HC Deb 20 July 1998 vol 316 c426W
21. Caroline Flint

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to promote defence diplomacy and conflict prevention. [49597]

22. Mr. Beard

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to promote defence diplomacy and conflict prevention. [49598]

31. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to promote defence diplomacy and conflict prevention. [49607]

Mr. George Robertson

A key decision of the Strategic Defence Review was that defence diplomacy should become one of the eight core Missions of our Armed Forces. As part of this major new initiative, we intend to enhance our arms control programme, including restoration of our 'Open Skies' air inspection capability; expand our Outreach and wider military assistance programmes, including greater use of attachments and short term training terms; revitalise our pool of defence attaches; and introduce new education and training initiatives, including a new defence diplomacy scholarship scheme. These measures will greatly enhance the British contribution to conflict prevention.