07 Jul 12. MoD: Defence Committee Evidence Session. The Defence Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Staff are to give evidence to the Defence Committee on The Work of the MoD and the Armed Forces in the Wilson Room, Portcullis House, at 1430hrs on Thu 12 Jul 12. The Committee aims to examine topical issues affecting the MoD and the Armed Forces. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 12/27, 09 July 12)
06 Jul 12. Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. PUBLICATION OF REPORT – PLANNING FOR THE NEXT NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: COMMENTS ON THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE COMMITTEE’S FIRST REPORT OF SESSION 2010-12. The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will be publishing its First Report of Session 2012-13 (HL Paper 27/HC 423) Planning for the next National Security Strategy: comments on the Government response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2010-12 at 00.01am on Wednesday 11 July. The report will be made available on the Committee’s website, http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/national-security-strategy/,
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Thurssday 05 July 2012
Defence: Procurement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012 on defence procurement, what the urgent operational requirements are which are referred to in the answer. [115081]
Mr Robathan[holding answer 3 July 2012]: Urgent operational requirements (UORs) address urgent and unforeseen capability gaps in support of a current or imminent military operation. Often this means responding to new or evolving threats posed by our adversaries and as such, much of the detail on specific equipment remains operationally sensitive. It would not be appropriate to release information on individual UORs that could compromise the safety of our troops. While specific details of the 327 UORs referred to in the answer given on 21 May 2012 cannot be disclosed, I can confirm that the majority of UORs have been in the areas of force protection, counter improvised explosive device (C-IED), rotary wing, tactical air transport, situational awareness, and protected mobility.
House of Lords Written Answers for Wednesday 04 July 2012
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Asked by Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 25 June (WA 2), whether the Commando Helicopter Forces and other Royal Navy units were working to “4 in 20” if the separation was for operational reasons.[HL1155]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): Harmony is defined differently by each service. For the Naval Service, this is 660 days separated service over a rolling three year period. This also applies to Commando Helicopter Force (managed by Joint Helicopter Command (JHC)). However, it is the intent of JHC that units do not deploy for more than one period in every five.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Asked by Lord Craig of Radley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, when selecting personnel of the Armed Forces for compulsory redundancy, what consideration was given to the proximity of their immediate pension point.[HL954]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): When selecting personnel of the Armed Forces for compulsory redundancy no consideration was given to the proximity of the immediate pension point. As we reduce the size of the Armed Forces, our priority is to ensure that the services maintain the correct balance of those skills and experience, across the rank structures, which are required to deliver operational capability now and in the future, and it is this which has determined the redundancy fields. The Armed Forces redundancy schemes pay significantly larger tax free redundancy compensation lump sums to those who narrowly miss out on immediate incomes. Any pension rights that have been earned wi