Two former Chief of Defence Staff to be questioned on Integrated Review and Global Britain

22 March 2021

On 23 March, at 15.15, the Defence Committee hears from two former Chief of Defence Staff, Lord Richards of Herstmonceux and Lord Houghton of Richmond, on the Integrated Review and the forthcoming Defence White Paper and Defence and Security Industrial Strategy.

Purpose of the session

The session will focus on exploring whether the latter of these documents provides UK Defence with the capabilities it needs to fulfil the role laid out for them in “Global Britain in a Competitive Age”, published this week.

Witnesses

23 March 2021

15.15:

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, Chief of Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence (2010-13)
Lord Houghton of Richmond, Chief of Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence (2013-16)

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux served as Chief of Defence Staff between 2010 and 2013. Lord Richards' extensive military career included a number of tours in Northern Ireland and two years as Chief of Staff of the Berlin Infantry Brigade. Other roles included Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces in 2008 and Chief of the General Staff in 2009. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the Distinguished Service Order and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He was elevated to the House of Lords in February 2014 as a Crossbench life peer.

Lord Nicholas Houghton of Richmond held the post of Chief of Defence Staff between 2013 and 2016. Prior to this, Lord Houghton of Richmond worked in a variety of roles, including commanding the 39 Infantry Brigade in Belfast during the period which led to the Good Friday Agreement and as Director of Military Operations at the time of 9/11; at the outset of operations in Afghanistan; and during the Foot and Mouth Crisis. More recently General Houghton was the Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Force-Iraq from October 2005 until March 2006. He became Chief of Joint Operations in April 2006 at the time of the commitment of UK Forces to Southern Afghanistan and, subsequently, during the extraction of UK Forces from Southern Iraq. He was appointed both OBE and CBE for his time in Command in Northern Ireland, awarded the US Legion of Merit for his service in Iraq and appointed KCB for his time as CJO. Since leaving his position as Chief of Defence Staff, Lord Houghton of Richmond has served as Constable of the Tower of London.

Further information

Image: MOD