17 Nov 2010: Column 793W

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, (c) trade unions and (d) industry bodies on the likely effects of the outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review on civil (i) manufacturing and (ii) transportation. [23683]

Dr Fox [holding answer 12 November 2010]: During the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) I had discussions with other Government Ministers, trade unions, and industry representatives on the industrial implications of the SDSR.

We now plan to enter into an extensive programme of negotiations in the coming months as part of the SDSR implementation process. This will run in parallel with us developing Green and White Papers on our Defence and Security Industrial and Technology Policy.

I have had no specific discussions with these parties on civil transportation. We will be conducting detailed investment appraisals as the SDSR is implemented, including on the civil sector and societal issues.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of the outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review on the defence estate in Northern Ireland. [24108]

Mr Robathan: No decision has yet been made on changes to the Defence estate (including that in Northern Ireland) or to the way it is managed.

The Ministry of Defence keeps its estate under continual review to ensure that it is of the right size and quality to meet operational needs. However, estate rationalisation arising from the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) has highlighted the need for a follow-on programme of work: 'SDSR-Estate Rationalisation and Withdrawing Troops from Germany' that could lead to a further reduction in the size of the estate and to lower running costs.