23 Nov 10. Defence Industrial & Technology Policy (DITP): Ministerial Speech. The Defence Equipment Minister delivered (23 Nov 10) a speech at Chatham House on the role of science and technology in Defence.
Comment: The speech can be found on the MoD website (www.mod.uk). DITP is replacing the Defence Industrial Strategy. A Green (discussion) Paper is anticipated for 16 Dec 10, to be followed by a public consultation period until 31 Mar 11. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/46, 29 Nov 10)
24 Nov 10. Nimrod R1 Aircraft: Replacement. The Lords’ Defence Spokesman said (24 Nov 10) that the capital cost of procuring the Rivet Joint fleet is around £650m. Estimated logistic support costs up to 2025, including regular capability updates, are £590m.
Comment: The then Defence Secretary announced on 22 Mar 10 that agreement had been reached three days earlier with the US Government for the purchase of three new Rivet Joint aircraft and associated ground systems, for monitoring enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum. One Nimrod R1 was retired in October 2009 and the remaining two are due to leave in March 2011. The UK’s first Rivet Joint is expected to enter RAF service in 2014, with the others following in 2015 and 2016. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/46, 29 Nov 10)
19 Oct 10. Future Reserves 2020 (FR20): Review Starts. As announced by the Prime Minister (19 Oct 10), FR20 is to be a fundamental review of the Reserve Forces’ role and structure. The study is being organised in three phases, with an announcement of findings in Summer 2011. “FR20 aims to align the Reserves to new strategic Defence policy, ensuring [that] they are correctly structured, supported and resourced to meet the challenges of the future” according to the MoD (26 Nov 10).
Comment: FR20 is being led by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, with
Mr J Brazier as his deputy. Mr Brazier is a Member of Parliament and a former Territorial Army Officer. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/46, 29 Nov 10)
Nov 10. Parliament: Timetable. Parliament will rise for the Christmas Recess on Tue 21 Dec 10 and return on Mon 10 Jan 11. Parliament will rise again for the February Recess on Thu 17 Feb 11 and return on Mon 28 Feb 11. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/46, 29 Nov 10)
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Nov 2010
Defence
Armed Forces: Mental Health Services
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects his Department to complete its plans to implement the in-service elements of the recommendations of the Murrison Report; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the plans. [25616]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence’s business plan commits the Department to develop its plans to implement the in-service recommendations made by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) in his report “Fighting Fit” by December 2010. Copies were placed in the Library earlier this month and
it is also available on the MOD’s website:
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/88EA12B8-E08F-4EE4-9963-AFF82DBC665B/0/20101108_mod_business_plan_final.pdf
A summary of progress with the main recommendations is as follows.
The King’s Centre for Military Health Research has secured funding for research aimed at identifying a possible screening tool for post-traumatic stress disorder. We aim to carry out a three-month trial of the processes for introducing enhanced mental health surveillance during routine medicals, starting in April 2011. Within the same time scale, we will be enabling access to military departments of community mental health for personnel leaving the armed forces for up to six months following discharge. Finally, the development of an online early intervention portal for both serving personnel and ex-service personnel is being led by the Department of Health, with full assistance from MOD.
We are examining the best way to ta