15 Jun 16. Defence Committee – Committee Writes To Secretary Of State
On Type 26 Global Combat Ship. At the Defence Committee’s evidence session on 7 June, witnesses raised several concerns regarding the Ministry of Defence’s plans for the procurement of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship. The Committee has today written to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for more information on the Government’s plans for the procurement of, and construction timetable for, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and also the potential impact on the capabilities of the Royal Navy and the shipbuilding industry of any delay to the programme.
The specific questions the Committee has raised with the Secretary of State are:
• The timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26, including the indicative dates for the completion of each ship.
• The implications of the current delay on the decommissioning or extension in service of the Type 23s, and whether the intention remains that one Type 23 will be decommissioned when each Type 26 comes into service.
• The impact the delay will have on the overall number of ships available to the Royal Navy.
• The Government’s assessment of the impact of the delay on the skills base and apprenticeships in the affected shipyards.
• The timetable for the design and construction of the 5 new lightweight vessels and whether they will be built before, after or alongside the Type 26 programme.
• An update on progress towards the National Shipbuilding Strategy and how it will bring greater certainty to the Royal Navy’s shipbuilding programme.
• A breakdown of the liability for costs between Government and business resulting from the delay.
• How the costs of the workforce and the sites/plants will be absorbed if there is a further delay in the start of construction programme.
• What the financial impact would be on the workforce and the shipyards should there be any further reduction to the number of Type 26 ships ordered.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by The Marquess of Lothian
Asked on: 08 June 2016
Ministry of Defence
Type 45 Destroyers
HL560
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is responsible for (1) the reported design flaw in the engines of the Type 45 destroyers, and (2) the costs of the refit in the light of those flaws; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that design flaw on the capacity and efficacy of the Royal Navy.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 22 June 2016
I refer my noble Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for DefenceProcurement (Mr Philip Dunne) in the House of Commons on 6 June 2016, to Question number 38719.
On the question of any impact on the capacity and efficacy of the Royal Navy, the Type 45 destroyers are hugely capable ships. They have consistently made a difference to our safety and security, and continue to make an enormous contribution to the defence of the UK and our international partners.
Q
Asked by Lord Hoyle
Asked on: 09 June 2016
Ministry of Defence
Type 45 Destroyers
HL577
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to remedy the problems caused by the failure in hot climates of intercooler units on Type 45 destroyers.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 22 June 2016
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Philip Dunne) in the House of Commons on 8 February 2016, to Question number 25165. Type 45 destroyers were designed for world-wide operations, from sub-Arctic to extreme tropical environments and continue to operate effectively in the Persian Gulf and South Atlantic at all times of the year.
Q
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
Asked on: 07 June 2016
Ministry of Defence
European Union: Army
HL532
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 1 June (HL345), whether they can veto any proposed EU army, or whethe