MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
172/98 July 8, 1998
ROBERTSON'S REVIEW: MODERN FORCES FOR THE MODERN WORLD
Announcing the conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review to the
House of Commons today Defence Secretary George Robertson said:
"The Strategic Defence Review has delivered on this Government s
promise to provide strong defence for the future. This radical
review will modernise and re-shape our Armed Forces to meet the
challenges of the 21st century, and give them the firm foundation
which they need to plan for the long term.
"The Review has been grounded in foreign policy and sound military
experience: it builds on the strengths of our people as well as
Britain s long and distinguished military history. It is a mixture
of radical change and solid planning fused together through a process
of unprecedented open and wide consultation both within and outside
the Ministry of Defence. It has the wholehearted support of the
Chiefs of Staff.
"We will transform the way in which the Armed Forces do business.
New tri-service organisations will take the best from each of the
Services and maximise their collective punch. We shall be taking
major initiatives to ensure that we recruit the best people from all
walks of life, that we get the best from them, and that they benefit
from the best of modern employers. We shall ensure that they have
the right equipment and training to enable them to do the difficult
and dangerous jobs that the country requires of them. And all this
while making every pound count.
"The Strategic Defence Review will result in a reduction in the size
of our nuclear arsenal together with a re-affirmation of the
importance of the nuclear deterrent to the country s security. Our
Trident submarines will remain on a continuous patrolling pattern but
the number of warheads on each boat will be reduced to 48 from the
maximum of 96 announced by the previous Government.
"The Strategic Defence Review will give the country the defence it
needs, the Armed Forces the people they need, and our Service and
civilian people the tools they need to do the job.
"This Government is committed to strong defence: and strong defence
is sound foreign policy. The Strategic Defence Review will deliver
the modern forces for the modern world that will enable Britain to be
a force for good in the 21st century.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The major elements of the package are listed below and brief details
are behind:
Enhancements in Joint capabilities
Joint Rapid Reaction Forces
Joint RN/RAF fixed wing Force (Joint Force 2000)
Joint Battlefield Helicopter Command
Joint Army/RAF Ground Based Air Defence organisation
Deployable Joint Force Headquarters and greater powers for Chief of
Joint Operations.
Joint Defence Centre
New Strategic Lift assets
Plugging the gaps
Improving the capability of the Defence Medical Services
Logistic enhancements
Improved NBC defences
Modernising the Services
Plans to buy two new aircraft carriers
Strengthening amphibious forces
Extending attack submarine TLAM capability
350 additional Royal Naval Reservists
Increasing the number of deployable armoured and mechanised Army
Brigades from 5 to 6
Converting 5 Airborne Brigade to a Mechanised Brigade
Converting 24 Airmobile Brigade into a new air manoeuvre brigade
Adding 3,300 troops to Regular Army
Larger, but fewer, tank regiments
Improving TA deployability and usablility
Forming a TA Army Mobilisation Centre
Reducing the number of TA held for defence of UK
Confirming the order for Eurofighter
New Missiles for Eurofighter and Tornado
Improvements to Tornado GR4
Improvements to Nimrod R
Modernising the air transport fleet
270 new Air Force Reservists
Making the world a safer place
Defence Diplomacy
Declaring additional forces as potentially available to UN
Further steps on international arms control
Reducing our nuclear deterrent capability to the minimum necessary
Increased openness about our nuclear holdings
Caring for our people and society
Correcting undermanning
"Learning Forces" initiative
Improving operational welfare provision
A new Task Force for Families
Veterans Advice Cell
Increasing the resources for the Cadet Forces
Making every Pound count
Introducing Smart Procurement
New 4 star Chief of Defence Logisitics
A single Defence Transport and Movements Organisation
A new joint Defence Storage and Distribution Agency
Bringing together explosive storage processing and distribution
More active measures to dispose of excess holdings in the defence
estate
ENHANCEMENTS IN JOINT CAPABILITIES
Central to enhancing our fighting force will be to harness the skills
and capabilities of the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force. A large
number of measures are being introduced to allow us to put together,
at very short notice, a powerful joint force capable of immediate
and, if necessary, simultaneous operations. This means pooling the
expertise of the three Services more closely to produce a integrated
fighting force, maximising their punch. Key initiatives include:
* The creation of Joint Rapid Reaction Forces to spearhead our
modernised, rapidly deployable and better supported front line.
