4. At its appointment, the Committee set itself the
following objectives for activities not necessarily directly related
to inquiries and reports.
NO. |
SUBJECT
|
ACTION |
TIMING |
1 |
Statement on the Defence Estimates
|
To take evidence and report in time for debate
|
Annually (May to August)
|
2 |
Budget/public expenditure survey
|
To take oral evidence from the Secretary of State immediately after spending plans are announced
|
Annually (November)
|
3 |
Chiefs of Staff
|
To meet each informally
|
Once a year (at least)
|
4 |
Front line forces
|
To visit one unit of each service
|
Once a year |
5 |
Support units
|
To visit one unit of each service
|
Once every 18 months
|
6 |
Statutory Instruments
|
To consider important ones and possibly take oral evidence
|
On laying |
7 |
Public appointments
|
To consider significant ones and possibly take oral evidence
|
As they occur |
8 |
MoD Performance report
|
To take note |
Annually |
9 |
British forces on operations at Brigade (or equivalent) level or above
|
To visit (2/3 days)
|
Once a year |
10 |
Gulf War syndrome
|
To monitor developments, take evidence and report
|
Once a year/ as events require
|
11 |
Northern Ireland
|
To visit (3/4 days)
|
Once every two years
|
12 |
Defence agencies
|
To take oral evidence on annual report
|
Two agencies per year
|
13 |
Defence Committees of major European countries
|
To meet/visit |
Once every two years for France, Germany & Italy (possibly within NAA/WEU)
|
14 |
USA Congressional Committees in the field of national security
|
To meet/visit |
Once a year (possibly within NAA)
|
15 |
Major procurement projects
|
To monitor developments and seek regular written or oral evidence
|
Annually (Eurofighter, Horizon, Challenger 2)
|
16 |
Resource Accounting and Budgeting
|
To monitor MoD's progress and take part in the choice of performance measures
|
By the end of the Parliament
|
17 |
Defence manufacturers
|
To visit/be briefed by UK defence manufacturers
|
One a year |
18 |
Replies to parliamentary questions
|
To monitor refusals to give information and consider taking evidence in private
|
Once a year |
