House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord Patten
Asked on: 18 July 2017
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
HL1020
Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the plan adopted by NATO following its meeting in Brussels on 25 May; and what will be the contribution of the UK to the measures included in the plan.
A
Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Answered on: 01 August 2017
In addition to delivering on the commitments made at the Wales and Warsaw Summits in 2014 and 2016 respectively, NATO agreed in May 2017 to do more to contribute to the fight against terrorism, and ensure fairer burden sharing across the Alliance. The UK already meets the Defence Investment Pledge target of spending more than 2% of GDP on Defence and welcomes the commitment of all Allies to include this in their national plans. The UK’s significant contribution to NATO activities includes an enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia and capacity building work in Partner countries to build resilience against threats such as terrorism; the UK fully supports NATO’s membership of the Global Coalition against Daesh.
Q
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
Asked on: 18 July 2017
Ministry of Defence
HL1018
Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made on scientific and technical research into nuclear verification since 2015; whether the UK is actively seeking other non-nuclear weapons states partners; and what resources they have allocated for this work until 2020.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 27 July 2017
Since 2015 the UK has conducted a series of successful exercises to support our ability to assess the efficiency and limitations of potential warhead reduction treaty verification technologies. The UK has drawn together its bilateral verification research programmes with Norway and the US to form a quadrilateral research initiative with Norway, the US and Sweden. Additionally it makes its nuclear disarmament verification research available to the International Partnership on Nuclear Disarmament Verification, the majority of members of which are non-nuclear weapons states. The Ministry of Defence has an active Arms Control Verification Research programme, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. I am withholding further information on resources as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.
Q
Asked by Lord Touhig
Asked on: 20 July 2017
Ministry of Defence
Type 45 Destroyers
HL1195
Her Majesty’s Government whether they have conducted a lessons learned exercise relating to the performance of the Integrated Full Electric Propulsion system for the Type 45 Destroyers.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 27 July 2017
The Ministry of Defence has made extensive use of independent expertise to support the work on the Integrated Full Electric Propulsion system for the Type 45 Destroyers. This has given us confidence that the measures we have adopted will be effective in increasing reliability and resilience on the Type 45s, and has made a valuable contribution to ensure that the key lessons are available for future classes of warship.