These forces - with real punch and protection - will have properly
deployable command and control, strategic lift, medical and logistic
support, and better arrangements for joint training. We will now be
able to mount operations around the size of our largest Bosnia
commitment (some 15,000 personnel) at short notice. We will for the
first time be able to undertake two of this size of operation at
once. The JRRF will be able to conduct operations ranging from
evacuation of British citizens, to high intensity conflict.
* In an historic agreement between the Chief of the Naval Staff
and the Chief of the Air Staff, a joint RN/RAF fixed wing force,
"Joint Force 2000", will operate from both land and our aircraft
carriers. This will initially bring together the Sea Harrier FA2 and
RAF Harrier GR7 into joint operating packages, but in future the RN
and RAF both plan to operate a single, common aircraft from land and
sea - the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft. No decision has been taken
on the aircraft type, but the US Joint Strike Fighter will be a
strong contender.
* A joint helicopter command under a 2-star officer (initially
RAF) to bring together all battlefield helicopters, including Navy
commando helicopters, Army attack helicopters and RAF support
helicopters. This will provide a potent unified force of some 400
helicopters. It will increase flexibility and utility, with the
introduction of best practice, and co-ordinated tasking, engineering
support, spares, stores and training.
* A joint Army/RAF ground based air defence organisation bringing
together the RAF Regiment and Army Rapier surface to air missile
units. This new force will enhance the rapid deployability of our
forces, making best use of equipment and manpower through full
interoperability. No longer will the Army need to wait to be
protected by Army Rapier, and the RAF - by RAF Rapier units. The new
force will have a joint headquarters and a joint training school
building on best Army/RAF practice, with all forces in time using
standard equipment and thereby operating as a fully integrated
command, sharing air defence tasks in support of all Arms of the
Services.
* Significantly enhanced in-theatre command and control of
operations by rapidly deployable joint force headquarters; and
greater authority and powers for the Chief of Joint Operations at the
Permanent Joint Headquarters, to ensure our forces are fully prepared
to fight, and win.
* A new Joint Defence Centre to improve the military effectiveness
of our forces by providing a proper focus for the development of
doctrine for joint training and operations. This centre of excellence
on how forces should deploy and operate to best effect will be
available to advise on doctrine for peacekeeping and multinational
operations: we hope in time it will provide an international focus
for such vital work. It will also bring together effort to look
strategically at our future requirements, provide a long-term
equipment framework, and better interoperability between the
Services.
* Strategic lift to allow a rapid response capability will be
enhanced by acquiring 4 more RORO container ships (probably through a
PFI deal), giving us 6 in total. This will allow us to deploy our
Joint Rapid Reaction Forces, including their heavy armour and
protection, at very short notice. In the short term we will also
acquire 4 C17 large aircraft or their equivalent. In the longer term
we need to consider a suitable replacement for our remaining elderly
transport aircraft, for which the proposed FLA is a contender.
PLUGGING THE GAPS
The SDR will also fix the deep problems inherited from the previous
Government in the support area, which is the lifeblood of the Forces
and without which they cannot fight properly. It will fill in the
holes which left our forces dangerously hollowed out, and thereby
maximise their prospects for success on operations.
* The capability of our Defence Medical Services will be enhanced.
Personnel and equipment shortfalls will be rectified as a matter of
urgency, a 200-bed primary casualty receiving ship will be procured
(with a second on longer notice), 800 field beds across 4 field
hospitals will be brought to higher readiness, the Army s Regular
ambulance evacuation capability will be enhanced, and an additional
Regular RAF aeromedical evacuation flight and 18 Air Escort Flights
(paramedics who care for people in transit to UK and their equipment)
will be established. A number of other enhancements will be targeted
at the Defence Secondary Care Agency, probably including the
recruitment of additional staff, enhancing some of our psychiatric
services and speeding patient referrals. Spending will need some time
to build up, but is expected to reach around #40M a year by 2000/01,
and more thereafter.
* To remedy the weaknesses in logistics left by the last
Government and ease overstretch, we plan a package of logistic
enhancements extending over several years, with spending peaking at
over #100M a year. This will provide additional combat services
support taking account of the demanding environments in which we are
likely to operate, and the creation of two Joint Force Logistic
Component Headquarters to support simultaneous operations. Some 2000
new posts will be created in this area.
