Tag: hammond

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Plans to part-privatise military procurement come under scrutiny

By Sharon Black

Queen’s speech mentions moves to ‘improve the way this country procures defence equipment’ and boost reserve forces The Queen’s speech mentions two important forthcoming pieces of legislation in defence regarding proposals that are getting more controversial the longer they are scrutinised. The first involves plans to part-privatise the agency within the Ministry of Defence that deals with the buying, supplying and repairing of all military equipment

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Afghanistan’s future after Nato troops leave uncertain, admits Hammond

By Sharon Black

Afghans will determine their own fate, says defence secretary, as MPs warns country could descend into civil war within years The defence secretary has admitted that no one can predict what will happen to Afghanistan after British, US and other Nato troops end their frontline role there at the end of 2014, and stressed that only the Afghan people can find a lasting solution to the country’s violence, corruption and lawlessness. Philip Hammond’s remarks came as the Commons cross-party defence committee warned that Afghanistan could descend into civil war within a few years and suggests that the British government’s attitude towards the country is one of simply hoping for the best. Hammond told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the UK had intervened in Afghanistan to protect its national security and had never intended to stay for a protracted period

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UK to withdraw 11,000 troops from Germany by 2016

By Sharon Black

Defence secretary to announce accelerated pullout, which will require £1bn spend on new UK housing for troops More than 11,000 troops currently based in Germany will return to Britain within three years as part of a major restructuring of the army that will require ministers to spend £1bn on new military homes. The announcement on Tuesday marks a sharp acceleration of the withdrawal of British forces in Germany, which have been stationed there since the end of the second world war.

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Future Reserve Forces 2020

By Sharon Black

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced that the Government accepts the broad thrust of the six recommendations made in the review of the United Kingdom’s Reserve Forces published on 18 July 2011.

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Defence Secretary responds to report on Major Projects

By Sharon Black

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has said, following the National Audit Office’s publication today of a report analysing the cost, time and performance of the MOD’s 15 largest military equipment projects, that the Department has got a grip on its equipment programme.