24 Oct 13. The Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC). The Committees on Arms Export Controls press the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to provide them with the names of the companies who were given licence approval by successive UK Governments to export dual-use chemicals to Syria between 2004 and 2012. On 9 and 11 September the Chairman of the Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC), Sir John Stanley, wrote to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, putting to the Government further questions and requirements for additional information on UK Government approval of export licences to Syria for chemicals that could be used in the production of chemical weapons. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills replied to the Committees on 11 October 2013. The Chairman of CAEC has now written a further letter to the Secretary of State regarding the Business Secretary’s refusal to disclose the names of the companies concerned to the Committees.
24 Oct 13. Defence Committee – Evidence session, FUTURE ARMY 2020. Tuesday 5 November 2013. The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (subject to change – please check website). At 3.30 pm. Witnesses:
* Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Defence
* General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff
This is the fourth evidence session for this inquiry.
24 Oct 13. Defence Committee. The Defence Committee has published the following Special Report: The Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 4: Education of Service Personnel: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2013–14 as its Seventh Special Report of Session 2013–14, HC 759. The Report is on the Committee’s website, www.parliament.uk/defcom and copies may be purchased from The Houses of Parliament Shop (12 Bridge Street, Westminster, London, SW1A 2JX).