Feb 10. Parliament: Spring Half-term Recess. The House of Commons and the House of Lords are to rise on Wed 10 Feb 10 and return on Mon 22 Feb 10. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 10/05, 01 Feb 10)
04 Feb 10. Defence Committee Select Committee op notes.
1. Readiness and recuperation of the Armed Forces: Looking towards the Strategic Defence Review
The Defence Committee will publish Readiness and recuperation of the Armed Forces: looking towards the Strategic Defence Review, HC 53, on Wednesday 10 February at 00.01 am, with embargoed copies available from 10.00 am on Tuesday 9 February 2010.
2. EVIDENCE SESSION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Afghanistan and The Green Paper. On Tuesday 9 February 2010, the Committee will take evidence from the Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, Secretary of State for Defence, at 10.45 am in Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster. Accompanying the Secretary of State will be Jonathan Day, Director General Security Policy, and Lieutenant General Simon Mayall, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operations). The purpose of the session will be to examine a number of key issues relating to the UK presence in Afghanistan. The Committee recently visited UK forces in theatre and a copy of a letter from the Chairman of the Committee to the Secretary of State concerning what the Committee saw while it was there is available on the Committee’s website http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/100202_Letter_from_Chairman_to_SofS.pdf
The Committee will also use this session to explore the recent Green Paper, published on Wednesday 3 February 2010, ahead of the expected Strategic Defence Review.
Lords Hansard text for 2 Feb 2010
Armed Forces: Body Armour
Question
Asked by Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many sets of Osprey Assault body armour will be issued this year to British service personnel in Afghanistan. [HL1479]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Osprey body armour is provided to all personnel on arrival in Afghanistan. The Osprey Assault variant is being issued to all dismounted close combat personnel, and approximately 5,000 sets have already been issued. Exact numbers are being withheld for reasons of operational security.
Lords Hansard text for 28 Jan 2010
Armed Forces: A400M
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many months of the delay in the A400M aircraft programme up to 31 December 2009 they attribute to the consortium not ordering engines from Pratt and Whitney. [HL1301]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of the cost overrun in the A400M programme up to 31 December 2009 they attribute to the consortium not ordering engines from Pratt and Whitney. [HL1302]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and
Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): It is not possible to answer these Questions as Pratt and Whitney did not win the competition, so it is not possible to know whether they would have been able to deliver the engines within agreed time and cost envelopes.
Asked by Lord GilbertTo ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the position of the Government of Germany as regards ensuring the A400M aircraft complies to all specifications on capabilities in the original contract; and whether their position conforms with that of the Government of Germany. [HL1321]
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice officials are giving to Ministers about the position of the Government of Germany as regards the funding of the A400M aircraft programme. [HL1322]
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice officials are giving to Ministers about the position of the Government of Germany as regards the specifications of the A400M aircraft programme. [HL1323]
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice officials are giving to Ministers about the position of