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Debate on Thursday, 19 June 2008, in the House of Commons, led by Bob Ainsworth. The answering member was Gerald Howarth.

Defence Procurement

Debate on a motion to consider the matter of defence procurement. (Inc ref to the Defence Select Committee fifth report on Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07, HC 61, and the Government Response, HC 468, and the Tenth Report from the Committee, on Defence Equipment 2008, HC 295, and the Government Response, HC 555.)

Secondary information

Type
Parliamentary proceeding
Reference
477 c1121-82 
Session
2007-08
Department
Ministry of Defence
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Related items
Proceeding contributions
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1131 (Link to this contribution) I know all the arguments, and that is entirely true, but the Government have been in office for 10 y...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1131 (Link to this contribution) Possibly to sort out the mess that the previous Conservative Government left in that contract. Does ...
Show all contributions (109)
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1131-2 (Link to this contribution) The Minister is fortunate that he can rely on the hon. Gentleman to blame the previous Conservative ...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1132 (Link to this contribution) Would my hon. Friend like to put on record our thanks for all the hard work and dedication that have...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1132-3 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to my hon. Friend, as I am sure the House will be, for making that point. I warmly end...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1133 (Link to this contribution) We do not report the end of planning rounds, and I am not aware of any previous Government having do...
Brian Jenkins | 477 c1133 (Link to this contribution) I await the development of the hon. Gentleman's speech with interest. He complains about the length ...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1133-4 (Link to this contribution) It is, of course, incumbent on the Ministry to make decisions more swiftly than it is at the moment,...
Mike Penning | 477 c1127 (Link to this contribution) I think that the Minister slightly misunderstood my point, so I will try again. In the 1970s, when I...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1127 (Link to this contribution) We are not listening exclusively to the procurement experts in the MOD. We are listening to commande...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1128 (Link to this contribution) Fundamentally, I agree with my hon. Friend, and I have said that, but we cannot refuse to allow a de...
Patrick Mercer | 477 c1127-8 (Link to this contribution) I am extremely grateful to the Minister for giving way. He is talking a great deal of common sense. ...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1128 (Link to this contribution) I know that the hon. Gentleman speaks a lot of common sense as well, and there are circumstances whe...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1130-1 (Link to this contribution) The tragic deaths of nine British servicemen and women in the past few days should serve to remind u...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1131 (Link to this contribution) They were commissioned by the Conservatives.
Brian Jenkins | 477 c1128 (Link to this contribution) We have discussed at great length armoured vehicles and patrols. Are there any vehicles being used b...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1122 (Link to this contribution) I thank the hon. Gentleman for his point. It is early days; the tragedy occurred on Tuesday and will...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1122 (Link to this contribution) Without going into too much detail, is the Minister confident that the configuration of the signals ...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1121 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move,"That this House has considered the matter of defence procurement." May I start by ex...
Philip Hollobone | 477 c1121 (Link to this contribution) The Minister rightly paid tribute to the servicemen who recently lost their lives in Afghanistan. I ...
Angus Robertson | 477 c1123 (Link to this contribution) For the sake of clarity, will the Minister confirm whether the Nimrod MRA4 will be part of the short...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1123 (Link to this contribution) I am going to move on to talk about the vehicle programmes—the current vehicles on operations and th...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1123 (Link to this contribution) The Minister just referred to the last planning round. Which one was it? Has planning round 2008 mer...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1123 (Link to this contribution) The planning round is complete. Planning round 2008 is complete. Planning round 2009 needs to commen...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1122-3 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman says, ““Without going into too much detail,”” and then asks me a highly technical...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1123 (Link to this contribution) I shall give way to my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones).
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1127 (Link to this contribution) There is only so much protection that can be built in given the weight ratio. The problem that we ha...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1127 (Link to this contribution) The conclusion to be drawn from the recent interventions is that my right hon. Friend should ignore ...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1125 (Link to this contribution) I understand that point, but we have to tailor our resources to the neediest area. I am assured that...
Patrick Mercer | 477 c1125 (Link to this contribution) I entirely take the point about a mix of vehicles being necessary for protection, accessibility and ...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1125-6 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman has a great knowledge of military needs and capability and says that he has been ...
Patrick Mercer | 477 c1126 (Link to this contribution) I was recently out in Afghanistan with my old regiment, 1st Battalion the Worcestershire and Sherwoo...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1126 (Link to this contribution) I listen to the same people to whom the hon. Gentleman listens—although I do not have the same perso...
