§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects combat body armour to enter general service in the Army; and how many vests will be procured during 1989.
§ Mr. SainsburySubject to the outcome of the troop trial, we plan to introduce combat armour into service in 1989. We plan to procure 15,000 vests during the 1989–90 financial year.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sets of combat body armour have been produced for troop trialling; when the trials are planned to take place; and when contracts are likely to be placed for bulk delivery.
§ Mr. Sainsbury2,000 sets of combat armour have been procured for the troop trial. It is due to start in May and be completed by November. If the trial is successful, the first contracts for bulk delivery are expected to be placed by April 1989.