* To enhance the ability of our forces to operate in circumstances
where they may be threatened by the use of terrifying weapons of mass
destruction, we will improve our NBC defences to provide our forces
on operations with modern and effective nuclear, biological and
chemical defences. These will include an additional buy of
integrated biological detection systems and remote sensors;
nuclear/chemical reconnaissance systems; building up vaccines and
antibiotic packs and decontamination equipment packs. A 400 strong,
mainly Regular joint Army/RAF NBC unit will be established to operate
these capabilities, able therefore to be able to deploy sufficiently
quickly to meet the range of possible operational requirements. We
will be enhancing cooperation with allies such as the United States,
to ensure we collectively exploit to maximum effect new research and
medical breakthroughs.
MODERNISING THE SERVICES
In the post Cold-War world we must be prepared to go to the crisis,
rather than having the crisis come to us. Capabilities and equipment
will be modernised to provide highly flexible, well-equipped forces
able to project power very rapidly to potential troublespots and
crises. This means:
FOR THE RN
The emphasis will move from large scale open-ocean warfare to force
projection and littoral operations in conjunction with the other two
Services, with a premium on versatility and deployability. We will
match the front line more closely to today's requirements so that
manpower can be used to maximum effect where it is really needed. To
that end, we are:
* Planning to procure two large aircraft carriers, capable of
operating up to 50 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters from all three
services at one time (compared with a maximum of 24 aircraft now),
which will give us a new, potent and flexible maritime capability to
project power. This will give us a fully independent ability to
deploy a powerful combat force to potential troublespots without
waiting for basing agreements on other countries territory. We will
be able to be poised in international waters and most effectively
back up diplomacy with the threat of force.
* Strengthening support to our brigade-sized amphibious force
(5,000 troops), by acquiring an additional 4 RoRo container ships to
add to the existing two (Sea Chieftain and Sea Crusader). This is in
addition to our new helicopter carrier (HMS Ocean), the two
replacement Landing Platforms Dock (Albion and Bulwark) and two
replacement Landing Ships Logistic.
* Making all Trafalgar class submarines capable of firing our
1,000 mile range Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, thereby extending our
ability to apply pressure, for example to coerce rogue regimes to
comply with international and UN requirements. We have confirmed
existing plans to modernise our attack submarine force by purchasing
five Astute class; two more will be ordered early in the new century
to join the three already on order.
* Maintaining plans to modernise the destroyer and frigate force
with a new class of Common New Generation Frigates.
* Increasing numbers in the Royal Naval Reserve by 350, to 3,850,
to provide an expanded pool of personnel to provide additional
reinforcements for the Fleet, to enhance operational flexibility.
The number of training days in the RN Reserves will be increased from
25 to 35 and for RM Reserve trainees - from 35 to 65.
* Reflecting changed requirements by making small reductions in
the size of our attack submarine (12 to 10), surface escort (35 to
32) and mine countermeasure forces (18 to 22 instead of 25). Most of
the manpower will be re-deployed to ease overstretch in the front
line.
FOR THE ARMY
We will continue to need a full range of capabilities to guard
against the spectrum of scenarios we might face. We will modernise
the Army for the challenges of the future by focusing on mobility,
precision firepower, and protection for our forces. We will:
* Restructure the front line to provide six, not five deployable
armoured or mechanised brigades to help reduce overstretch, provide
greater flexibility and, together with the formation of the JRRF, the
ability to undertake two brigade size operations (one of which could
be sustained indefinitely) simultaneously at short notice.
* To achieve this, convert 5 Airborne Brigade - a light brigade
which has been shown not to have sufficient hitting power - into a
mechanised brigade (12 Mechanised Brigade), by transferring in an
armoured infantry and two mechanised infantry Battalions, and the
AS90 self-propelled gun, whose awesome firepower has been
demonstrated in Bosnia as essential in subduing the warring
factions.
* Create a new, powerful air manoeuvre brigade by bringing
together, in 24 Airmobile Brigade, the potent attack helicopter and
the unique skills of the Parachute Brigade. One parachute battalion
will continue to provide an airdrop capability. Three Army Air Corps
regiments will be equipped with the formidable Apache attack
helicopter from the year 2000.
* Create an additional armoured reconnaissance regiment by re-
roling one of the existing Armoured Regiments brought back from
Germany. Information gathering is vital on the battlefield and in
peacekeeping operations. To do this better we are examining new
technologies for future sensors, reconnaissance land vehicles and
unmanned air vehicles. As part of this, we will collaborate with the
US in the TRACER/Future Scout and Cavalry System programme.
