6.3 | Military equipment (pre-conflict)

The UOR rules were changed to include a training margin in 2006.332 The September 2007

DOC report stated:

“The recent Treasury decision to permit UOR procured equipment to include an

allocation for training is already having an effect…”

Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Equipment

Capability) from June 2006, told the Inquiry that decision was “an important step

forward”.333

614. The restrictions until 15 October 2002 on discussions with industry about

potential operations in Iraq did prevent early conversations with industry about

the provision of equipment.

615. But it is clear that the most senior military officers and officials understood

the reasons for that decision.

616. Sir Kevin Tebbit told the Inquiry:

“… some very contingent UOR work was authorised by Mr Hoon at the time under

CDS’ pressure … but those were very much ones which could be done invisibly.”334

617. Asked if he had sensed some reluctance in the Government to agree preparatory

steps, Maj Gen Fry replied that he thought there was, but that had to be qualified to

reflect the fact that what he saw was determined by his role in the PJHQ. In his view it

was understandable if Ministers had been “trying to reserve their positions for as long

as they could”.335

618. Mr Hoon told the Inquiry:

“All I know is that Mike [Boyce] and I went to meetings in September, where we

argued the case and that we were both made very well aware of the attitude in

Downing Street towards the requirement for minimising publicity and for avoiding

the visibility of preparations. We were both there at these meetings. So there was

no doubt of the fact that we could not go out, either of us, and overtly prepare, which

is why we had to approach some of the UORs in a particular way …

“I think the judgement that I had to make and he had to make was the extent to

which we could go on with preparations without affecting that diplomatic process

in the United Nations.”336

332 Report DOC, September 2007, ‘Protection of the Deployed Force Operational Audit Report 1/07’.

333 Public hearing, 27 July 2010, page 43.

334 Public hearing, 3 December 2009, page 36.

335 Public hearing, 16 December 2009, pages 11-13.

336 Public hearing, 19 January 2010, page 136.

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