Mike Penning | 477 c1126 (Link to this contribution) As someone who was on operations many years ago—many years before my hon. Friend the Member for Newa...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1126-7 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman appears to be saying that there is no basis for a small, enclosed Land Rover-base...
Mike Penning | 477 c1135 (Link to this contribution) Body armour is obviously there to protect servicemen and women on operations, but is my hon. Friend ...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1134-5 (Link to this contribution) I will not give way, if the hon. Gentleman will forgive me. The battlefield multi-role helicopter, ...
John P Smith | 477 c1137 (Link to this contribution) I hope that the hon. Gentleman will recognise the achievement of the British defence industry. Recen...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1135-7 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that information, which I did not know. I am sure that the whole...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1137 (Link to this contribution) What is the hon. Gentleman's point?
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1137 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman, who plays such a vigorous role in our debates will be pleased to hear that I sha...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1137 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman have any evidence that the damage that he alleges has actually been done? We...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1137 (Link to this contribution) My point is that we must remember that investment decisions are taken at head office. If most of the...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1137-8 (Link to this contribution) I am trying to find information. I have been told that the Ministry of Defence is no longer in comma...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1138 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend share my concern at the Government's withdrawal of funds from both the Ministry ...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1139 (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman tell the leader of his party that he should not criticise the Prime Minister...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1138 (Link to this contribution) I entirely agree. I think that some of those offices could be closed without huge damage being done ...
Bruce George | 477 c1140-2 (Link to this contribution) My nails are not long enough to scratch the hon. Gentleman, but I can work it out without undertakin...
Linda Gilroy | 477 c1140 (Link to this contribution) Someone in my constituency summed it up very aptly as, ““Scratch a Tory, same old story.””
Bruce George | 477 c1139 (Link to this contribution) When I was the Chairman of the Defence Committee and the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth) was...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1139 (Link to this contribution) We made it very clear that we regarded that as a matter for the Attorney-General, as the Law Officer...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1142 (Link to this contribution) I just wanted to say that the C130J was a success and ordered by us, but I shall not question the li...
Bruce George | 477 c1142 (Link to this contribution) Until I do, I am prepared to teach the hon. Gentleman the existing alphabet. The C130J was partly hi...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1142 (Link to this contribution) We are all enjoying the right hon. Gentleman's speech enormously. His performance on the Defence Com...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1145-7 (Link to this contribution) Not to mention the icebergs. It is essential that we always keep such considerations in mind. Howev...
Bruce George | 477 c1142-3 (Link to this contribution) I was about to deliver a eulogy on the Defence Committee, not only under my chairmanship but under t...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1144-5 (Link to this contribution) I welcome this opportunity for a regular debate on defence procurement, but like others I begin by p...
Bruce George | 477 c1144 (Link to this contribution) That is a very fair question. If we intend to be a major part of the second rank, as we have been si...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1148 (Link to this contribution) I can reassure the hon. Gentleman on one point. The WMIKs are not being built by Supacat, which is a...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1148 (Link to this contribution) I am reassured by the hon. Gentleman. I said that I stood to be corrected; he has taken the opportun...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1147-8 (Link to this contribution) I am certainly aware that the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the current French fleet operate...
Bernard Jenkin | 477 c1150 (Link to this contribution) May I apologise to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and the Minister for arriving two or three minutes after...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1149-50 (Link to this contribution) My premise is the testimony of various witnesses who have appeared in front of the right hon. Gentle...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1149 (Link to this contribution) I am interested in the hon. Gentleman's point that defence inflation runs far ahead of the RPI. That...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1149 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, which adds to my point. I was reporting th...
Adam Holloway | 477 c1149 (Link to this contribution) I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman is aware of the dismay of many people in the squadron that ...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1149 (Link to this contribution) I am very pleased to hear that. Perhaps I have been unfair in suggesting that there has been a lack ...
Linda Gilroy | 477 c1148-9 (Link to this contribution) There may be some confusion about the Supacat vehicle, about which the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr...
Nick Harvey | 477 c1150-1 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman makes his point well. I am sure that we will continue to debate the issue. Having...
John P Smith | 477 c1152-4 (Link to this contribution) I will abide by your guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and keep my remarks as brief as possible. I welco...
Speaker | 477 c1151-2 (Link to this contribution) Order. Before I call the next hon. Member to address the House, may I point out that a large number ...
Andrew Murrison | 477 c1154 (Link to this contribution) Has the hon. Gentleman looked at the armed forces benefits calculator? If he has, he will have seen ...
