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BASIC MEDIA ADVISORY

Monday 30 July 2007 - IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Four Major UK Security Announcements on Eve of Parliamentary Recess

Dr Ian Davis, Co-Executive Director, BASIC

The UK government released a total of 46 written statements on one day last week, just as MPs were leaving parliament for the summer recess. The statements included four important policy announcements on defence and security issues:

• New proposed counter-terrorism powers;
• Closure of the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO);
• Approval of the construction of two new aircraft carriers; and
• Approval for the use of Menwith Hill as part of the US missile defence system.

BASIC Co-Executive Director Ian Davis said: This is a mixed bag of announcements. Some like the closure of DESO are very welcome, while others such as the construction of new aircraft carriers and a deepening of Britain's role in the US missile defence system less so. They hinge upon threat assessments and solutions more in tune with the past century than present and future security concerns".

1. New counter-terrorism proposals

It was this issue that grabbed all the media headlines last week. In a statement to parliament on 25 July Gordon Brown said Britain must be "strong in security, robust in our resolve, resilient in response". He detailed the scale of the terrorist threat:

• 15 attempted terrorist attacks since 9/11;
• 30 more plots known to the authorities; and
• 2,000 individuals being monitored.

The prime minister outlined government strategy for what he called "a generation-long challenge to defeat al-Qaida-inspired terrorist violence". He announced an integrated border force (encompassing customs and immigration officials, but excluding the police) to combat terrorism, a review of the use of intercept evidence in court and invited discussion on plans to double the current limit for detaining terror suspects without charge, from 28 to 56 days (less than two years since parliament defeated Tony Blair's plans for 90-day detention).

The prime minister's statement came on the back of the release of both an Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) Report on UK involvement in the US rendition programme and the Government's response. The Committee concludes that there is no evidence of any UK Agency being directly involved in US rendition, although there was one case where MI5 contributed to the seizure of two British residents by the CIA, which secretly flew them to Guantánamo Bay. In a scathing attack on the US security services the Committee said:

The Security Service did not foresee that the U.S. authorities would disregard the caveats, given that they had honoured the caveat system for the past 20 years. This case shows a lack of regard on the part of the U.S. for UK concerns - despite strong protests - and that has serious implications for the intelligence relationship.

The prime minister also stressed that he is seeking to build consensus for these proposals. However, a report published today by the House of Lords and House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights states that there is no evidence to justify extending the time terror suspects can be held without charge beyond the current 28-day limit. It also brands as "Kafkaesque" part of the control order system, which restricts the liberty of suspected terrorists the government says it cannot prosecute. The report backs making intercept evidence admissible against suspects and wants more parliamentary scrutiny of terror laws and powers.

BASIC is reviewing UK counter-terrorism policy and will publish our findings in the autumn.

2. Closure of DESO

In a written ministerial statement on 25 July the prime minister announced changes as to how defence trade should be handled by the UK Government. This included closure by the end of the year of the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), the 450-strong Whitehall department within the MoD, which is devoted to helping the defence sector to sell military equipment abroad. Major General Alan Sharman, the head of the Defence Manufacturers' Association, said: "This was a complete bombshell. I am amazed", adding that the arms companies are "absolutely" opposed to the closure and called on ministers to "rethink" the decision.

DESO was set up in 1966 by a Labour Government to lobby foreign governments and organise marketing campaigns for arms firms pursuing contracts. BASIC has argued for closure of DESO (and an end to export credit guarantees for defence exports) because it was part of an unwarranted subsidy of profitable defence companies; resulted in arms exports that undermined human rights; and because of wider concerns about the impact of subsidised arms sales on Britain's international reputation and security. The government statement also says that UK Trade and Investment, the Whitehall agency responsible for promoting British exports across all industries, will take charge of promoting arms sales. It is important that the closure of DESO heralds a real change in government policy and not just a re-organisation of the same activities from one agency to another.

BASIC will publish an updated analysis of DESO shortly after the summer parliamentary recess.

