal with the DUP, ahead of everything else
and it’s communities like those in South Wales that pay the price.”

Chris
Williamson MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, commenting on
the Home Office’s statement on adding fire and rescue inspections to HMIC’s
responsibilities, said:

“After
an unclear Home Office statement, Ministers must tell the public exactly what
extra resources, staff and expertise will actually be provided.

“If
today’s statement is really a cloak for cuts to existing fire and rescue
inspectors, and over-stretching the inspectors of the police services, it will
be strongly opposed. The police and the fire service both need expert and
thorough inspection, and the public will be right to demand that they have it.
Labour will oppose any cuts to the inspection regimes under the guise of
efficiency and savings.”

John
Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to the release of new
information on fire safety tests of tower blocks, said:

“Five
weeks on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government’s system of fire safety
checks on tower blocks is not fit for purpose.

“The
latest statement from Ministers, smuggled out yesterday evening as the Commons
finished for the day, confirms that there are still 52 tower blocks with the
same type of cladding as Grenfell Tower that have not been tested. Even worse,
it confirms there are still thousands of other tower blocks around the country
which may not be safe but which Government tests have ignored.

“These
fire safety tests are vital to reassure residents that their homes are safe,
but the testing process to date has failed to do this. The tests are too slow,
too narrow and confused. Residents are still worried and landlords are in the
dark. Secretary of State Sajid Javid must report fully to Parliament tomorrow
before the summer recess and explain how he is going to get a grip of this
mess.”

Kate
Osamor MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, commenting on the
release of the National Audit Office report into aid spending, said: 

“We
should be proud that British aid is transforming millions of lives and working
to make the world more peaceful and secure. This watchdog report shows
that DFID has become a world leader in preventing fraud and managing aid
effectively and transparently. But under this divided Conservative government,
Ministers are fighting each other for control of the aid budget.

“This report highlights
how the ever-increasing proportion
of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) now being spent by
other government departments isn’t subject to the proper scrutiny or effective
management that we know the Department for International Development
(DFID) brings. The Conservative government needs to quickly make sure all
aid spending by all departments meets key transparency criteria and is
subject to scrutiny by Parliament’s International Development Committee." 

"Only a
Labour government will fully protect the independence of DFID and its
world-class expertise and leadership. We will keep to our commitment of
spending 0.7% of national income, and

ensure that
we spend that we do so responsibly and
effectively.”