23 Jun 11. Defence Committee. Select Committee ORAL EVIDENCE:
The Military Covenant in action?
Part 1: military casualties
Wednesday 29 June 2011
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (room subject to change)
Witnesses:
At 2.30 pm
*Major General (rtd) Andrew Cumming CBE, Controller
*Commodore Paul Branscombe CBE, Deputy Controller (Services Support)
*Mrs Cathy Walker, Deputy Controller (Branch Support), Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)
*Air Vice Marshal (rtd) Tony Stables CBE, Chairman, The Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO)
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Thursday 23 May 2011
Belize: Military Aid
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what helicopter support is available to support British military training in Belize.
Nick Harvey [holding answer 22 June 2011]: 25 Flight Army Air Corps (25 Flight AAC) currently operates three Bell 212 helicopters in support of the British Army Training Support Unit, Belize (BATSUB). This is however, due to cease this summer. The helicopters are operated by the Army Air Corps under a ‘military registered contractor owned’ basis, and are painted in the Army Air Corps military markings.
In 2010 the UK Ministry of Defence looked at its use of all military bases overseas and, after consultation with the Government of Belize, concluded that BATSUB would remain open but that we will, from 2011, temporarily suspend our routine training activities in Belize. As a consequence, there is currently no requirement for helicopter support and UK aviation support will, therefore, cease after the last Infantry exercise scheduled for mid-July. 25 Flight AAC will transfer to the UK, to provide helicopter support to other military collective training activities.
Defence Equipment
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department will incur in relation to the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition between 13 and 16 September 2011; and which Ministers from his Department plan to attend the event.
Mr Gerald Howarth: The Defence and Security Equipment International 2011 (DSEi ’11) will be held at the ExCel centre in London from 13 – 16 September 2011. UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) is the Government lead for this event. The event provides an excellent medium through which to promote UK manufacturing and technological excellence in these sectors and, by inviting overseas customers, offers a valuable opportunity to support economic growth through exports. Costs associated with hosting official overseas delegations invited by Government to attend DSEi ’11 will be met by the organisers. In support of this event the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will be providing two Royal Navy ships which will participate as part of the Royal Navy’s routine military tasking. The MOD will provide a small team of military personnel to support UKTI DSO with the administrative arrangements for the event, for which we will meet the staff costs. Programmes of UK Government Ministers are decided nearer to the date of the event and will not be published in advance of its taking place.
Defence: Research
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions he has put in place to limit the transfer of UK military research and development to other countries.
Peter Luff: The British Government actively support the drive for commercial exports with a licensing system that ensures such activity is responsible. Information exchanges between governments are conducted in accordance with the provisions of Memoranda of Understanding. The Ministry of Defence only enters into such arrangements after extensive scrutiny.
Defence: USA
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to improve defence technology co-operation between the UK and US.
Peter Luff: The Strategic Defence and Security Revie