BATTLESPACE BOOK CLUB

Overseas Territories: Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) Report
The FAC published (6 Jul 08) a Report on Overseas Territories, which are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena with Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Comment: There is much in the Report which is of interest to the Defence community, particularly relationships with Ascension Island and with the British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia). The Report is published as HC 147-1, for £20:00.

09 Jul 08. European Military Capabilities: Dossier. The International Institute for Strategic Studies published (9 Jul 08) a Strategic Dossier on European Military Capabilities – Building Armed Forces for Modern Operations. The 41 countries which make up the European Union, NATO and Partnership for Peace membership are covered by the dossier.
Comment: Many in the Defence community will find the dossier a useful addition to their reference libraries. The publication can be bought from IISS at 13 Arundel Street, London, WC2R 3DX (Tel: 020-7379 7676). The cost is £10:00 for IISS members and £20:00 for others, with an extra £2:00 for postage within the UK and £5:00 for the rest of the world. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0828, 14 Jul 08)

Jul 08. PUBLICATION OF REPORT ON ARMS EXPORTS. The Committees on Arms Export Controls will be publishing its First Report of Session 2007-08, ‘Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2008): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2006, Quarterly Reports for 2007, licensing policy and review of export control legislation,’ (HC 254) on Thursday 17 July at 00.01 a.m.
Embargoed copies of the Report will be available to witnesses and members of the press on Wednesday 16 July at 11.00 a.m. from the reception desk, 7 Millbank SW1A 3JA. These must be requested in advance from the Committee Assistant (Tel: 020 7219 6123). Embargoed copies will also be placed in the Press Galleries. Members of the press who wish to receive an electronic advance copy should contact the Media Office on 020 7219 1589.
Further copies may be obtained from the Stationery Office (Tel 0845 702 3474) and will be available on our website at the address below soon after
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/arms_committees.cfm

17 Jul 08. Publication of the Defence Committee’s Fifteenth Report of Session 2007-08: UK operations in Iraq and the Gulf
The Defence Committee will be publishing its Fifteenth Report of Session 2007–08, UK operations in Iraq and the Gulf, HC 982, on Tuesday 22 July at 00.01 am, with embargoed copies available from 11.00 am Monday 21 July 2008.
The Committee was nominated on 13 July 2005. The Defence Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies.
Specific Committee Information: Tel 020 7219 5745, email: defcom@parliament.uk
Committee Website: http://www.parliament.uk/defcom