Oct 09. FIRST EVIDENCE SESSION, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
On Tuesday 10 November 2009 the Committee will take evidence on its inquiry ‘Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts’. The meeting will take place in Committee Room 16, The Palace of Westminster (room subject to change).
Oral evidence will be taken from:
At 10.30 am
Ministry of Defence
* Sir Bill Jeffrey, Permanent Under Secretary
* Jon Thomson, Finance Director.
A further evidence session on this inquiry is expected to take place on 24 November.
Oct 09. DEFENCE COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO DEFENCE EQUIPMENT
In July the Defence Committee announced that it is undertaking an inquiry to examine aspects of the MoD’s Defence Equipment programme. It expects to follow up areas of weakness and poor performance identified in its last Report, Defence Equipment 2009 (HC 107), which was published earlier this Session. The Committee intends to focus on armoured vehicles and the future of the FRES (Future Rapid Effect System) programme, strategic air-lift and maritime capability. The Committee would welcome written evidence to the inquiry on these or any other issues related to defence equipment. Written evidence should be sent to the Clerk of the Defence Committee by Friday 13 November 2009
Defence Equipment evidence sessions
On Tuesday 1 December 2009 the Committee will take evidence on its inquiry ‘Defence Equipment’. The meeting room will be confirmed at a later date. Oral evidence will be taken from:
At 10.30 am
Ministry of Defence
* General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue, Chief of Defence Materiel
On Tuesday 8 December 2009, the meeting room will be confirmed at a later date:
At 10.30 am
* Witnesses to be confirmed
On Tuesday 15 December 2009, the meeting room will be confirmed at a later date:
At 10.30 am Ministry of Defence
* Quentin Davies MP, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support
At 3.30 pm
* Bernard Gray
At 4.30 pm
* Lord Drayson, Minister for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Oct 2009
Chinook helicopters
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the HC3 Chinook helicopters to enter operational service with the Royal Air Force; and how many such aircraft are involved. [295211]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The first of eight reverted Mk3 Chinooks will be made
available to the Joint Helicopter Command before the end of this year, with the remaining seven being delivered by the end of 2010.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Oct 2009
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce vehicle-mounted radar devices to armed forces vehicles in order to detect improvised explosive devices. [295685]
Mr. Quentin Davies: A range of equipment is in service to counter the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and mines, but no single piece of equipment can provide complete protection. While it is impossible to protect troops from every eventuality, we do everything possible to tackle the risks posed by IEDs, both in terms of equipment capability, but also the critical areas of tactics and training. I cannot go into the specific details of technical solutions such as electronic counter-measures as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the operational security of our armed forces.