§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of(a) tanks and (b) engineering works project-related vehicles working within desert terrains. [118411]
§ Mr. IngramAn assessment is made during the acquisition process of the performance of all new equipment (including main battle tanks and armoured engineer vehicles) in those environments in which they are expected to operate. This is supplemented by514W experience from major exercises and operations. Post-operational reporting will provide analysis and assessment of the performance of equipment deployed on operations in Iraq. Further assessment would be undertaken if changes to defence planning assumptions subsequently affected the environments in which it was planned to operate this equipment.