Dr Lewis was introduced by the Chairman Sir Ron Halstead.
He explained that the members of the Shadow Defence Team were effectively 'ghost' defence ministers – they have no executive power and are not supported by a panoply of civil servants. It is a challenge to hold the Government to account with such limited resources on the Opposition side.
Michael Ancram is stepping down as Shadow Defence Secretary. [He has now been succeeded by Liam Fox.] Dr Lewis’s brief includes the Royal Navy and the issue of whether or not to replace the Trident nuclear deterrent.
All Shadow Teams focus heavily on (i) asking parliamentary questions and (ii) contributing to debates. However, although many important questions are asked and points made, they are seldom reported by the press. The only regular coverage is by 'sketch-writers' who tend to be arbitrary and highly selective.
The technique of a written question:
- Not argumentative
- Factually phrase a question
The future of aircraft carriers of the UK: These were nearly abolished by the Labour Government of Harold Wilson and survived only because of the development of the Sea Harrier which could take-off from, and land on much smaller vessels. There are grave doubts that the two new large carriers will come in on time.
The replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent: The average life-span is thirty years, so the Trident submarines are approaching their halfway point. Given the time it takes to design and construct new ones, the Government is seriously considering now what to do at the end of the life of Trident, despite opposition on its own backbenches to any replacement. This will be a major controversy in the fairly near future, but the inability to predict the threats we shall face between 2025 and 2055 makes the continuation of a deterrent essential.
On a lighter note, Dr Lewis concluded that time spent in Opposition is good Parliamentary training, but that 12 years' training will be more than enough for him and his colleagues by the next General Election in 2009 or 2010!