John P Smith | 477 c1154-5 (Link to this contribution) Not particularly. I would like to concentrate on the future and what we intend to do to improve the ...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1155-6 (Link to this contribution) We have just been given a perfect example of the ingenuity and skill of the hon. Member for Vale of ...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1156-8 (Link to this contribution) Yes. In fact, I was about to say something about the defence industrial strategy. The original strat...
Michael Jack | 477 c1158 (Link to this contribution) My right hon. Friend expresses a doubt about the number of the aircraft. From his standpoint on the ...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1158 (Link to this contribution) No, I am not convinced that a decision on a number of aircraft could yet be made. Nevertheless, it w...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1159 (Link to this contribution) Yes, indeed, and we need to have some answers to those questions. No doubt Baroness Taylor will give...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1159 (Link to this contribution) The right hon. Gentleman and I attended the trials of truth when Lord Drayson said, in response to a...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1158 (Link to this contribution) I agree, but I do not know whether that is convenient for the MOD or whether it is confused on the i...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1158 (Link to this contribution) Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the delay is convenient for the Ministry of Defence? Irresp...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1159 (Link to this contribution) I am aware of that. BAE Land Systems is not alone in being very keen to discover who will be picked,...
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom | 477 c1159-60 (Link to this contribution) Let us never forget that. It is the soldiers who need to be protected. What they are doing in Afghan...
Michael Jack | 477 c1162-3 (Link to this contribution) I should like to associate my comments with those of other right hon. and hon. Members about the bra...
David Crausby | 477 c1161-2 (Link to this contribution) Absolutely; valuable contributions have been made. My concern is not so much about international own...
Michael Jack | 477 c1163-5 (Link to this contribution) I concur with my hon. Friend's contribution; I am glad that he underscores the importance of what I ...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1163 (Link to this contribution) My right hon. Friend makes an absolutely vital point, which is that this country has its own defence...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1161 (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that the policy of an open defence market has also led to significant inve...
David Crausby | 477 c1160-1 (Link to this contribution) Of course our forces are entitled to the best equipment. That could not be more graphically demonstr...
Linda Gilroy | 477 c1165-8 (Link to this contribution) It is a great pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack), who always talks not on...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1168-70 (Link to this contribution) I should like to put on record my tribute and thanks to the brave men and women of our armed forces ...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1170-2 (Link to this contribution) I associate myself with the condolences expressed to those men and women of our armed forces who los...
Angus Robertson | 477 c1172-4 (Link to this contribution) It is right and proper for me to add the condolences of the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru,...
Derek Twigg | 477 c1179-82 (Link to this contribution) May I, too, put on record my admiration for the bravery, sacrifice and professionalism of our armed ...
Andrew Murrison | 477 c1177-9 (Link to this contribution) I add my tribute to those that have been paid so warmly today to the fallen. It is a sad day today f...
Mike Penning | 477 c1176-7 (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) for curtailing his excellent speech, ...
Bernard Jenkin | 477 c1174-6 (Link to this contribution) I shall endeavour to be extremely brief and I join the tributes paid by colleagues to our armed forc...
Gerald Howarth | 477 c1133 (Link to this contribution) I think that my right hon. and hon. Friends will be amused to hear that. As the Minister and others ...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1128 (Link to this contribution) Does the Minister agree that the decisions outlined by the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) a...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1128-9 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend asks an important question. Through the urgent operational requirements process, we l...
Bob Ainsworth | 477 c1124-5 (Link to this contribution) We have to draw the review as broadly as possible. We must look at our whole spending programme, and...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1125 (Link to this contribution) Although I agree with the Minister that the new Type 45s' capabilities have been increased, they can...
Mark Pritchard | 477 c1159 (Link to this contribution) Obviously the decision on Piranha V from General Dynamics has been made, but my right hon. Friend is...
Brian Jenkins | 477 c1147 (Link to this contribution) I thoroughly endorse the overall concept that we should work together closely with Europe. Is the ho...
Brian Jenkins | 477 c1143 (Link to this contribution) I have listened with great interest to my right hon. Friend, who speaks with authority, and to his s...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1156 (Link to this contribution) When the permanent secretary gave evidence to the Defence Committee, I predicted that the defence in...
Lord Beamish | 477 c1123 (Link to this contribution) I fully support what is being done, because we need to balance the urgent operational requirements a...
Subjects
Contracts Armed forces Defence Defence equipment Armoured fighting vehicles Iraq Procurement Military aircraft Afghanistan Chinook helicopters Helicopter carriers
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
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