To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the Future Rapid Effect System project has been to date; what estimate he has made of the final cost; and what assessment he has made of the operational capability of vehicles fitted with such...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the Future Rapid Effect System project has been to date; what estimate he has made of the final cost; and what assessment he has made of the operational capability of vehicles fitted with such...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the status of the Future Rapid Effect System Utility Variant programme; and what consideration has been given to procuring a vehicle already in service with other armies to meet the requirement.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the status of the Future Rapid Effect System Utility Variant programme; and what consideration has been given to procuring a vehicle already in service with other armies to meet the requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of cancelling the (a) purchase of the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft and (b) Future Rapid Effect System Specialist Vehicles contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of cancelling the (a) purchase of the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft and (b) Future Rapid Effect System Specialist Vehicles contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what export potential was claimed by (a) BAE Systems and (b) General Dynamics as part of their proposals to upgrade the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what export potential was claimed by (a) BAE Systems and (b) General Dynamics as part of their proposals to upgrade the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his statement of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on armed forces equipment, whether the base platform for the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) is now finalised for all aspects of the FRES programme; whether there will be...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his statement of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on armed forces equipment, whether the base platform for the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) is now finalised for all aspects of the FRES programme; whether there will be...

(2) what advice his Department received from the Treasury in connection with the choice of design for the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle.

(2) what advice his Department received from the Treasury in connection with the choice of design for the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to announce his decision on the preferred bidder for the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to announce his decision on the preferred bidder for the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract;

My hon. Friend is completely right. As I said to the hon. Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas), the prime point was the UN vote, on which the vote in this House was conditional. I agree with my hon. Friend, however; there is an unparliamentary word and I cannot use it,...

My hon. Friend is completely right. As I said to the hon. Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas), the prime point was the UN vote, on which the vote in this House was conditional. I agree with my hon. Friend, however; there is an unparliamentary word and I cannot use it,...

I am a little confused as to whether the hon. Gentleman is arguing from a multilateralist or unilateralist point of view. Will he clarify that? We now have what is basically a minimum deterrent, and we need to keep that minimum deterrent in order to be part of the negotiations,...

I am a little confused as to whether the hon. Gentleman is arguing from a multilateralist or unilateralist point of view. Will he clarify that? We now have what is basically a minimum deterrent, and we need to keep that minimum deterrent in order to be part of the negotiations,...

I think that it is universally accepted that delay in programmes costs money. The idea that one saves money by postponing programmes is not historically proven. Of course, one forgoes the immediate expenditure, but ultimately one drives up the cost. As I understand it, that has happened in the case...

I think that it is universally accepted that delay in programmes costs money. The idea that one saves money by postponing programmes is not historically proven. Of course, one forgoes the immediate expenditure, but ultimately one drives up the cost. As I understand it, that has happened in the case...

We want the NPT talks in 2010 to be a great success, and we will put a huge amount of effort into making sure that they are a success.

We want the NPT talks in 2010 to be a great success, and we will put a huge amount of effort into making sure that they are a success.

This is how things have happened in the past: we have made the main decision at main gate—we have not made all the decisions well in advance of when it was necessary. I am a multilateralist, but I want to get rid of weapons, and I want to ensure that...

This is how things have happened in the past: we have made the main decision at main gate—we have not made all the decisions well in advance of when it was necessary. I am a multilateralist, but I want to get rid of weapons, and I want to ensure that...

I am listening carefully to the complicated argument that the hon. Lady is advancing, and I am little puzzled by it. Is she seriously saying that rather than ask the private sector to produce a variety of equipment of one sort or another and then seek to sell it to...

I am listening carefully to the complicated argument that the hon. Lady is advancing, and I am little puzzled by it. Is she seriously saying that rather than ask the private sector to produce a variety of equipment of one sort or another and then seek to sell it to...

Yes, but against what criteria? The hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Willie Rennie) alluded to OCCAR’s role and its importance. Its role is to get consensus between countries on procuring specific pieces of kit. I hope that colleagues understand why that is such an attractive option. It means...

Yes, but against what criteria? The hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Willie Rennie) alluded to OCCAR’s role and its importance. Its role is to get consensus between countries on procuring specific pieces of kit. I hope that colleagues understand why that is such an attractive option. It means...

Of course that is the position. We do not know what the numbers are—we have not had access to the books. I am telling the hon. Lady and the House what my right hon. Friend the shadow Chancellor is proposing as we speak. I think that you will require us...

Of course that is the position. We do not know what the numbers are—we have not had access to the books. I am telling the hon. Lady and the House what my right hon. Friend the shadow Chancellor is proposing as we speak. I think that you will require us...

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...

As my hon. Friend knows, I have been reading the local press. No matter what we say, the speculation continues as to the future of Devonport. We have said that we need Devonport as a naval base, and that that will not be solely for submarine work. No matter how...

As my hon. Friend knows, I have been reading the local press. No matter what we say, the speculation continues as to the future of Devonport. We have said that we need Devonport as a naval base, and that that will not be solely for submarine work. No matter how...

Of all the decisions that Governments take, surely none is more important than that to send our forces overseas into combat. When that is done, I am sure the whole House agrees that it is imperative that everything is done to enable our forces to have the maximum opportunity to...

Of all the decisions that Governments take, surely none is more important than that to send our forces overseas into combat. When that is done, I am sure the whole House agrees that it is imperative that everything is done to enable our forces to have the maximum opportunity to...

In every defence debate we rightly pay tribute to the armed forces and the service that they give to the nation, and it is even more important for us to do that in the context of defence procurement. In my view, however, the best tribute that the House could pay...

In every defence debate we rightly pay tribute to the armed forces and the service that they give to the nation, and it is even more important for us to do that in the context of defence procurement. In my view, however, the best tribute that the House could pay...