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Spending Review
To ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories, including against terrorism, and to support the Government's foreign policy objectives, particularly in promoting international peace and security.
Objective I: provide and direct Armed Forces able to undertake successfully a major operation on a similar scale and duration to the Gulf War, or two medium scale operations (of similar size to that in Kosovo), one involving war fighting, and sustain them simultaneously for up to six months, whilst meeting long standing commitments and being able to rebuild a bigger force should a major threat to Europe re-emerge.
1. To achieve the above, by 2005 ensure that a minimum of 90% of rapidly available military units are at required states of readiness.
2. Recruit, retain and motivate the personnel needed to meet the manning requirement of the Armed Forces, so that by March 2004, the Royal Navy and RAF achieve full manning, and the Army meets 97% of its manning requirement.
3. Achieve the objectives established by Ministers for military operations that arise in which the United Kingdom's Armed Forces are involved.
Objective II: in order to achieve the above, provide an effective defence policy, planning and management infrastructure.
4. Working with NATO Allies, implement the decisions of the NATO Washington Summit, including the new Strategic Concept and the Defence Capabilities Initiative, and help to adapt NATO to the new strategic environment.
5. Work with partners so that the European Union (EU) can, by 2003, deploy forces of up to Corps level (50-60,000 personnel) within 60 days, capable of undertaking the full range of Petersberg tasks (from disaster relief to large scale peace-support operations) in and around Europe.
6. Improved effectiveness of the UK contribution to conflict prevention and management as demonstrated by a reduction in the number of people whose lives are affected by violent conflict and by a reduction in potential sources of future conflict, where the UK can make a significant contribution. Joint target with DFID and FCO
Objective III: provide fighting equipment for the Armed Forces using Smart Procurement principles, so that they maintain the military capability to conduct the operational tasks required of them.
7. Develop and deliver battle-winning equipment to time, cost and capability requirement targets that will enable the Armed Forces to provide the military capability required of them now and in the future.
8. Achieve value for money through delivering efficiency savings of 3% a year, benefits of the Smart Procurement Initiative of £750 million over the period 2001-02 to 2003-04, and continuing the drive for the optimum utilisation of the defence asset base, with disposals of over £600 million of assets by March 2004.
The Secretary of State for Defence is responsible for delivery of this PSA.
MOD and FCO share responsibility for delivery of target 4 on NATO and target 5 on the European Defence Initiative, whilst MOD, FCO and DFID share responsibility for target 6 on conflict prevention.
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