* Add 3,300 Regular troops to the Army s numbers, particularly to
enhance those trades, such as signals, engineer, medical and logistic
troops, which are most heavily committed on operations. This will
improve our ability to conduct operations simultaneously, as well as
improving quality of life for our most hard-pressed personnel.
* Make our armoured capability more deployable and effective as a
fighting force, by restructuring into 6 larger tank regiments rather
than the 8 smaller regiments, with more manpower and tanks in each
regiment (58 tanks and 600 personnel by comparison with figures of 38
and 470).
* Make better use of the tank fleet by keeping only those tanks in
the front line that the regiments can use on a day to day basis - 30
out of the 58. As a result our soldiers will spend more time
training and less on routine vehicle maintenance.
* Modernise and enhance the TA to make it more readily deployable
and usable - by increasing readiness for operations, including
through creating an Army Mobilisation Centre. The TA will be brought
to the standard required to undertake demanding and operationally
vital tasks at short notice, by enhancing its training and
equipment. We will make it more usable through greater use of the
powers available under the 1996 Reserve Forces Act: for example to
meet a divisional sized warfighting deployment (eg an operation the
size of our contribution to the Gulf War) we would plan compulsorily
to call out a significant proportion of the TA. The TA will as a
result be able to stand proud in the contribution it can make as a
force for good in the world. But, because of the vastly reduced
threat to the UK, numbers of lightly equipped infantry and yeomanry
will be reduced. The size of the TA will reduce from some 57,000 to
around 40,000. The implications for TA centres have yet to be
determined, and will be done very carefully, in consultation, to
ensure that we do not damage, but as far as possible build on
existing strong links with society and the community across the
country. We are very aware, for example, of the importance that many
attach to the historic traditions and ethos of our regiments. We
will need to consider very carefully how to ensure that necessary
evolution to meet the challenges of the future does not mean that the
benefits of tradition are lost to future generations of soldiers. We
also want to take into account the availability of training
facilities; and the need for close working between Territorial units
and the Regular Armed Forces.
FOR THE RAF
Air power will be an ever more crucial ingredient in both warfighting
and peace support operations. We shall adjust the emphasis of the
Royal Air Force further from defence of the UK airspace against a
largely redundant threat, to deploying our aircraft to crises -
whether it be for warfighting or a coercive instrument to support
political aims. We will also match the size of our front line more
closely to today's requirements so that the manpower can be used to
maximum effect where it is really needed. We are:
* Confirming Eurofighter - a world beating aircraft - to provide a
step change in the RAF s ability to achieve air superiority and
provide air defence for the joint battlefield.
* Procuring a range of new missiles for the Tornado and
Eurofighter to enhance capabilities, such as the BVRAAM (Beyond
Visual Range Air to Air Missile), more AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range
Air to Air Missile), the Brimstone advanced anti armour missile, and
the Storm Shadow stand off air to surface long range cruise
missile.
* Improving the Tornado GR4 bomber and its deployability -
deployment packs to assist rapid deployment on operations, additional
support manpower, engine and avionics spares packages; portable
engineering and hangar accommodation; and a collision warning system
to improve safety for man and machine.
* Improving the Nimrod-R with the fitting of the Joint Tactical
Information Distribution System, to enhance the RAF s reconnaissance
capability so vital to both peacekeeping (such as searching out
refugees in Eastern Africa) and warfighting operations.
* Developing the successor to the Tornado GR4: studies continue
into a Future Offensive Air System to replace the Tornado GR4 in
about 20 years time, looking at cruise missiles and remotely
piloted/unmanned air vehicles as well as manned aircraft.
* Modernising the air transport fleet. In the short term, by
acquiring 4 C17 large aircraft or their equivalent. We will continue
to look for a suitable replacement for our remaining elderly
transport aircraft in the longer term - for which the proposed FLA is
a contender.
* Creating 270 new reservists posts in logistics and other
supporting roles so vital to deployments and operations. This will
result in an increase in the Reserve Air Forces from 2,650 to 2,920.
Readiness profiles will be adjusted to reflect operational
requirements, and make the Reserves more usable.
* Reflecting changed requirements by reducing front line strength
by 36 fast jet combat aircraft and disbanding two squadrons. Most of
the personnel will be redeployed to ease overstretch in the front
line.
MAKING THE WORLD A SAFER PLACE
This Government is determined to be a force for good - to do all it
can to help make the world a safer place, through deterring and
preventing conflict and crisis:
* Defence Diplomacy - preventing the conditions which lead to
conflict - has been a key theme of the SDR. In recognition of its
importance we have made Defence Diplomacy one of the 8 defence
missions.
