House of Commons Written Answers 1 September 2014
Armed Forces
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the press release from the Prime Minister’s Office of 14 July 2014, entitled PM announces £1.1 billion investment in capabilities for the armed forces, whether this amount will be sourced from departmental underspends. [206098]
Mr Dunne: The £1.1 billion package has been funded predominantly by carrying over resources from 2012-13 and 2013-14. It has also been funded by drawing down some of the Ministry of Defence’s unallocated financial provision to the appropriate level in the context of the most recent financial planning cycle, and by reprioritising some existing expenditure within the Defence programme.
European Fighter Aircraft
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the E-Scan radar for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft (a)was originally expected to come into use and (b) is now expected to come into use. [206090]
Mr Dunne: The E-Scan Radar Development Programme for Typhoon is currently still within the Assessment Phase, prior to its main investment decision. Once this decision has been made an in-service date on UK aircraft will be determined.
Guided Weapons
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of the integration of the Storm Shadow missile on the Typhoon aircraft. [206989]
Mr Dunne: The NATO Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency has awarded a contract valued at approximately £120 million to Eurofighter GmbH for the integration of Storm Shadow onto Typhoon.
The full UK costs of the integration project are still being finalised but will be published in the National Audit Office Major Projects Report later in 2014.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the introduction of the (a) Heavy and (b)Light Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon Systems on AW159 Wildcat Helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [206994]
Mr Dunne: The Heavy and Light Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon systems will be introduced to Wildcat maritime helicopters with a planned in-service date of 2020.
HMS Illustrious
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans the Government has to preserve HMS Illustrious when she is withdrawn from service in December 2014; and if he will make a statement; [206370]
(2) if the Government will investigate the tourism potential of preserving HMS Illustrious. [206371]
Mr Dunne: HMS Illustrious, the last of three Invincible class aircraft carriers, will retire from the Royal Navy on 1 August 2014. As I informed the House on 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 1WS, in recognition of the service given by these ships in protecting the UK over the last 30 years, it is our preference to see HMS Illustrious preserved intact as a lasting tribute to the service personnel who served on all three of the carriers.
In October 2013 the Ministry of Defence’s Disposal Services Authority launched a competition to seek innovative reuse bids to retain HMS Illustrious in the UK, with part or all of it developed for heritage purposes, which could include tourism. The competition is ongoing and therefore no final decisions have been made on the ship’s future.
Kenya
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his objectives are in negotiations with the Kenyan government on a memorandum of understanding for continued use of the Nanyuki training facility. [205893]
Mr Francois: The current memorandum of understanding concerning UK and Kenyan military co-operation includes UK use of training facilities in Kenya. This covers all activities until April 2015, when a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) is due to be signed. Constructive dialogue on the MOU continues, and we anticipate a successful outcome which will reflect the positions and requirements of the Kenyan and UK Gov