Results 1-20 of 2,212 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Quentin Davies

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out in his oral statement to the House of 19 October a number of steps that we will take, in the light of the Gray report, to build on earlier and current reforms and to deliver a radical improvement in performance. Building on this, we intend to publish a wider, more detailed strategy for acquisition reform in the new year.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: We were already committed, before the publication of the Gray review, to a strategic defence review, which will start next year. We are undertaking quite a lot of preparatory work for that now.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: I am delighted to have the opportunity to say quite clearly on the record that the reports to which the hon. Gentleman refers are complete rubbish. There is no suggestion—it has never been in our minds at all—to re-specify either of the two aircraft carriers. There has been no change in that programme, and neither has there been any change in our joint strike fighter programme. As...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: She was a particularly gallant lady, providing a wonderful and inspiring example to us all. The answer to my hon. Friend, who is absolutely right to raise this matter, is that we attempt to achieve the very best in personal protection, the very best in the latest techniques to counter improvised explosive devices, the very best armoured and protected vehicles for our troops, the very best in...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: Of course I noticed that rather startling figure when I read the Gray report myself. The right hon. Gentleman, who has obviously read the report, will also have noticed that there is no evidential basis for that statement anywhere in it, nor is there an evidential basis for it anywhere else that I have ever come across. The very fact that the figure ranges between £1 billion and more...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: We continue to keep our equipment programme under constant review. The whole purpose of having an equipment programme—this is my job—is to ensure that it is managed on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis so that it is coherent, and so that we can make such changes as are required as a result of changing operational or other priorities. At any one time, of course, it must also be...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Gray Report (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: In the light of the hon. Gentleman's concern—he is trying to make a party political point—I think he has fundamentally misunderstood something important: the Haddon-Cave report, although it produced some very serious and worrying conclusions, is focused on the issue of airworthiness, whereas the Gray report is entirely about procurement. Clearly, we take into account in our...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Topical Questions (2 Nov 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: The position on helicopters is clear. Let me say solemnly to the House, because this is an important matter, that no commander, no senior officer has ever said to me in Afghanistan or here—that includes Sir Richard Dannatt, who I think has a certain credibility with those on the Opposition Benches—that there are insufficient helicopters in theatre to enable our troops to fulfil...

[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair] (27 Oct 2009)

Quentin Davies: I congratulate the hon. Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton) on her success in securing this debate. It is not only right and natural but highly desirable at a time when our forces are fighting in a distant country in the interest of the security of this nation and given the tragic losses that have resulted, that Parliament should focus on that conflict and that Members of Parliament should...

[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair] (27 Oct 2009)

Quentin Davies: There will always be different views about any armoured vehicle. The hon. Lady will understand that I am not a technical expert; I do not present myself as one, but one hears different arguments from the experts and one has to try to take a view. I have no doubt that our current procurement programme reflects the consensus among professionals. I go to great lengths to ensure that the...

[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair] (27 Oct 2009)

Quentin Davies: I am sure that hon. Members will be grateful for that plug for the Zephyr. It is a vehicle I know about. We have a great many vehicles that are presented to us and the points made by the hon. Gentleman in favour of the Zephyr will be noted, not least by QinetiQ. The hon. Member for Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross) wisely said that it is impossible to know what threats one will face in the...

[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair] (27 Oct 2009)

Quentin Davies: That is not entirely fair. The French, for example, have doubled their commitment to 4,000 troops over the past year. We welcome the German commitment, although I agree that we would like them to remove the caveats. We have discussions with the Germans about those matters, but we have to respect other people's constitutional issues. However, we believe that any contribution is better than...

[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair] (27 Oct 2009)

Quentin Davies: There are many aspects to Mr. Gray's report. Some give an interesting and valuable insight, and some are more controversial statements. Some statements are not backed up by any evidence at all. Such reports are extremely useful, and we are grateful for them. However, they do not necessarily represent the end of wisdom. The hon. Gentleman completely failed—perhaps he has not...

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: I think the hon. Gentleman will find that the Government are a much better friend to him on this subject than his Front-Bench colleagues. As with carriers, we are completely committed to Typhoon tranche 3. We are going ahead with that—we are on contract for it—so his constituents have work now for the next four or five years even if there are no export orders. We are going for...

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: The hon. Gentleman is obviously very well informed, and I am delighted that he was able to visit the Hebrides and see for himself. He has certainly identified many of the very critical factors, and what he says about them is perfectly right. To answer his earlier question, of course I took into account the socio-economic factors when coming to my decision about the range, but they were not...

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: rose—

Defence Policy (15 Oct 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: The hon. Gentleman is always very thoughtful about such matters and I have been listening to him with great interest. However, I put it to him, first, that the 80 per cent. solution is something that we are already doing—I am doing it on armoured vehicles, for example. Secondly, on separating support solutions from manufacturing, there will normally have to be a support contract with...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Defence Information Infrastructure (13 Jul 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: We have a contract with EDS, which, in turn, has set up a consortium called ATLAS. It consists of EDS itself, Fujitsu, General Dynamics UK, EADS and Logica. Beyond that, there is a range of subcontractors with defined tasks, sometimes for limited periods of time. The selection and identity of those subcontractors are a matter for the consortium.

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Defence Information Infrastructure (13 Jul 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: My hon. Friend is factually wrong on a number of those points. The budgeted costs certainly have not increased by 300 per cent., as he suggests; there has been a much more limited increase of about £180 million out of the £7.1 billion. I have to say to my hon. Friend that this project is going to save money in comparison with legacy methods of fulfilling the same role. That is very...

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence: Procurement (13 Jul 2009) has video

Quentin Davies: We keep our procedures under constant review, and are currently introducing further improvements.