Defence - Eighth Report

---

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 3 September 1998.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Terms of Reference

REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The Committee's Inquiry
The Aims of the Inquiry

the Objectives of UK Defence Policy
Constraints on Defence Policy
Alternatives
Strong Defence
People


THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Past Reviews

The Prehistory of Reviews
The Sandys Review
The Healey Review
The Mason Review
The Nott Review

The Fall of the Soviet Union, Options for Change and Front Line First

The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Options for Change
The 1993 Mini-Review
Front Line First: The Defence Costs Studies

Overview of the Historical Context


THE PROCESS

Background
Building a Consensus within the MoD
Building a National Consensus
Intragovernmental Cooperation
Consultation with Allies
Carrying the Process forward


SECURITY POLICY IN A NEW WORLD ORDER

Globalisation and Interdependence
The United Kingdom's Security Situation
Choices and Ethics in Foreign Policy
What are the UK's Interests?
Sources of Instability

Regional Conflict

Russia and the former Soviet Union
The Mediterranean, the Near East, North Africa and the Gulf
The Asia/Pacific Region

Environmental, Developmental and Population Issues


Sub-State Conflict, Terrorism and Organised Crime
Weapons of Mass Destruction

Political Responses to Instability

Collective Approaches to Security

NATO: Europe and the Transatlantic Dimension
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
The United Nations

Defence Diplomacy and Arms Control

Defence Diplomacy
Arms Control

Intelligence

Conclusions on Security Policy



STRATEGY AND FORCE STRUCTURE

The Defence Missions
The Future Battlespace
The Defence Missions as Force Drivers
Peacetime Security
Expeditionary Capability

Scale of Effort and Concurrency
Readiness
Sustainability
High/Low Intensity Capabilities
In Theatre- Defence

Joint Rapid Reaction Forces
Regeneration to meet a Strategic Attack on NATO
Joint Operations
Main Changes in Force Structure
Naval Forces

Frigates and Destroyers
Submarines
Trident
Mine Countermeasures
Royal Marines
Future Aircraft Carriers and Carrier-borne Aircraft
The Navy 'Package'

Land Forces

Royal Armoured Corps
Air Manoeuvre Brigade

Air Forces

Aircraft Numbers

The Package for the Regular Forces

The Reserves
The Reserve Forces Before the SDR
The Royal Naval and Royal Marine Reserves
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Territorial Army
Roles of the Reserves

The Reserves as an insurance against the unexpected
Backfill
The Reserves as a link between the Military and Society

Costs of the Reserves
The Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations


EQUIPPING THE FORCES

Current Equipment Requirements, and the Role of the Private Sector

Changes in Equipment Requirements under the SDR
Use of the Private Sector in Supporting and Operating Equipment
Logistics

The Challenge Involved in Improving Procurement Performance

Early Developments
Downey
Levene
Recent performance

New Technology, and Research and Production Capabilities

New Technology
Research Capability
Development and Production Capability

Meeting the Challenges-Smart Procurement and Other Measures

Smart Procurement
New Approaches
Integrated Project teams
Tailored and Streamlined Acquisition Procedures
The Procurement Executive's Future Structure
DERA's Future Structure
Procurement Collaboration and Production Capacity
Conclusions on Smart Procurement


PEOPLE

Strengths
Service Personnel

Undermanning and Overstretch
Service Personnel Management
Education and Training
Welfare

Single Living Accommodation
Operational Welfare

Support

Veterans
Families  

Equal Opportunities
The Services and Society

Conclusion


FUNDING

Background
What the SDR says about funding

Areas of Additional Expenditure
Areas of Reduced Expenditure, and Increased Receipts

The Sustainability of the Budget

Asset disposals
Efficiency

Efficiency Programme
The MoD's Overall Efficiency

Conclusions on Funding


CONCLUSIONS

Process
Security Priorities and Strategy
Force Structure
Challenges
The Future

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE REPORT

LIST OF WITNESSES

VOLUME II - Minutes of Evidence & Memoranda

Wednesday, 30 July 1997
Wednesday, 12 November 1997
Wednesday, 3 December 1997
Wednesday, 10 December 1997
Thursday, 11 December 1997
Wednesday, 21 January 1998
Wednesday, 11 February 1998
Wednesday, 18 March 1998
Wednesday, 25 March 1998
Wednesday, 8 April 1998
Wednesday, 22 April 1998
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

WRITTEN EVIDENCE

VOLUME III - Minutes of Evidence & Memoranda

---

---

Prepared 10 September 1998