PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Feb 09. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION
Foreign Affairs Committee
Select Committee Announcement
GLOBAL SECURITY: AFGHANISTAN
Wednesday 25 February 2009
The Committee will hold its first evidence session in its inquiry into Global Security: Afghanistan on Wednesday 25 February at 2.30 pm.
As part of its overall inquiry into Global Security, the Committee will examine the current security situation in Afghanistan and related areas in Pakistan, as well as the key strategic issues relating to Afghanistan from a British perspective.
Wednesday 25 February 2009
At 2.30pm
Colonel (retired) Christopher Langton, Senior Fellow for Conflict, the International Institute for Strategic Studies
Theo Farrell, Professor of War, Dept of War Studies, King’s College, London
At 3.30pm
Dr Shaun Gregory, Pakistan Security Research Unit, University of Bradford
Sean Langan, British journalist and documentary film-maker
The meeting will take place in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House.
Lords Hansard text for 9 Feb 2009
Written Answers
Monday 9 February 2009
Armed Forces: Equipment
Asked by Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the portable Bowman radios indicate the level of charge remaining in the batteries without the need to remove the batteries. [HL879]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor
of Bolton): Bowman radios are either very high frequency (VHF) or high frequency
(HF) units; a separate battery type is used for each.
The VHF Bowman radio can be equipped with a key display unit (KDU) that enables
the user to check the battery level without having to remove it.
This facility is not available for the Bowman BF radio. Therefore, it is not
currently possible to check the charge level of the battery without
disconnecting it from the radio manpack.
In the future, it is intended to introduce an audible alarm for both the VHF and
BF Bowman radios that will inform the user when the battery has dropped to a
specific charge level.
Lords Hansard text for 5 Feb 2009
Thursday 5 February 2009
Armed Forces: Equipment
Asked by Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Clansman radio system has been fully replaced in the British Armed Forces with Bowman equipment; and, if not, when that replacement will be completed. [HL877]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The Regular element of the Armed Forces and Territorial Army units with an operational role have been converted from Clansman to Bowman while other
lower priority units have retained Clansman as a temporary measure, in order to
sustain low-level training and core skills. On current plans, it is intended
that Bowman will have fully replaced Clansman by the end of 2011.
Asked by Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the operational capability of Bowman equipment in Afghanistan. [HL878]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Bowman has proved to be very capable and a vast
improvement over the family of Clansman radios it has replaced. In the
challenging terrain and conditions of Afghanistan, Bowman is providing secure
voice communications between widespread units across the country. This is an
enhanced capability over that provided by Clansman.
Asked by Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the weight is of the portable Bowman VHF pack, including batteries; and whether there are plans to reduce it. [HL880]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: There are two primary types of in-service very high frequency (VHF) Bowman portable radio. The MoD designation PRC 354, including battery, has a total weight of 3.38 kg. The PRC 355, including battery, has a total weight of 4.88 kg, excluding headset. There are no plans to reduce the weight of the radios or indeed the batteries, as there are currently no suitable lighter a