Britannia Radio

Warning over UK defence equipment

A lack of long-term planning for UK defence supplies may lead the armed
forces to rely on foreign firms for equipment, industry chiefs have
warned.

The Defence Industries Council told a cross-party panel of MPs there was
"huge concern" procurement would not meet the needs of British troops.

The Commons Defence Select Committee also condemned the government's
failure to advise on long-term requirements.

Ministers said the priority was getting equipment where it was needed
most.

But the government remained focused on the long term, they insisted.

Defence Industries Council chairman Mike Turner told MPs there were
concerns about Britain's ability to "play a role in the world five, 10,
15 years out".

“ This report shows that the MoD is riddled with incompetence ”
Nick Harvey
Lib Dem defence spokesman

He said: "We have a world class defence industrial base and only
focusing on the short term and not the long term is of huge concern to
us.

"This industry is in decline and unless people pay attention to the
budgeting of defence in this country and the defence industrial base we
do not have a future."

The defence committee said the Ministry of Defence needed to spell out
the future requirements to British companies to avoid the armed forces
having to rely on foreign supplies.

Its report said it was "crucial" the UK had the industrial capabilities
to manufacture a significant proportion of equipment onshore to retain
"operational sovereignty" .

"Industry needs clarity about future equipment requirements to enable it
to make the necessary investment," it said.

'Astonishing'

The committee raised concerns about whether the Defence Industrial
Strategy would be updated at all after planned updates in December 2007
and spring 2008 were shelved.

Chairman James Arbuthnot described it as "astonishing" that Defence
Minister Quentin Davies said he was "open-minded" about when a new
strategy should be published.

Mr Arbuthnot, a Conservative MP, said: "We condemn the failure to
publish an updated version of the Defence Industrial Strategy and
consider that its continuing absence increases the risk that the UK
defence industrial base will not be able to meet the future requirements
of our armed forces."

One consequence was a delay in the update of the UK's fleet of armoured
vehicles, he said.

“ Rightly we are prioritising getting equipment out to those who need it
most, but we are also maintaining our focus on delivering long-term
equipment programmes ”
Quentin Davies Minister for defence equipment and support

"We produced a report into that procurement a couple of years ago in
which we said that their attempts to procure this vehicle had been a
sorry story of indecision, changing requirements and delay.

"This report says that, incredibly, it's got even worse."

The MPs said Britain's military advantage at any time depended on its
investment over the previous 25 years.

"We are extremely concerned to learn that defence research spending has
been cut which, in our view, is short-sighted, " it said.

"We agree with the minister that it is a matter of priorities and
consider that it should be a very high priority. Sufficient funding for
defence research needs to be ring-fenced. "

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "This report shows
that the MoD is riddled with incompetence.

"The government must make sure our troops have the equipment they need
to do their job today and in the future."

Quentin Davies, minister for defence equipment and support, insisted the
government was prioritising getting new supplies to troops.

"Rightly we are prioritising getting equipment out to those who need it
most, but we are also maintaining our focus on delivering long-term
equipment programmes," he said.

"We have delivered equipment valued at more than £10bn to the armed
forces in the last three years and continue to invest in protected
mobility with £700m on 700 new armoured vehicles announced last year.

He said the government was "committed" to the Defence Industrial
Strategy but that industry had made clear it did not yet want a new
version.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ go/pr/fr/ -/1/hi/uk_ politics/ 7911207.stm

Published: 2009/02/26 09:26:30 GMT