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Government Crest

Delivering Security in a Changing World
Future Capabilities

Presented to Parliament by The Secretary of State for Defence
By Command of Her Majesty
July 2004

Cm 6269

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Delivering Security in a Changing World
Future Capabilities (HTML Version)

Contents

Foreword by the Secretary of State for Defence
The Right Honourable Geoff Hoon MP

Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Honourable Geoff Hoon MPIn the Defence White Paper of last December I set out the need to defend against the principal security challenges of the future: international terrorism, the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and weak and failing states.  Our need in the future is for flexible and adaptable armed forces properly supported to carry out the most likely expeditionary operations.  To create a more sustainable and affordable force structure which better meets these operational requirements we have secured additional resources: the 2004 Spending Review allocated £3.7 billion to defence across the Spending Review period, which represents an average real terms increase of 1.4% a year.  Additionally, we shall also generate resources to strengthen the front line through our comprehensive efficiency and rationalisation plans, the benefits of which will be ploughed back into the defence budget.  As indicated in the White Paper, we are pursuing radical change in the future force structure, reducing force levels in some capabilities in order to invest more in higher priority capabilities better able to achieve the effects we will require.  We will increase our capacity to undertake expeditionary operations alongside an equipment programme that is delivering, and will continue to deliver, an advanced range of capabilities.  The result will ensure that the resources the Government commits to Defence are deployed to optimum effect.  The Chiefs of Staff support the radical change we are pursuing and have been instrumental in its preparation.  

Section 1: Introduction »

Last Updated: 26 Jul 04