16 Nov 11. Intelligence and Security: Foreign Secretary’s Speech. The Foreign Secretary outlined (16 Nov 11) the role of Secret Intelligence in UK foreign policy highlighting proposed measures, contained in the Justice and Security Green Paper, to ensure that the civil courts are “equipped to hear national security cases where disclosure of material would be damaging to the public interest”. The Green Paper also recommends that the Intelligence and Security Committee should become a “statutory Committee of Parliament” in order to enhance oversight of the intelligence and security services.
Comment: On 9 Nov 11, the Joint Committee on Human Rights announced its intention to hold an inquiry into the human rights impact of the Green Paper (discussion document) proposals. The ‘Justice and Security Green Paper’, published on 19 Oct 11, is available as Cm 8194 for £20:50. The Foreign Secretary’s speech can be viewed on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 11/45, 21 Nov 11)
Lords Hansard text for 15 Nov 201115 Nov 2011
Armed Forces: A400M
Questions
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the effect on the price of the A400M to the Government of the reduction in German orders for the A400M from 53 to 40.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): As the A400M design and production phase contract is a fixed price contract, the cost of A400M to the UK should be unaffected.
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the effect on the export price of the A400M to its sole announced purchaser of the reduction in orders by the Government of Germany.
Lord Astor of Hever: The contractual price of the Malaysian A400M is a matter for the parties to that contract. As the UK is not a party to that agreement, it is not privy to any of the pricing details
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought any assurance from the Government of Germany that it will make no further reductions in its orders for the A400M.
Lord Astor of Hever: When the Government of Germany signed the amended design and production phase contract in April 2011, they committed to ordering an agreed number of A400M aircraft, and we do not expect this number to change. As a result, no such assurances are considered necessary.
Asked by Lord Gilbert: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect that any other members of the A400M consortium will reduce their orders in the light of the decision of the Government of Germany to do so.
Lord Astor of Hever: No changes to the number of aircraft ordered by nations in the amended design and production phase contract, signed in April 2011, are expected.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Tuesday 15th November 2011
Adam Werritty
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 228-9W, on Adam Werritty, what the nature was of the social events at which the Minister for International Security Strategy met Mr Werritty.
Mr Gerald Howarth: I met Mr Werritty at a sporting event and a wedding.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel returning from Afghanistan are receiving help with mental health issues due to the trauma of service.
Mr Robathan: Defence Analysis Statistics and Advice (DASA) records attendance by service personnel at the Ministry of Defence’s Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs). During the most recent full financial year (2010-11), a total of 1,670 UK service personnel who had deployed to Afghanistan were recorded as having been assessed for a new episode of care at a DCMH. Conditions treated include alcohol abuse, depression, adjustment disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Because DASA do not hold information on disc