* Defence Diplomacy will include:
An enhanced arms control programme incorporating an improved
"Open Skies" capability to monitor arms control agreements and
additional training in arms control inspection techniques;
An expansion of the Outreach programme of advice and assistance
to countries of central and Eastern Europe, including greater
use of attachments and additional training courses. In
particular we shall be emphasising the importance of
accountability and the role and value of civilians in defence
management;
More education and training initiatives, including the
establishment of a Defence Diplomacy scholarship scheme at the
Joint Services Command and Staff College and providing extra
manpower for short term in country tasks;
We expect to create a number of new Defence Attache posts after
we have completed a review into our worldwide requirement, which
will look in particular to their key role in defence diplomacy
Other ways of building trust and helping other countries to pull
their weight in the international community, such as conducting
exercises with and visits to other countries.
* This is a step change in the time and effort we devote to
Defence Diplomacy and means that in due course we shall be
spending around an additional #15M per annum on these
activities.
* We will declare as potentially available to the UN a much larger
proportion of our readily available forces (from the Joint Rapid
Reaction Forces pool), in recognition of the important role that the
UN plays in conflict prevention, to help enhance its capability and
clout.
* We will continue to press hard for international progress on
arms control. We intend, for example, to develop our capability to
verify reductions in nuclear weapons, using AWE expertise.
* For our own part we will maintain only the minimum nuclear
deterrence required to deter threats to our vital interests. We have
decided:
* to have only one submarine on patrol at any time
carrying a reduced load of 48 warheads; half the previous
Government's announced ceiling of 96.
* the submarine on patrol will be at a reduced alert
state and will carry out a range of secondary tasks. Its
missiles will be detargeted and at several days 'notice to
fire', rather than minutes as during the Cold War.
* we will maintain fewer than 200 operationally
available warheads; a one third reduction from the previous
Government's plans.
* we do not need any more than the 58 Trident missile
bodies already purchased or ordered. The Royal Navy will
not have the final seven missiles planned by the previous
Government.
* As a result:
* the total explosive power of our operationally
available weapons will have reduced by over 70% since the
end of the Cold War.
* the explosive power of each Trident submarine will be
one third less than that of our Polaris submarines [armed
with Chevaline] in recent years.
* our nuclear holdings will be considerably lower than
any other member of the Permanent Five;
* we are reducing defence holdings of fissile material
available for use in nuclear weapons.
* We will be as open as possible about nuclear issues, including
our holdings of nuclear materials. We are the first Nuclear Weapons
State to declare the size of our defence fissile material stocks:
* 7.6 tonnes of plutonium, 21.9 tonnes of highly enriched
uranium, and
* 15,000 tonnes of other forms of uranium, of which just over
9,000 tonnes is no longer required for defence purposes and will
be placed under EURATOM safeguards and liable to IAEA
inspections, as will 4.4 tonnes of plutonium (including 0.3
tonnes of weapons grade material).
CARING FOR OUR PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
People are of crucial importance to effective modern defence. We
must recruit and retain the best people, train and equip them
properly for their tasks, and ensure that the demands from them and
their families do not become unreasonable. Our policy for people
will:
* Reduce overstretch; by increasing the size of the forces in
those skills which are in greatest demand on operations; changing the
pattern of deployments such as ships and submarines, so as to reduce
routine peacetime tasks and the burden of separation from families;
managing Army operational tours better through the restructuring of
deployable brigades; and bringing units up to full strength through
vigorous recruiting and using the manpower released from the minor
reductions in the front line (attack submarines, surface escorts and
combat aircraft) to fill existing gaps in other units.
* Make service careers more attractive; through a major Learning
Forces initiative - tied into the Government s Lifelong Learning
programme. This will help attract young people, provide incentives
for them to stay in the forces longer, and - for when they do leave -
give them highly transferable skills in demand in the civilian
employment market. The initiative will provide Learning Credits
which may be claimed both in service and for some time afterwards.
* Improve operational welfare provision such as telephone calls
home, a common leave entitlement (bringing junior Army and RAF
personnel onto a par with their RN colleagues), and giving higher
priority to improving the standard of single living accommodation.
* Establish a dedicated task force for families to address the
special problems arising from a mobile lifestyle - such as access to
healthcare and school places.
* Create a special Veterans advice cell and helpline.
In society at large, recognising the vital link between the services
and society, by the injection of an additional #1M per year to
support the activities of the Cadets, our nationwide youth movement.
