House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
Asked on: 20 July 2018
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces: Unmanned Air Vehicles
HL9747
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential for unmanned transport systems to supply troops on the front line.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 01 August 2018
The Defence Scientific and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is leading the Ministry of Defence’s research in this area, working with the US Department of Defense to accelerate and demonstrate the effective use of new robotic and autonomous systems technologies.
This includes the ‘Last Mile Challenge’ innovation initiative which has challenged industry and academia to look at how delivery drones and resupply robots can provide vital reinforcements to frontline troops. The challenge is worth a total of £3.8 million over the next 12 months with prototypes being built for demonstration later this year. Four of the five successful organisations are British-led with a wide range of sub-contractors from small and medium sized enterprises, industry and academia.
These capabilities and other emerging military technologies will be tested and evaluated at the Autonomous Warrior, Army Warfighting Exercise in November 2018. The exercise, which involves all three Services, DSTL, the US Army and around 50 industry participants, will test a range of research projects including in surveillance, long-range and precision targeting, enhancing mobility and the re-supply of forces, urban warfare and enhanced situational awareness. The lessons identified will support decision making for future investment in ground-breaking technology and innovation to ensure the Army and British industry remain at the cutting edge of technology and combat tactics.
Q
Asked by Lord Truscott
Asked on: 17 July 2018
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Expenditure
HL9629
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of GDP they spend on UK defence, excluding pension provisions.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 30 July 2018
When the Ministry of Defence’s pension expenditure, as reported in accordance with NATO’s definitions of defence spending, is removed, the UK’s remaining expenditure on defence spending in financial year 2017-18 equalled 1.97% of GDP using the Office for Budget Responsibility’s GDP forecast.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
Asked on: 19 July 2018
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces
166110
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to publish a land warfare strategy.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 27 July 2018
We are committed to investing over £17 billion in the Land environment to provide the Army with a modernised warfighting division that includes the transformational STRIKE capability. This investment will support and provide opportunities for the UK’s Land and defence sector. To date only Shipbuilding and Combat Air have been selected for a specific sector strategy, other sectors (such as Land) are kept under review. Further sector specific approaches will need to be informed by thorough analysis of the military capability, prosperity, internaitonal, industrial and prosperity benefits and will only be applicable in a very small number of cases.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 19 July 2018
Ministry of Defence
Defence Equipment
166093
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons expenditure on equipment support is falling when major new equipment is being brought into service.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 27 July 2018
The Government remains committed to real terms growth of the Equipment Plan by 1% each year and to meeting the NATO guideline to spend 20% of its defence expenditure on major equipment, and associated research and development. We plan to spend £179 billion over the 10 years to 2027 to deliver the cutting edge ships, aircraft, and armoured vehicles our military need now and in the future. This includes increasing spending on Equipment Support from £8.3 billion in 2017-18 to almost £10 billion in 2026-27.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 19 July 2018
Ministry of Defence
Type 31 Frigates
166103
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether planned Royal Navy Type 31 frigates will be able to operate in the extreme climate conditions found in northern waters and the arctic region.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 27 July 2018
The Royal Navy’s Type 31e frigates will be capable of unrestricted global deployment, experiencing a wide range of sea and climatic conditions, and will operate effectively in various regions, including northern waters and the South Atlantic all year round. However ships must comply with the International Maritime Organization Polar Code, which sets out regulations for shipping in the Polar regions, principally relating to ice navigation and ship design.