PAUL Keetch coined an interesting phrase in the latest defence questions session in the Commons: "Bangs for our bucks".

It could have meant a good many things, but was actually a reference to the way Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon spends his cash.

He believes the important thing is for Britain to spend its money on something it can actually use - rather than things which sit around gathering dust.

The Lib Dem Defence spokesman asked Mr Hoon: "Does he not agree that Europe already spends half what the United States spends on defence, but gets nowhere near it in terms of bangs for our bucks?

"The important thing is not how much one spends on defence, but what one spends it on."