Great care will be taken to minimise the impact of changes to the
Territorial Army on the Cadets: where a TA Centre is affected by the
review, alternative arrangements will be made to provide for the
Cadets.
MAKING EVERY POUND COUNT
Every pound spent on defence must count, and be spent wisely and
well. In order to free up resources for operational enhancements and
to make good inherited weaknesses, the SDR has included a rigorous
examination of all our activities and assets, to ensure they are
relevant for the future and carried out as efficiently as possible
for the taxpayer. This has resulted in:
* Reductions in those aspects of our capabilities which were
needed for the challenges of the Cold War, but which are now less
relevant, such as anti-submarine warfare and the direct air and
ground defence of the UK. There will accordingly be a reduction of 2
in the number of attack submarines (from 12); of 3 in the number of
surface escort ships (from 35); and the planned increase in the
number of mine countermeasures vessels will be limited to 22 rather
than 25. We need fewer combat aircraft to meet our commitments and
we can therefore reduce the front line. The personnel freed up will
be redeployed to fill gaps elsewhere.
* Our Smart Procurement initiative, to eliminate overruns in cost
and time, and get equipment faster, cheaper, better. The radical
overhaul of our procurement processes will include the introduction
of integrated project teams, jointly with industry, to run throughout
the life of a project. We will buy equipment on an incremental
basis: getting a basic capability quickly into the field and then
upgrading as technology moves on.
* A 4-star Chief of Defence Logistics responsible for organising
defence logistics so as to best provide for our front line forces as
they operate together on joint operations. For example, there will no
longer be different supply lines to RAF and RN Harrier aircraft
operating as a joint force from our Carriers. The Chief of Defence
Logistics (CDL) will spur efficiency and drive through best business
practice throughout a unified logistics organisation and in
particular strengthen through-life support for equipment.
* A single Defence Transport and Movements organisation with
responsibility for all land, sea and air movements. This will
streamline and bring together the work now done in three
organisations: the Defence Transport and Movements Executive, the Air
Movements Executive, and the Joint Transport and Movements
organisation, with consequent increase in effectiveness and financial
efficiencies.
* A joint Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (Non-Explosive)
will be formed by April 1999, to be responsible across the board for
3rd and 4th line storage. It will be owned by the Quartermaster
General, and will come under the Chief of Defence Logistics.
* Explosive storage, processing and distribution, currently split
between the Royal Navy and Army, will be brought together as a joint
division of the Naval Base Support Agency by April 1999.
* We will harness the opportunities offered by a Public Private
Partnership to strengthen the Defence Evaluation and Research
Agency s ability to continue to provide world class scientific
research well into the next century.
* We have looked long and hard at the Defence Estate, focusing
particularly on high value sites, especially those in London, to
ensure that we keep no more than essential. Our hard scrutiny of our
estate has resulted in more than a doubling of anticipated receipts,
to around #700M over the next four years. Specific measures
include:-
- dispose of the Duke of York s Headquarters in Chelsea (re-
accommodating TA units elsewhere or in the Duke of York s as
tenants) and Millbank Barracks;
- continue with PPI to re-provide Chelsea Barracks, not
necessarily on its present site;
- dispose of a number of other sites, either fully or
partially, around the country, for example parts of the Army
sites at Chilwell and Woolwich; storage and support sites at
Didcot, Malvern, Old Dalby, Thatcham and RAF Cardington.
- set up a better and tighter central control mechanism for
the defence estate which we will use to search actively for
disposal opportunities, including through a strategic
development plan for London.
* We are determined to make every pound spent on defence count.
We instituted a fundamental review of activities and assets as part
of the Defence Review. This has proved so successful that we have
been able not only to provide for the enhancements necessary to
modernise the Armed Forces, but also to make a contribution towards
wider Government priorities. The Defence settlement will mean a
reduction, in real terms, of #500M in the first year, rising to
nearly #700M in the third year, as the efficiencies begin to take
greater effect. In sum, a fall of 3% in real terms in the Defence
budget by the end of this Parliament. The precise figures are as
follows:
1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 1998/99 less
2001/02
CASH(#M) 22240 22295 22830 22987
*CONSTANT
98/99 PRICES 22240 21730 21709 21555 -685
YEAR ON YEAR% -2.3 -0.1 -0.7 -3.1
*ASSUMING ASSET SALES OF #230M IN 2001/02
# = pounds sterling
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