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If you have problems of conduct that are difficult and hard to settle, I will furnish you with solutions, for I not only know matters of practice and duty, but I even know them beforehand.

I am extremely honoured to be the Defence Secretary, and I would not do the job if I did not think that I could make a useful contribution in the role.

I try to do as much as I can for the military.

As PM, you have got to do everything from chairing the Cabinet to ceremonial things. You have also got to do the nitty gritty. I do get stuck into the detail.

I see everything I do as an extension of the ministry. It's all about service.

I don't work hard enough. If I had worked harder I might have been prime minister.

Well, you have a defence attache here, that's a step forward. Your Defence Minister has been here, our defence people have exchanges with you. So friendly relations at the military level are already in existence.

I was not interested in being minister of defense or minister of foreign affairs.

I was Minister for the Armed Forces in the Ministry of Defence for two years prior to being appointed Defence Secretary.