PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Defence Equipment Third Evidence Session
Tuesday 9 December 2008
At 10.30 am in Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster (room subject to change), oral evidence will be taken from:
Ministry of Defence
o Quentin Davies MP, Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment and Support
o Officials (tba)
House of Lords Written Answers for 25 November 2008
Olympic Games 2012
The Earl of Shrewsbury asked Her Majesty’s Government: Whether they favour the 2012 Olympic shooting events being held at the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich. [HL6508]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich was selected as the shooting venue for the London 2012 Games following the International Olympic Committee’s review of the Bid Committee’s applicant file. In August this year, KPMG was commissioned to test and challenge the plans for a number of temporary venues, including Woolwich, to ensure that they continue to represent the best
value for money. This work on the shooting venue is ongoing and final decisions are yet to be made by the Olympic Board.
House of Lords Written Answers for 24 November 2008
RAF: Typhoon Aircraft
Lord Moonie asked Her Majesty’s Government: When Typhoon aircraft will be deployed to Iceland on NATO quick reaction alert duty; how many will be deployed; and for how long. [HL6118]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The peacetime airborne surveillance and interception capability in
Iceland is a NATO task. The deployment of four Typhoons was scheduled to take place in December. Following discussions within NATO, the deployment will not now take place.
House of Lords Written Answers for 20 November 2008
Armed Forces: Warships
Lord Moonie asked Her Majesty’s Government: What is the current planned in-service date of each of the first three vessels in the Future Surface Combatant programme. [HL6399]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The Future Surface Combatant is still in the concept phase and has yet to go through initial gate. As a result the decision regarding the in-service dates of the first three vessels of the Future Service Combatant programme has yet to be taken. It is currently expected, however, that the first of class will enter service late in the next decade.
Lord Moonie asked Her Majesty’s Government: What are the anticipated intervals for major refits of surface warships and minor surface warships; and what are the anticipated intervals for major refits of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships which directly support major warships. [HL6403]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: The time between refits (periods of deep maintenance) for major surface warships (including aircraft carriers, Type 42 Destroyers and
Type 22 and 23 Frigates), minor surface warships (including mine countermeasure
vessels and survey vessels) and most Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels is generally in excess of four years. The exception is the forward repair ship, RFA
Diligence, for which the time between refit periods is generally in excess of two years.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 November 2008
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of (a) the security situation and (b) the threat posed by the Taliban in
Helmand province; and if he will make a statement. [234318]
Mr. Hutton: Helmand province continues to present significant security challenges due to the insurgents’ use of intimidation and violence against the local population and their increasingly unconventional tactics such as the use
of improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers and opportunistic attacks.
These attacks continue to cause concern and demonstrate the Taliban’s ability to
strike in an indiscriminate fashion. But this does not amo