§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail all the steps taken since 1982 to improve the effectiveness of the armed forces in mounting out-of-area operations, with particular reference to those aspects where deficiencies or gaps in capability led Her Majesty's Government to seek assistance from the United States Administration during the Falklands war; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe enhancements to our out-of-area capability since 1982 are detailed in the annual "Statement on the Defence Estimates". Some particular improvements introduced as a result of experience in the Falklands conflict were indicated in Cmnd. 8758 ("The Falklands Campaign: The Lessons").
Major enhancements since 1982 include the creation of a joint force headquarters which would be activated in response to a crisis outside the NATO area; the fitting of point defence systems in Royal Navy ships and the provision of an organic airborne early warning capability for the fleet; significant enhancements to 5 Infantry Brigade (re-named 5 Airborne Brigade); and a substantial 342W strengthening of the RAF's long-range transport capability. Of these, some of the point defence systems were acquired from the United States.