3. Approval of two new aircraft carriers

The construction of two new aircraft carriers, the largest warships to be built in Britain, was approved after nine years of debate in a government announcement on 25 July. The total cost is estimated at £3.9bn and forms a significant part of a £7.7bn increase in the defence budget over the next three years. Britain's defence budget will rise to £36.9bn in 2010/11, although the figures do not take into account the cost of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (now totalling more than £6.6bn). The budget also includes £1bn over the next three years to maintain Britain's Trident nuclear weapon system, which the MoD claims "will not be at the expense of current operations".

The two 65,000-tonne carriers, already named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are due to enter service in 2014 and 2016. The head of the navy, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, said the announcement confirmed Britain's status as a "major player" on the world stage. "This is a significant decision to invest in the future, to be able to deliver air power around the world," he said, adding "I am entirely content that the country will get the navy it deserves - a powerful navy for the future; which is entirely right - because we are a large player on the world scene." The carriers will be built by a joint venture (BAE Systems and VT Group) in four main shipyards (Clyde, Barrow, Portsmouth, and Rosyth) although 12 other yards will also be involved in the work, which defence officials claim will support 10,000 jobs over 10 years.

Each carrier can take 40 aircraft, but uncertainty surrounds their make and timing. The MoD wants to buy US-made Joint Strike fighters in a deal previously estimated to cost up to £12bn, but they may not be ready on time. If so, Britain's ageing Harriers may be used as a stop-gap.

This announcement is consistent with Britain's underlying security doctrine pursued with remarkable consistency by successive governments for over 50 years. To ensure that the United Kingdom can support the United States in global force projection, Britain's procurement choices continue to emphasise long-range military platforms, including fighter aircraft, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. But with this approach discredited in Iraq and a growing emphasis around the world on the use of 'soft power' to meet new international security challenges, a fundamental security review is needed before Britain makes such major long-term investment choices. For example, if the United Kingdom were to focus on territorial defence and international peacekeeping and reconstruction for UN-endorsed humanitarian interventions, there would be a stronger investment focus on existing shortages of helicopters, armoured vehicles and soldiers in the British Army.

BASIC will publish a report in the autumn by two leading defence economists on the opportunity costs of Trident replacement and the new carrier programme.

4. Approval of Menwith Hill for US missile defence

Defence Secretary Des Browne announced on 25 July that Britain has agreed to a Royal Air Force base at Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire being used as part of the US missile defence system. "Equipment will be installed and operated by the US government to allow receipt of satellite warnings of potentially hostile missile launches, and will pass this warning data to both UK and US authorities. The data will also be fed into the US ballistic missile defence system for use in their response to any missile attack on the US". He also said that the upgrade to Fylingdales early warning radar that began in 2003 was now completed. Although Mr Browne said the government had "no plans to site missile interceptors in the UK", it would "keep this under review as the threat evolves".

The decision in December 2002 to accede to a US upgrade at Fylingdales set a poor precedent in terms of process, transparency and accountability. The Defence Committee "strongly regretted the way in which the issue had been handled by the Government". This latest announcement is a further escalation in Britain's missile defence commitment without public debate or parliamentary scrutiny.

The UK government decision coincides with a more critical approach to missile defence by US lawmakers in Washington. Last week the House appropriations committee cut $139m (£69.5m) from the $310m the Bush administration wants for preparatory work on the missile project in Europe. It approved funds for a radar system in the Czech Republic but cut the $139m requested to establish a missile interception system in Poland. The committee also cut another $159m from US-based parts of the missile plan.

In contrast, Des Browne argued that the development of the US missile defence system will enhance the collective security of the United Kingdom and Europe: "Missile defence systems are just that - defensive. They are not for offensive use and by supporting American efforts in this area, both through scientific cooperation and by allowing the use of facilities in the UK, we are helping to build future protection for our citizens". One can only assume that the Defence Secretary is badly informed of both the destabilizing impact of the proposed missile defence architecture in Eastern Europe and the potential offensive role of US missile defences in a nuclear exchange.

It is suggested that he visit BASIC's website for more accurate information on missile defences and subscribe to our free bi-monthly email updates to keep abreast of the latest developments.

For more information please contact:

Dr Ian Davis: +44 (0)207 324 4685; mobile: +44 (0)7887 782 389
idavis@basicint.org