Dec 09. The Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC)Select Committee Announcement. UK ARMS EXPORTS UNDER SCRUTINY. Members from four influential select committees will gather together on Wednesday 16 December to take evidence at two sessions on the Government’s policy on the export of arms. The defence manufacturers and exporters will give evidence at the first session at 0930hrs. Amnesty UK, Oxfam GB and Saferworld will give evidence at the second session which starts around 1030hrs. This will be the first time that the Committees have met to take evidence as part of their current inquiry into strategic export controls announced on 23 October. The witnesses:
Representatives of Industry: at 09.30 in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Mr David Hayes, David Hayes Export Controls, Chairman of the Export Group for Aerospace and Defence (EGAD)
Mr Brinley Salzmann, AeroSpace, Defence and Security Group (ADS), Secretary of EGAD
Mrs Susan Griffiths, MBDA Missile Systems
Mr Barry Fletcher, Fletcher International Export Consultancy
Non-governmental organisations: at approximately 10.30 in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Mr Oliver Sprague, Amnesty UK
Ms Katherine Nightingale, Oxfam GB
Mr Roy Isbister, Saferworld
House of Lords Written Answers for Thursday 10 December 2009
Asked by Earl Attlee
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the role and establishment of (a) the FV430, and (b) the Bulldog, range of armoured vehicles in the British Army. [HL355]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect on the combat effectiveness of a British armoured or mechanised brigade if it had no FV430 or Bulldog range of armoured vehicles. [HL356]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The role of the FV430/Bulldog is to provide protected transport for up to 10 soldiers, with weapons and equipment in battlefield conditions. Vehicles have also been adapted to provide engineer support, communications, recovery and repair and ambulances. The FV430 is being phased out to meet automotive legislation and a proportion of the fleet is being converted into Bulldog. The intention is to convert 900 FV430 into Bulldog. To date we have completed 744 conversions. Bulldog is an important part of the vehicle inventory. Without it all Mechanised Brigades would be ineffective, and all Armoured Brigades would be without combat support. Bulldog is not currently deployed in Afghanistan, but it performed well in Iraq. Land operations in Afghanistan mainly require light role forces, hence the temporary re-roling of four infantry battalions from the mechanised and armoured roles. Bulldog’s utility on operations is continually considered but it is currently not the best solution for the specific protection and mobility requirements of operations in Afghanistan.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 09 Dec 2009
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to implement the Afghan Public Protection Programme in Helmand province. [304369]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply. We are fully aware of the Afghan Public Protection Force project being piloted in Wardak province with the help of the US. We welcome the principle of empowering individual communities to take a greater role in providing their own security. We will remain in close contact with the Afghan Government and the US on its progress and look forward to discussing the results of this pilot with them in due course. Only once the pilot has been rigorously evaluated will any decisions on expansion, including to Helmand, be taken.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion of armed forces personnel who deploy to Helmand province equipped with a cricket box for groin protection; and if he will make a statement. [304726]
Mr. Kevan Jones: All of the protective personal equipm