Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was criticised yesterday for speaking out against welfare spending — preferring instead to invest £3.5 billion in nearly 500 armoured vehicles.

As today’s opening of the Nato summit in Newport approached, Mr Fallon signed the single largest Ministry of Defence order for 30 years.

The 589 “digitised” Scout tanks will be equipped with a 40mm cannon and will be used in surveillance and reconnaisance.