§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have plans to reduce the logistic services or delay military equipments and whether these plans are compatible with the efficient functioning of the Armed Services.
Viscount CranborneThe Defence Costs Study—Front Line First—is examining all areas of support to the front line; necessarily this will include a scrutiny of all defence logistic services. The study is aiming to identify how these services, among others, can be delivered in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Front Line First will also be scrutinising the practices and processes involved in the procurement of defence equipment. There remains much work to be done before any firm conclusions are reached or plans can be made. We will decide how best to make public the implications for logistic services and equipment programmes as soon as we have had the opportunity to consider them. In addition, the routine annual process of recosting the defence programme includes detailed 117WA adjustments to equipment programmes and the provision of logistic services to reflect our constant reassessment of defence priorities.