§ 23. Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the conclusions of his strategic defence review in respect of the Army. [11757]
§ Dr. ReidWe have received many written submissions to the Strategic Defence Review addressing the Army. We have placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of those submissions whose authors have agreed that we should do so. No conclusions have yet been reached.
§ 24. Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's strategic defence review in defining the circumstances in which British forces are likely to be called into action. [11758]
§ Dr. ReidThe Strategic Defence Review is considering generic missions which the Armed Forces should be able to undertake to meet our foreign and security policy objectives. It is not defining particular circumstances in which they might be called into action. Decisions on the commitment of forces would take into account a range of factors, including of course our national and international obligations.
§ 25. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the results of the defence review. [11759]
§ Dr. ReidWork on the Strategic Defence Review is expected to be completed around the turn of the year. It will then be considered by Ministers and the results published in a White Paper as quickly as possible thereafter.
§ 26. Mr. PriorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met industry representatives to discuss the progress of the strategic defence review in respect of the Army. [11760]
§ Dr. ReidThe Secretary of State has not met industry representatives to discuss aspects of the Strategic Defence Review relating to the Army. My right hon. Friend has, however, met industry representatives to discuss broad procurement matters in the context of the Review. The last occasion was on 29 October when he chaired the National Defence Industries Council, whose agenda was dedicated to Review issues.
§ 29. Mr. Martin BellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the strategic defence review, with particular reference to the problems of overstretch. [11763]
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§ Dr. ReidThe Government is fully committed to alleviating the question of overstretch, one of the main problems facing our Armed Forces, and we have already introduced a number of initiatives to address the related issue of undermanning. By matching capabilities to commitments, the Strategic Defence Review is aimed at further addressing this problem.