The headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in London is colloquially known as The Kremlin. For decades the West had little idea of what was going on in the Moscow version.

Now we’re wondering what’s happening in the MoD Main Building opposite Downing Street and just off Whitehall.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox appears to be so out of line with what David Cameron wants to do with the defence budget that the Prime Minister has commandeered his place at the Commons dispatch box next Tuesday when the details of the Strategic Defence and Security Review are announced.

Mr Cameron has also appointed his own personal military adviser, Colonel Jim Morris of the Royal Marines, making him the first PM since Sir Winston Churchill to create such a post.

Does he not trust the advice that Dr Fox and the Chief of the Defence Staff are giving him?

Critics say that the SDSR has been rushed and isn’t a defence review at all but is driven by the need to cut the deficit.

If that’s the case, Mr Cameron is playing a very dangerous game. It was Adam Smith who said the first duty of the sovereign was to protect society from the violence and invasion of other independent societies.

That duty, he said, could only be performed by military force.

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One man who will be watching very closely what emerges from the defence review is Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who has been campaigning ever since he entered Parliament for the training expertise to be found at RAF Cosford to be retained.

Since Cosford lost out under the Labour government to St Athan in South Wales to be the centre for the tri-service defence training academy, one hitch after another has dogged the project, not least the spiralling cost.

Opponents led by Mr Pritchard said the academy should be brought into the SDSR reckoning, and if the St Athan academy does get the chop next Saturday, we might forgive the Shropshire MP a smile of satisfaction, while, of course, understanding Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan’s scowl of disappointment.

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Following the party conference season, the House of Commons is in the middle of a frantic fortnight which will end in Chancellor George Osborne giving details of the Government’s comprehensive spending review next Wednesday.

It has meant extended sittings on several days, and plenty of work for the whips behind the scenes.

Government whip Philip Dunne said: “It’s one of the busiest fortnights for a long time. The late night sittings have made it feel a bit like the old politics.

“From our perspective, it’s all about the Government getting on with difficult decisions,” added the Ludlow MP.

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The first ever female Speaker’s Chaplain, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, was inaugurated at St Margaret’s Church opposite the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

The bidding was given by Canon Andrew Tremlett, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret’s. He was initially recommended for the prestigious role but was rejected by Commons Speaker John Bercow in favour of Mrs Hudson-Wilkin, vicar of a parish in East London.

Also there was Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who has considerable affection for St Margaret’s which is known as the parish church of the House of Commons.

“It currently needs £2 million for refurbishment,” said the Tory MP, who has been lobbying against any move to scrap VAT refunds for church repairs.

“I was glad to be able to be there to support the new chaplain on Tuesday.”

The chaplain’s duties include leading prayers in the chamber before each sitting of the Commons. The prayers are held behind closed doors before the public and press are allowed in.

But not everyone who attends prayer sessions are there to seek spiritual guidance or comfort. Putting down a prayer mat entitles an MP to keep that place on the green benches for the rest of the day.

“Attending prayers is not always a sign of religious belief, but a means of getting a decent seat,” Mr Pritchard observed.

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The Speaker is surrounding himself with women certainly in the traditional daily procession from his apartments to the Commons chamber.

In front of him walks the Serjeant at Arms, Jill Pay, and imediately behind come the Rev Hudson-Wilkin and his secretary, Kate Emms.

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Speaker Bercow gave the new Leader of the Opposition a helping hand at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.

Just as Mr Miliband appeared to be stuck for words at the dispatch box, Mr Bercow intervened with one of his frequent (and tedious) calls for MPs to calm down. At that point there just happened to be very little noise.

Not that Mr Miliband needed any help. His first appearance in his new role was confident and self-assured, and had David Cameron rattled.