Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on the formation of a combined joint expeditionary force with the French; and if he will make a statement. [182086]

Mr Dunne, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (including Defence Exports): Good progress is being made to establish a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) capability that meets the level of ambition described in the Lancaster House treaty. Exercises over the past three years, in particular the annual flagship exercises, have led to significant levels of integration and interoperability. Both sides are now working on the development of command and control and logistic structures that will enable the UK and France to conduct Combined Joint Operations. A series of intensive exercises in 2015 and 2016 will test and validate these structures, which are on track to achieve, as planned, in 2016. The framework that is being developed will enable UK and French forces to deploy more rapidly in the event of a crisis, with greater capability than might be achieved individually.

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