House of Commons Hansard Written Answers
Ministry of Defence
DSG Ashchurch
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cost for repairing his Department’s site at Ashchurch was estimated in the report commissioned by Babcock International dated 3 February 2011.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 10 November 2014
Holding answer received on 20 October 2014
In January 2011, the Defence Support Group (DSG) commissioned a study on behalf of the Ministry of Defence through their existing facilities’ management provider, Babcock, to assess the maintenance work required to enable the DSG to safely undertake vehicle and equipment operation from specified buildings on the site at Ashchurch until 2016. The study, submitted in February 2011, estimated that the cost ‘to make safe’ the site for the five year period would be £2.863 m excluding VAT. The study report was passed to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Defence Equipment and Support for the recommendations to be acted upon. I am unable to place a copy of the document in the Library as it’s disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Ministry of Defence
Red Arrows
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what planning assumptions are in place for the Red Arrows when the current fleet of aircraft are due for replacement; and what aircraft type, if any, will replace them.
Answered by: Lord Astor of Hever
Answered on: 07 November 2014
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Philip Dunne) in the House of Commons on 7 November 2013 (Official Report, column 307W). As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon) has recently said, the Red Arrows will continue flying
Asked by Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex)
Asked on: 15 October 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list his Department’s (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) category C defence projects.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 07 November 2014
Holding answer received on 22 October 2014
A list of all Ministry of Defence (MOD) Category A, B and C Projects is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
A list of Category A, B and C Projects for Equipment (including Information, Communications and Technology but excluding Equipment Support Programmes) and Infrastructure is held and is provided in the tables attached. I am, however, withholding a number of project titles for the purpose of safeguarding national security, and that their release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Category A, B and C Equipment Projects are defined as those valued in excess of £400 m; between £100 and £400 m; and between £20 and £100 m respectively. The tables contain only those projects at the post Initial Gate/pre-In-Service Date stage.
Infrastructure projects categories A and C are defined as those valued in excess of £100 m; and between £10 and £100 m respectively. There is no Category B for Infrastructure Projects.
Further information on major projects throughout Government, including Defence, can be found in the Cabinet Office Government Major Projects Portfolio. This is available on the gov.uk website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/major-projects-authority-annual-report-2014
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 24 October 2014
Ministry of Defence – Aircraft Carriers
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect that HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will each proceed to sea under their own power for the first time.
Answered by: Lord Astor of Hever
Answered on: 07 November 2014
Final equipment installation and system commissioning plans are currently being developed for both ships. We expect HMS Queen Elizabeth to proceed to sea under her own power for the first time in early 2017 and HMS Prince of W