To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the significant changes to the operational status of British military forces that have resulted from the "Options for Change" study.

Work is continuing to refine and cost the broad proposals announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in July. Announcements of force level changes will be made as progress in our planning allows, and we have already announced that 11 Royal Navy vessels have been, or are shortly to be decommissioned and that two RAF stations in Germany are to be closed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the significant changes to the procurement programme that have resulted from the "Options for Change" study.

The continuing work to refine and cost the broad proposals announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary o I State in July includes an assessment of our future equipment requirements. During the defence debate on 18 June, 1 was able to make an early announcement of the decision not to proceed with the order for the eighth batch of Tornado attrition aircraft. Further changes will be announced as progress in our planning allows.