House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Asked by Tom Watson
(West Bromwich East)
[R]
Asked on: 27 May 2015
Ministry of Defence
Unmanned Air Vehicles
132
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on establishing a Joint Command for Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
Answered on: 03 June 2015
Owing to the particular capabilities that each Unmanned Aerial System delivers and the different environments in which they work, operational Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are controlled by Air, Army, and Navy Commands and there is no plan to establish a Joint Command for UAS.
Asked by Brendan O’Hara
(Argyll and Bute)
Asked on: 28 May 2015
Ministry of Defence
Clyde Naval Base: Security
386
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is responsible for final denial at HNMB Clyde and RNAD Coulport only when nuclear weapons are aboard nuclear submarines in transport.
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
Answered on: 03 June 2015
43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines’ core task is to provide military support to undertake final denial of access to nuclear weapons in addition to supporting the multi-agency force that protects nuclear weapons convoys.
Asked by Vernon Coaker
(Gedling)
[N]
Asked on: 29 May 2015
Ministry of Defence
Strategic Defence and Security Review: Departmental Coordination
495
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Answered by: Michael Fallon
Answered on: 03 June 2015
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is actively engaged, as a full member of the National Security Council, in the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
[N]
Asked on: 29 May 2015
Ministry of Defence
Aircraft Carriers: Staff
499
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the crew size for each of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers once they have become operational.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 03 June 2015
Ships’ complements are not fixed; they vary, even across a class, due to equipment fits and in response to specific tasking.
The planned complement for each of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers when in their normal operating role is 672.
Asked by Douglas Chapman
(Dunfermline and West Fife)
[N]
Asked on: 29 May 2015
Ministry of Defence
NATO: Joint Exercises
490
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what UK assets and how many UK personnel will be deployed to support NATO Allied Shield exercises.
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
Answered on: 03 June 2015
NATO’s ALLIED SHIELD is a series of four different exercises – BALTOPS, SABER STRIKE, NOBLE JUMP and TRIDENT JOUST. As well as enhancing interoperability, readiness and responsiveness among Allied and partner nations, this series of exercises will provide reassurance to Allies in response to the changing geopolitical security situation in Europe and the threats faced by Allies along NATO’s southern and eastern periphery.
For Exercise BALTOPS, a major Allied naval exercise in Polish waters, the UK will provide three Royal Navy vessels: HMS OCEAN, a helicopter carrier (ship’s company of some 400); HMS IRON DUKE, a Type 23 frigate (ship’s company of 185); and HMS QUORN, a Hunt Class mine countermeasure vessel (ship’s company of 40). Deploying with HMS OCEAN will be two Lynx Mk 8, two CH47 Chinook, and four Apache helicopters (some 130 personnel within the Tailored Air Group), and a detachment of Royal Marines of approximately 80 personnel.
For Exercise SABER STRIKE, a significant land exercise in Latvia, the UK will contribute some 170 UK personnel, including the Battle Group Headquarters and an Infantry Company from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
The Net Additional Costs of Exercises B