The Strategic Defence and Security Review and the National Security Strategy

HC 761, Sixth Report of Session 2010-12 - Volume I: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - Defence Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £28.70

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This report, 'The Strategic Defence and Security Review and the National Security Strategy (HC 761)' notes mounting concern that UK Armed Forces may be falling below the minimum utility required to deliver the commitments that they are currently being tasked to carry out, let alone the tasks they are likely to face between 2015 to 2020 when it is acknowledged that there will be capability gaps.

The Committee is concerned that UK Armed Forces will be continually operating at the maximum level envisaged by the Defence Planning Assumptions. The Committee is not convinced that this aspiration can be achieved by co-operation with our allies given the challenges of aligning political with operational needs. The Strategic Defence and Security Review identified seven military tasks and the Defence Planning Assumptions that underpin them. However the Review fails to show how decisions such as those on the Aircraft Carriers and Nimrod MRA4 will lead to the Armed Forces being able to undertake those military tasks.

The Committee has serious concerns over the realisation of what is called "Future Force 2020", the Government's intended shape of the Armed Forces from 2020, particularly as the provision of the necessary resources is only a Government aspiration, not Government policy.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) must reform, and ensure substantially improved transparency and control over its finance and budgetary practices. When committing to undertake new operations the Government should state from the outset where that operation fits in the Defence Planning Assumptions and which of the military tasks it is meeting.

The Committee is concerned that the Government seems to have postponed the sensible aspiration of bringing commitments and resources into line, in that it has taken on the new commitment of Libya while reducing the resources available to MoD.

Extent	244 pages	ISBN	9780215561138
Size	A4	Price	£28.70
Format	Paperback	Published	03 Aug 2011
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges