To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of women appointed to the Defence Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of women appointed to the Defence Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 70 of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, what his planned timetable is for the completion of the independent review of the effectiveness of the Defence Board; and whether he plans to publish the findings of that...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 70 of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, what his planned timetable is for the completion of the independent review of the effectiveness of the Defence Board; and whether he plans to publish the findings of that...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current composition is of the Defence Board; when it last met; when the next scheduled meeting is; and what the scheduled meeting programme is thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current composition is of the Defence Board; when it last met; when the next scheduled meeting is; and what the scheduled meeting programme is thereafter.

The new operating model: how defence works. Incl. annexes. 86p.

The new operating model: how defence works. Incl. annexes. 86p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to make the minutes of the Defence Board meetings available to hon. Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to make the minutes of the Defence Board meetings available to hon. Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when meetings of the Defence Board are scheduled to occur in the period to May 2015.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when meetings of the Defence Board are scheduled to occur in the period to May 2015.

Lords statement on the publication of the independent report of the Defence Reform Review.

Lords statement on the publication of the independent report of the Defence Reform Review.

Statement on the publication of the independent report of the Defence Reform Review

Statement on the publication of the independent report of the Defence Reform Review

Oh, yes. I fully intend to chair both the defence board and the major projects board. I have done so once already, and on that occasion was both elated and depressed: I was depressed, because so many of my fears about poor project management were shown to be correct; and...

Oh, yes. I fully intend to chair both the defence board and the major projects board. I have done so once already, and on that occasion was both elated and depressed: I was depressed, because so many of my fears about poor project management were shown to be correct; and...

The report on defence reform by the noble Lord, Lord Levene, is yet another chapter in the steady evolutionary process of the higher organisation of defence going back some 47 years to the Mountbatten reorganisation, in which I had some direct involvement. I even recognise some of the same cries...

The report on defence reform by the noble Lord, Lord Levene, is yet another chapter in the steady evolutionary process of the higher organisation of defence going back some 47 years to the Mountbatten reorganisation, in which I had some direct involvement. I even recognise some of the same cries...

Briefly, my final question is whether the Minister thinks that the fact that the chiefs will spend more time with their services, and presumably in cars going to visit each other, and less time in offices next door to each other will lead to more ““jointery”” rather than less.

Briefly, my final question is whether the Minister thinks that the fact that the chiefs will spend more time with their services, and presumably in cars going to visit each other, and less time in offices next door to each other will lead to more ““jointery”” rather than less.

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and gallant Lord, particularly—

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and gallant Lord, particularly—

I was keen to discuss at length with Lord Levene how to create a structure within defence that could offer careers to those who might be attracted to the intellectual, if you like, side of defence—electronic warfare and so on—but who might not want to become commandos. We need to...

I was keen to discuss at length with Lord Levene how to create a structure within defence that could offer careers to those who might be attracted to the intellectual, if you like, side of defence—electronic warfare and so on—but who might not want to become commandos. We need to...

The Secretary of State referred to a ““radical new approach to the management of defence”” and a ““new, leaner defence board””. In that spirit, how many ministerial posts are going to be axed?

The Secretary of State referred to a ““radical new approach to the management of defence”” and a ““new, leaner defence board””. In that spirit, how many ministerial posts are going to be axed?

As my hon. Friend knows, it is not for me to determine the number of Ministers in Her Majesty's Government. What we have said, however, is that when we have had time to address the Levene report in greater detail, we may well look at the designation of Ministers— their...

As my hon. Friend knows, it is not for me to determine the number of Ministers in Her Majesty's Government. What we have said, however, is that when we have had time to address the Levene report in greater detail, we may well look at the designation of Ministers— their...

I endorse the statement in the strongest possible way. In particular, I would like to pick out my right hon. Friend's comments about the length of tenure in important jobs. It really is astonishing that we change people over every two years. If we are to make the progress that...

I endorse the statement in the strongest possible way. In particular, I would like to pick out my right hon. Friend's comments about the length of tenure in important jobs. It really is astonishing that we change people over every two years. If we are to make the progress that...

It is important, as my hon. Friend says, that all those in key positions remain there to maximise what they learn in the job and that they can therefore give back as much as they can—I will be encouraging the Prime Minister to read Hansard on that point.

It is important, as my hon. Friend says, that all those in key positions remain there to maximise what they learn in the job and that they can therefore give back as much as they can—I will be encouraging the Prime Minister to read Hansard on that point.

The Secretary of State started his statement by referring to us our being in the premier league of military powers. In the view of the three chiefs of the services, we are currently not a full spectrum power. If these reforms are implemented, will we again be a full spectrum...

The Secretary of State started his statement by referring to us our being in the premier league of military powers. In the view of the three chiefs of the services, we are currently not a full spectrum power. If these reforms are implemented, will we again be a full spectrum...

I refute the idea that the United Kingdom is not among the leading defence powers in the world. We have the fourth biggest defence budget, and we have extraordinarily capable armed forces, which are among the most professional and best trained. If that does not put us in the premier...

I refute the idea that the United Kingdom is not among the leading defence powers in the world. We have the fourth biggest defence budget, and we have extraordinarily capable armed forces, which are among the most professional and best trained. If that does not put us in the premier...

I welcome that response from my right hon. Friend. He knows that he is assured of my personal support for the work that he is doing, but I remain convinced that there is a difference between the management of defence procurement and the formulation of military strategy at the highest...

I welcome that response from my right hon. Friend. He knows that he is assured of my personal support for the work that he is doing, but I remain convinced that there is a difference between the management of defence procurement and the formulation of military strategy at the highest...