Re-Shuffled Cabinet Welcomed By Aerospace & Defence Industry

The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) has today welcomed the Cabinet re-shuffle. SBAC has called on the new Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, to maintain the current policy on airport expansion and the new Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, John Hutton, to re-start the stalled process around the Defence Industrial Strategy.>> On the appointment of Geoff Hoon at the Department for Transport Matthew Knowles, spokesman for the SBAC, said:>> "Ruth Kelly was a robust Secretary of State for Transport who put the interests of the nation and its future economic growth above party political or local interests. We are sorry to see her go. We welcome Geoff Hoon to the post and trust that the Government's policy on aviation will not be postponed or diverted due to misinformation from the industry's opponents.>> On the new Defence Secretary Mr Knowles said:>> "The defence of the realm is the prime responsibility for Government and we look forward to working closely with the new Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton, with whom we have enjoyed a good relationship in his previous role at BERR. This appointment is particularly welcome as John Hutton has an excellent track record of engagement and co-operation with industry. Industry will ask the new Secretary of State to inject new urgency into developing the Defence Industrial Strategy, which has been largely stalled this year putting at risk the UK defence industrial base that supports our Armed Forces.