§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the Army's future requirement for a main battle tank and the number to be ordered. [7824]
§ Dr. ReidOn current plans, the Army's requirement for a main battle tank is to be met by procurement of 386 Challenger 2 tanks, which have already been ordered.
As I made clear in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams) on 10 July, Official Report, column 531, during the strategic defence review there will be no moratorium on defence procurement, and projects where contracts have already been placed will continue. Decisions on major equipment programmes not yet under contract will be considered on their individual circumstances in relation to progress with the review.