Minister calls for budget to rise

The Armed Forces minister, Nick Harvey, has called for the defence budget to rise in real terms after 2015 if the UK is to meet the aspirations set out in the defence review.

His comments on Radio 4's Today programme came as the Defence Select Committee rejected David Cameron's assurance that the UK has "full spectrum" capability.

Mr Harvey said the Chancellor, George Osborne, has already committed £3bn to a programme that allows the Ministry of Defence to start placing equipment orders now.