To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Defence Equipment and Support plans to include a requirement for chemical and biological protection in future waterproof garments under the next Taped Seam Contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Defence Equipment and Support plans to include a requirement for chemical and biological protection in future waterproof garments under the next Taped Seam Contract.

The Minister says that priority will be given to the FRES Scout vehicle, as the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) has said before. May we have an indication of the time scale in which that vehicle will come on stream? This...

The Minister says that priority will be given to the FRES Scout vehicle, as the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) has said before. May we have an indication of the time scale in which that vehicle will come on stream? This...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I want particularly to comment on the fact that it was not properly funded. Like the defence industrial strategy, the intention was that it should be properly funded—the Ministry of Defence believed that it would be—but somehow the Treasury got at it. I...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I want particularly to comment on the fact that it was not properly funded. Like the defence industrial strategy, the intention was that it should be properly funded—the Ministry of Defence believed that it would be—but somehow the Treasury got at it. I...

We have just heard an excellent example of why the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy) is such a valued and valuable member of the Defence Committee, although I would quibble a little with her suggestion that we did nothing for Plymouth in the 1990s. I remember spending at...

We have just heard an excellent example of why the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy) is such a valued and valuable member of the Defence Committee, although I would quibble a little with her suggestion that we did nothing for Plymouth in the 1990s. I remember spending at...

I am following the hon. Gentleman’s speech with enjoyment, but I am now confused as to why he is asking for an answer now about whether we have three or four submarines. Can that not be delayed until later?

I am following the hon. Gentleman’s speech with enjoyment, but I am now confused as to why he is asking for an answer now about whether we have three or four submarines. Can that not be delayed until later?

I did not actually say that. I said that Professor Hew Strachan had said that under the current budget one cannot afford to fight both the present war and the future war, so we need to make a decision. I said that there was a risk that we might not...

I did not actually say that. I said that Professor Hew Strachan had said that under the current budget one cannot afford to fight both the present war and the future war, so we need to make a decision. I said that there was a risk that we might not...

As always, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy) makes an extremely good point. Can we not accept that the FRES brand is now broken and should be dropped? We should move to a system of vehicle procurement that people can understand.

As always, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy) makes an extremely good point. Can we not accept that the FRES brand is now broken and should be dropped? We should move to a system of vehicle procurement that people can understand.

I note in passing that there has been no intervention on my hon. Friend to suggest that the figure of £600 million is incorrect.

I note in passing that there has been no intervention on my hon. Friend to suggest that the figure of £600 million is incorrect.

I am sorry that I am a little late in rising to my feet—I intended to ask my hon. Friend about the carriers. He mentioned a figure of £600 million. When the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies), appeared before the Defence Committee, he told us...

I am sorry that I am a little late in rising to my feet—I intended to ask my hon. Friend about the carriers. He mentioned a figure of £600 million. When the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies), appeared before the Defence Committee, he told us...

What percentage of the clothing requirements of the armed forces is manufactured in the United Kingdom. - Text of letter from Michael Roycroft of Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency. Inc figs.

What percentage of the clothing requirements of the armed forces is manufactured in the United Kingdom. - Text of letter from Michael Roycroft of Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency. Inc figs.

Which companies provide (a) uniforms and (b) general kit for the armed forces. - Including text of letter from Brigadier M.J. Roycroft of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency. List of suppliers to the DCTA in lib (DEP/3 2555).

Which companies provide (a) uniforms and (b) general kit for the armed forces. - Including text of letter from Brigadier M.J. Roycroft of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency. List of suppliers to the DCTA in lib (DEP/3 2555).