HC Deb 02 March 2004 vol 418 cc811-2W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment was purchased under the Urgent Operational Requirement process for Operation Telic 1 and 2. [147273]

Mr. Ingram

It is assumed that the period covered by Operation Telic 1 and 2 is from the time of deployment until the end of the first roulement of troops (November 2003). Information regarding specific Urgent Operational Requirements remains operationally sensitive and I am therefore withholding details of equipment purchased in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However equipment procured using the UOR process falls into five broad areas: enhancements to communications equipment and infrastructure; upgrades to maritime, air (both fixed and rotary wing) and land platforms. These included improvements to environmental/desert operating capabilities, force protection, secure communications, combat ID and enhancements to associated weapons systems; improved dismounted close combat capabilities; improved logistics and deployable infrastructure (includes procurement of additional Temporary Deployable Accommodation); and NBC protection measures; and enhancements to deployed medical capabilities.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all requests for urgent operational requirements for Operation Telic stating(a) whether the request was approved, (b) the equipment requested,(c) the date the request was submitted, (d) the date the urgent operational requirement was approved and (e) the cost; and if he will make a statement. [151347]

Mr. Ingram [ holding answer 27 January 2004]

Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) are requested via an Urgent Statement of User Requirement generated by frontline commands or operational planners. The content of these remains operationally sensitive and I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, approved UORs covering the deployment and fighting phases of Operation Telic fall into five broad capability areas with total approved values as follows:

Capability area £ million
1. Enhancements to communications equipment and

infrastructure

 56
2. Upgrades to maritime, air (both fixed and rotary wing)

and land platforms. These included improvements to

environmental/desert operating capabilities, force

protection, secure communications, combat identification

and enhancements to associated weapons systems

 270
3. Improved dismounted close combat capabilities 36
4. Improved logistics and deploy able infrastructure 58
5. NBC protection measures; and enhancements to deployed

medical capabilities

 90

During the deployment and fighting phases of Operation Telic over 190 Urgent Operational Requirements were approved at a total approved cost of around £510 million. Since the end of major combat operations, a range of other UORs have been approved.