11 May 07. Future Rapid Effect System (FRES): Response to Report. The Defence Committee published (11 May 07) the Government’s Response to the Report on the FRES programme (which had been published as HC 159 on 21 Feb 07). The Government Response acknowledges that “the FRES Concept Phase was too long” but claims that progress was now being made. The MoD expects to announce the outcome of the vehicle-proving trials in November 2007.
Comment: The Response should be read in conjunction with the original Report: the two documents telling a depressing tale of indecision and time wasting. Meanwhile, money is being spent on armoured vehicles for Afghanistan and Iraq in an ad hoc manner. The Committee intends to take further evidence on the FRES programme after the Parliamentary Summer Recess.
Defence Committee publications are available on the Internet (at www.parliament.uk/defcom). Printed copies of the Response are available from TSO and from The Parliamentary Bookshop (Tel: 020-7219 3890) as HC 511. (See: MoD ADMITS THAT FRES HAS TAKEN TOO LONG, By Julian Nettlefold, Editor, BATTLESPACE, below.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0719, 14 May 07)