UK Postpones Defence Industrial Strategy Review

The UK's Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, has postponed the publication of a major update to the country’s Defence Industrial Strategy.

Taylor, who took up the post last month after the surprise resignation of Lord Drayson, told the Parliamentary Defence Committee she wants to "review the whole situation".

The strategy update was due for publication on 13 December, but Taylor says she will not commit to a publication date before the Ministry of Defence (MoD) completes its budget for 2008.

"It would be wrong to get consideration of the second phase of the strategy out of kilter with the planning round," she says.

"I am not committing to any publication or any date at this stage."

The Strategy, first published in 2005, sets out guidelines for the awarding of MoD contracts and is designed to aid British companies.

By staff writer