Apr 12. Parliament: Prorogation. Parliament will be prorogued on Tue 1 May 12. The new Parliamentary session is due to begin on 9 May 12 with the State Opening of Parliament by HM The Queen. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 12/17, 30 Apr 12)
House of Lords Written Answers for Wednesday 25 April 2012
Armed Forces: Global Combat Ships
Asked by Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure a steady workload at United Kingdom shipyards until the construction of the Type 26 global combat ship is started. [HL16579]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is committed to working with our industrial partners to manage the warship building workload and to transform the industrial base to create a sustainable UK maritime sector. The terms of business agreement (TOBA) signed between the MoD and BAE Systems Maritime-Naval Ships (BAES MNS-then BAE Systems Surface Ships) in July 2009, provides the framework for this ongoing work. Under the auspices of the TOBA, MoD and BAES MNS are working closely together to ensure that industrial transformation reflects the available workload while preserving the necessary capabilities to build, for example, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS). As the Type 26 GCS is still in its assessment phase, it is too early to confirm details of the planned build programme. These decisions will not be taken until the main gate investment decision point, which, on current plans, is scheduled for the middle of this decade.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Thursday 26 April 2012
Harrier Aircraft
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Harrier pilots have been made redundant since May 2010; [105533]
(2) how many Harrier pilots have been redeployed to other duties since May 2010. [105534]
Nick Harvey: Since May 2010,109 Royal Air Force and 28 Royal Navy former Harrier pilots have been redeployed to other duties and 12 Royal Navy former Harrier pilots have been made redundant.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Wednesday 25 April 2012
Aircraft Carriers
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which NATO members he expects the UK will have interoperability of carrier strike capability using F-35Cs by 2025. [100679]
Mr Gerald Howarth [holding answer 19 March 2012]: We are currently finalising the 2012-13 budget and balancing the Equipment Plan. As part of this process we are reviewing all programmes, including elements of the carrier strike programme. The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), expects to announce the outcome of this process to Parliament soon.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for Tuesday 24 April 2012
Afghanistan
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of UK operations in Afghanistan has been to date. [104915]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 23 April 2012]: We estimate that, as at 31 March 2012, the net additional cost of military operations in Afghanistan since 2001-02 has been some £17 billion.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 86W, on Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft, how much has been spent on the Joint Strike Fighter in each cost category to date. [101948]
Peter Luff: The total expenditure on the Joint Strike Fighter is £1,825 million, being £1,495 million up to and including the development phase with a further £330 million on the production phase.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 9W, on the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, what the through-life costs were for the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter in 2011-12; what the projecte