§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts of the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent cuts on the programme of Army fighting vehicles for the British Army.
§ Dr. GilbertAs part of the 1975 defence review the Vixen wheeled reconnaissance vehicle was cancelled and reductions were made in the follow-on orders for the Sultan, Spartan and Samaritan tracked vehicles. This has meant that older vehicles, the Ferret scout car and the FV 430 series of armoured personnel carriers have had to be kept in-service longer than originally planned. Subsequent reductions in the defence budget have not affected the armoured fighting vehicle programme.