§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements exist to determine the operational requirements of major equipment to be procured for Her Majesty's forces; what person or committee is authorised to determine operational requirements at each stage (a) in concept formulation and in definition of staff target, (b) in feasibility study and in definition of staff requirement, (c) in project definition, if appropriate, and (d) in full development; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what arrangements existed to determine the operational requirements of major equipment to be procured for Her Majesty's forces at the times relevant to determining actions of the operational requirements for demountable rack off-loading pick-up systems; whether these arrangements have since been changed; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will list the dates on which a staff target for demountable rack off-loading pick-up system equipment was either stated or updated; what person or committee 94W was authorised to determine the operational requirements contained in each such staff target; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will list the dates on which a staff requirement for demountable rack off-loading pick-up systems equipment was either stated or updated; what person or committee was authorised to determine the operational requirements contained in each such staff requirement; and if he will make a statement;
(5) if he has received any guarantees regarding application of the United States of America Export Administration Act to offset orders in connection with the Boeing air warning aircraft system contract; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI shall answer shortly.