House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Asked by Lord Empey
Asked on: 18 November 2014
HM Treasury
Defence: Finance
HL2931
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to ring-fence defence spending in future budget settlements.
Answered by: Lord Deighton
Answered on: 02 December 2014
The Government has set departmental budgets for the remainder of this Parliament, however no departmental budgets are set beyond 2015-16. The Government is committed to ensuring we have properly funded Armed Forces. The UK continues to be the second biggest contributor to NATO, and is committed to growing the Defence equipment programme at 1 percent above inflation each year until 2020-21.
Asked by Angus Robertson (Moray)
Asked on: 24 November 2014
Ministry of Defence
Nuclear Submarines
215790
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the potential cost of procuring (a) 12, (b) 32 and (c) 48 Trident II D5 missile tubes for the Successor submarines.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 02 December 2014
Holding answer received on 27 November 2014
The missile tubes for the Successor Programme are being procured as part of the collaborative Common Missile Compartment (CMC) project with the US. General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded an $83.8 million contract modification by the US Department of Defense to continue development of the CMC. The contract provides funding for 17 missile tubes; four for the US submarine programme, one for a US shore test facility and 12 missile tubes for the Successor Programme. The 12 UK missile tubes’ share of this contract is estimated at $59 million. Costs beyond the first 17 tubes have yet to be agreed, and it would prejudice commercial interests to estimate costs at this stage. The Ministry of Defence is not planning to commit to further missile tubes prior to Main Gate in 2016.
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 24 November 2014
Ministry of Defence
Unmanned Air Vehicles
HL3118
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have incorporated a policy regarding use of lethal drones in British Defence Doctrine.
Answered by: Lord Astor of Hever
Answered on: 02 December 2014
Armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are operated by the UK’s Armed Forces in accordance with the same domestic and international legal framework and Departmental policy that regulates conventional manned aircraft. The Doctrine and Rules of Engagement that govern and underpin the use of armed RPAS are aligned to both current UK policy and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The UK constantly reviews and updates both its policy and doctrine to ensure it remains both operationally effective and fully compliant with IHL.
Asked by Alison Seabeck
(Plymouth, Moor View)
Asked on: 26 November 2014
Ministry of Defence
Procurement
216071
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new Ministry of Defence HQ contracts were placed in 2013-14; what the value of those contracts was; how many on the bid basis were (a) competitive and (b) non-competitive contracts.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 02 December 2014
Information on contracts placed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), including the nature of those contracts, is published on gov.uk as part of the MOD trade, industry and contracts statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-industry-trade-and-contracts-2014
Table 1.01.06 ‘New contracts placed by type’ shows that the MOD awarded 2,328 contracts in 2013-14, with a value of £6,205 million. Of these, 39% were awarded on a competitive basis, and 56% were non-competitive. The remainder were mainly instances where a contract has been let as a Terms of Business Agreement.
Asked by Sir Peter Luff
(Mid Worcestershire)
Asked on: 27 November 2014
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
216299
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2014