11 Nov 10. Foreign Affairs Committee Select Committee Session. EVIDENCE SESSION – WILLIAM HAGUE. THE UK’S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN. Monday 15 November 2010, The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House. At 2.00 pm
* Rt Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State, and
* Karen Pierce CMG, Director South Asia and Afghanistan, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
This is the fourth and last evidence session for the Committee’s inquiry into the UK’s Foreign Policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. The session will focus on the Government’s approach towards Afghanistan and Pakistan.
03 Nov 10. Northern Ireland: Debate. The House of Commons debated (3 Nov 10) the Report on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. The Northern Ireland Secretary introduced the debate and noted that the Inquiry had taken 12 years and cost nearly £192m. The Minister wished to record the key finding that there had been a “serious and widespread loss of fire discipline” by members of Support Company of [1st Bn] The Parachute Regiment.
Comment: Lord Saville’s Inquiry into the circumstances that led to the killing of 13 civilians in Londonderry on 30 Jan 72 was published on 15 Jun 10, as HC 30. DNA commented at the time that the Inquiry made grim reading for the Army in general and the Parachute Regiment in particular. The above debate is recorded in Hansard for 3 Nov 10, starting at Column 951. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/43, 8 Nov 10)
02 Nov 10. Industrial and Technology Policy: Timetable. The Defence Equipment Minister gave a speech (2 Nov 10) marking the start of a consultation process covering Defence industrial and technology policy. The Minister confirmed that a Green Paper is to be published by the end of 2010 . The discussion document will be followed by a consultation period in the New Year and publication of a White Paper (policy document) in Spring 2011. The White Paper is to set out the Government’s Defence Industrial and Technology Policy for the five years until the next Strategic Review.
Comment: A copy of the Minister’s speech is available to subscribers, on request. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/43, 8 Nov 10)
09 Nov 10. Defence Committee Select Committee evidence session. ORAL EVIDENCE: OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, Wednesday 17 November 2010. The Wilson Room, Portcullis House. Witnesses: At 2.30 pm
* General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE, Commander in Chief Land, and former ISAF deputy Commander, MoD
* Brigadier Simon Levey, Director Royal Armoured Corps, and formerly part of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan, MoD
* General (rtd) Graeme Lamb, KBE CMG DSO