Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reforms

  • Chapter
Managing Britain’s Defence

  • 10 Accesses

Abstract

A number of case studies from the period 1979 to 1986 have been examined within the framework of the British Constitution and in the light of the defence decision-making process as it has evolved since 1945. These case studies have covered government control of defence spending, the central defence organisation and ministerial changes at the Ministry of Defence, the acquisition of the Trident strategic nuclear submarine system and government efforts to counter the anti-nuclear lobby and the 1982 war in the South Atlantic.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes and References

  1. ‘Reliability and Maintenance of Defence Equipment’, National Audit Office, HC 173, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dan Plesch, ‘Preparing for the First Use of Nuclear Weapons in Europe’, Peace Research Reports No. 16, School of Peace Studies, Bradford University.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Australia’s freedom of information legislation requires this.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Douglas Wass, ‘Public Access to Government Information: Some Practical Aspects’, June 1986 (London: RIPA).

    Google Scholar 

  5. MINIS, see Chapter 2.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Data Protection Act 1984 and Data Protection Amendment Act 1987, (London: HMSO).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Clive Ponting, The Right To Know (London: Sphere, 1985). Richard Norton-Taylor, The Ponting Affair (London: Cecil Woolf, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  8. ‘Ministry of Defence: Procurement Irregularities’, Public Accounts Committee, 1987/8, HC 450 (London: HMSO).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ibid. Martin Bailey, ‘Whistleblower pays high price’, Observer, 31 July 1988. James Erlichman, ‘Whistleblowers saved from US gulag’, Guardian, 28 July 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  10. See note 3, Chapter 2.

    Google Scholar 

  11. See Chapter 2 introduction on post-Second World War history of British defence decision-making and the establishment and use of US airbases in the UK.

    Google Scholar 

  12. For discussions of ‘serious injury’, see FOI texts, Note 3, Chapter 2.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Distinction between FOI in Australia and OIA in New Zealand — see texts, Note 3, Chapter 2.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  15. For Parliamentary Questions see later section under that title. Military personnel in the MOD tended not to be in favour of FOI, whereas the civil personnel tended to be in favour.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Personal communication. Also see Wass, ‘Public Access to Government Information’.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mackintosh, The British Cabinet, pp. 147/8.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  19. David Judge, ‘The Politics of Parliamentary Reform’, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Douglass Wass, ‘A Constitutional Commission for Britain’, RIPA Seminar, 3 April 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mackintosh, The British Cabinet, p. 143.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bernard Weatherill, Speaker, House of Commons, ‘On The Day You Were Born’, BBC R4, 27 November 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Julian Critchley, ‘In the Darkness’, The Times, 10 July 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  24. ‘MPs apathetic on Whitehall finances’, Guardian, 13 October 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  27. 1986/7, HC 519 and 518. Defence Committee. 1986/7, HC 308, 176, 193. Trade and Industry Committee reports on Westland.

    Google Scholar 

  28. HComs, 24 January 1980, re Pym on Chevaline.

    Google Scholar 

  29. HCom., 2 November 1987, col. 608.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Evidence to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee, 22 February 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  31. HCom., November 1985, re Heseltine ‘unthinkable’ to discuss NATO Montebello decision in Commons.

    Google Scholar 

  32. In NZ an Opposition Research Unit is funded by central government, and staffed by public servants, some appointed by open advertisement.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ponting, Whitehall, pp. 150/151, plus personal communications.

    Google Scholar 

  34. SAS — Special Air Squadron.

    Google Scholar 

  35. SBS — Special Boat Squadron.

    Google Scholar 

  36. HCom., 2 May 1978. Brian Sedgemore, The Secret Constitution (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  38. HComs, 3 June 1985, re PQ’s.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Heseltine resignation speech in MOD, 6 January 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  41. HCom., 15 January 1986. Government reply to Opposition reply for debate on Westland affair.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Frank Cooper, ‘Select Committees — a View From a Witness’, Contemporary Record, Spring 1987, p. 17.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  44. John Biffen, ‘Commons Select Committees: the Government’s View’, in Dermot J. T. Englefield (ed.), Commons Select Committees — Catalysts for Progress? (Longman, 1984) pp. 4/5.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Gavin Drewry, ‘Select Committees in the Constitutional Limelight’, Contemporary Record, Spring 1987, pp. 17/18.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Andrew Marr, ‘A Former Mandarin with all the Fashionable Virtues’, Independent, 12 January 1988. David Hencke, ‘A Model Civil Servant Scrutinises Government Books’, Guardian, 12 January 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Lord Hailsham interviewed Sheldon in Contemporary Record, Autumn 1987, pp. 57/58.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Alan Rusbridger, ‘Lords leap into focus’, Guardian, 30 April 1988. James Naughtie, ‘Thatcher’s Lords A-leaping’, Guardian, 25 May 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Richard Holme, ‘Ten Principles of Constitutional Reform’, Constitutional Reform Centre, Summer 1987, p. 5. Richard Holme, The People’s Kingdom (Bodley Head, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  52. John Palmer, ‘Europe Rules OK?’, Guardian, 7 June 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  53. For a discussion of this see Margaret Blunden, ‘Defence Decision-Making: the Boundaries of Influence’, in Owen Greene and Margaret Blunden (eds), Science and Mythology, unpublished at time of writing.

    Google Scholar 

  54. David Hencke, ‘Whitehall Under Siege From Leading Lady’, Guardian, 27 November 1987 looks at report by Anne Mueller, Second PUS Treasury, on effect of putting civil servants on contracts based on working practices throughout the country.

    Google Scholar 

  55. John Nott, ‘Our Defences All at Sea’, The Times, 5 October 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Greene and Blunden (eds), Science and Mythology.

    Google Scholar 

  57. See Chapter 2 for MOD initiatives with academics.

    Google Scholar 

  58. See Chapter 3 for Pym and Nott’s arguments for Trident, also see DOGD’s and SDE’s for arguments for Trident 1980–1986.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Nott, ‘Our Defences All at Sea’.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Nott, ‘Our Defences All at Sea’.

    Google Scholar 

  64. ‘Civil Servants and Ministers: Duties and Responsibilities’, Treasury and Civil Service Committee 1985–6, HC 92-1, para. 5.28.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Ibid., para. 5.30.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Heseltine interview with David Taylor, January 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Nott interview by Taylor.

    Google Scholar 

  68. HComs, 19 May 1981, col. 164, Defence Estimates Debate, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  69. ‘The Future Size and Role of The Royal Navy’s Surface Fleet’, Defence Committee, HC 307, 1987/88.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Defence Committee report on annual defence estimates, HC 495, 1987/88.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bath, England

    Malcolm McIntosh

Authors
  1. Malcolm McIntosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 1990 Malcolm McIntosh

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McIntosh, M. (1990). Reforms. In: Managing Britain’s Defence. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10535-9_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation