(2) what the performance specifications are of the new patrol vehicle Vector; what type of vehicle it is; and how its armour protection compares with the (a) Snatch Land Rover and (b) RG-31;
(3) what assessment he has made of the level of protection afforded to troops by the (a) RG-31 vehicle and (b) Snatch Land Rover.
Vector is the name of the programme to buy a new, Pinzgauer based, protected patrol vehicle to supplement the current Land Rover Snatch vehicle. The programme is on contract for delivery of vehicles in 2007. The key performance requirements for Vector are improved mobility, payload and capacity compared to Snatch. We do not comment on levels of armour protection, as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of our armed forces.