, The Defence spokesman for the conservative VVD, Arend Jan Boekestijn, intends to ask Defence Minister Elmert van Middelkoop for clarification of leaked cabinet plans for cutbacks in defence spending during Tuesday's parliamentary question time.
The opposition party is reacting to a story in De Telegraaf about plans for cutbacks in military equipment to free up funding for personnel. The Defence Ministry says it is just exploring options and that the minister has not yet made a decision.
The document apparently talks about dissolving a squadron of F16 jet fighters, reducing the size of two tank battalions and postponing the purchase of Tomahawk missiles.
Mr Boekestijn says the promise of more money for defence contained in the coalition agreement has been undermined by the unforeseen expense of the Dutch mission in Uruzgan.
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