PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Defence Committee
Select Committee op note
Committee Office, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Media Enquiries: Alex Paterson 020 7219 1589 / 07917 488488 Committee contact: Christine McGrane 020 7219 5745
Thursday 09 July 2009
FIRST EVIDENCE SESSION
THE CONTRIBUTION OF ISTAR TO OPERATIONS
On Tuesday 14 July 2009 the Committee will take evidence on its inquiry ‘The Contribution of ISTAR to operations’. The meeting will take place in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House (room subject to change). Oral evidence will be taken from:
At 10.30 am
Ministry of Defence
* Air Vice-Marshal Carl Dixon OBE, Capability Manager (Information Superiority)
* Air Commodore N J Gordon MBE, Air Officer ISTAR in Headquarters 2 Group
* Brigadier Kevin Abraham, Director Joint Capability.
A further evidence session on this inquiry is expected to take place on 20 October
Lords Hansard text for 9 Jul 2009
Armed Forces: Budgets
Question
Asked by Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to allocate the defence budget between military salaries and large defence equipment projects. [HL4829]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of
Bolton):The Defence Plan 2008-12 (Cm 7385), sets out the planned defence budget up to 2010-11 in section IV entitled “The Government Expenditure Plan”. This reflects the outcome of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review and includes a high level breakdown of costs. Copies of The Defence Plan 2008-12 are available in the Library of the House and can also be found at the following link at
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/BusinessPlans/DefencePlans/.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 02 July 2009
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Panther vehicles which are being upgraded for theatre entry will undertake. [281610]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle is a multi-role light vehicle that can be configured as a scout, command or liaison vehicle or as a weapons platform. It will be used in a variety of roles in operational theatres as determined by operational commanders on a case by case basis.
Frigates
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many frigates there are available for use by the Royal Navy for each maritime role. [283654]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Royal Navy has 17 operational frigates: four Type 22s and 13 Type 23s. These are all capable of fulfilling a wide range of maritime roles from high intensity war-fighting to peacetime patrolling. Specifically eight are configured with anti-submarine warfare and four with command and control and specialist capabilities.
India: Military Aircraft
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with his Indian counterpart on India’s combat aircraft project. [283589]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Secretary of State for Defence currently plans to visit India later this year, when he will discuss matters of mutual interest.
Japan: Military Aircraft
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with his Japanese counterpart on Japan’s plans to increase its number of fighter jets. [283584]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The former Secretary of State for Defence met Defense
Minister Hamada in February at the 45th Security Policy Conference held in Munich where they discussed, among other issues, Japan’s future fighter programme plans. A Defence ministerial visit is planned for later this year which will look to further UK-Japan co-operation and bilateral defence exchanges.