6.3 |
Military equipment (pre-conflict)
ACM Bagnall
replied on 21 February:
“… there is
a need to avoid cutting across established and well understood
command
chains from
theatre, through CJO, to CDS. Beyond that, given the large number
of
people who
are at geographically remote locations in theatre – some of whom
are still
en route
and many are in the process of acclimatisation and preparation for
possible
operations
– it would be very difficult for an agent outside the command chain
to keep
an eye on
the many equipment issues which may arise.”180
ACM Bagnall
acknowledged “fully” the need for “a rapid and timely information
flow” that
could
quickly alert Ministers to potential equipment issues and
facilitate a swift response.
He wrote
that Lt Gen Reith had “taken steps to alert DCDS(EC) as a
matter of urgency to
any matters
which require his attention” and similar arrangements were in place
in terms
of the
interface with the DLO.
A
handwritten note on ACM Bagnall’s minute from Lord Bach’s Private
Office stated:
“Minister
the predictable answer: VCDS agreed with Jock [Stirrup] but the
COS
wouldn’t
wear it. So I think we’ll have to live with this.”181
372.
On
14 February, AM Stirrup reported that 161 equipment UORs, at a
value of
“some
£472m”, and 110 sustainability UORs at a value of £310m had been
approved.182
He
stated:
•
Combat ID
equipment trials had been successful.
•
There were
“currently no major concerns regarding the availability of
desert
clothing”.
373.
At the meeting
on 17 February, Lord Bach was advised that “the suite of
Combat
ID
equipment had been delivered to contract” and would be fitted in
theatre.183
374.
It was also
reported that there was “increased confidence in the DLO in
the
robustness
of the timetable for the delivery of desert clothing to those that
need it”.
375.
On NBC
capabilities, the record stated:
“… concerns
remain about the availability of various NBC consumables, on
which
advice will
be submitted next week. Aside from operational implications, the
Minister
believes
that we need very carefully to handle presentational aspects of
this. He
was
particularly concerned to hear that stocks of time expired
ComboPens184
have
recently
re-lifed (following testing at Porton Down) and are being issued
with revised
180
Minute VCDS
to MA/Min(DP), 21 February 2003, ‘Operation TELIC –
UORs’.
181
Manuscript
comment PS/Min(DP) on Minute VCDS
to MA/Min(DP), 21 February 2003, ‘Operation
TELIC –
UORs’.
182
Minute
DCDS(EC) to PS/Minister(DP), 14 February 2003, ‘Iraq: Op TELIC
UORs’.
183
Minute
PS/Min (DP) to MA/DCDS(EC), 17 February 2003, ‘Iraq: Op TELIC
UORs’.
184
ComboPens
are syringes containing an antidote to improve the chances of
surviving a chemical attack.
59