House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Rebecca Pow
(Taunton Deane)
Asked on: 29 October 2018
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Geographical Information Systems: Technology and Innovation Centres
185119
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with (a) the UK Hydrographic Office, (b) the Heart of South West LEP and (c) other partners on establishing a world-leading marine geospatial innovation centre in Taunton, and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Mr Sam Gyimah
Answered on: 07 November 2018
The Department has had no specific discussions about the establishment of a Marine Geospatial Innovation Centre but I am aware of discussions happening locally, building on a regional initiative to establish a Digital Innovation Centre in Taunton. The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been working with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Taunton Deane Borough and Somerset County Councils, and local academia to scope the feasibility of developing a Marine Geospatial Innovation Centre. The Department is engaged in discussions led by the Defence Growth Partnership to better coordinate and enhance local and regional expertise. Both the UKHO and the Heart of the South West LEP have been engaged in these discussions.
Q
Asked by Keith Vaz
(Leicester East)
Asked on: 29 October 2018
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Yemen: Military Intervention
184867
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Saudi counterpart on military escalation in the province of Hudaydah.
A
Answered by: Alistair Burt
Answered on: 06 November 2018
We are in regular contact with the Coalition about the need to ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows through the port. The Foreign Secretary met his counterparts from the United States, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on 27 September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In the context of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, they discussed how we could provide greater assistance to the Yemeni people by facilitating the entry of humanitarian and commercial goods into Yemen. I also discussed these matters with Saudi Foreign Minister Al-Jubeir, Emirati Deputy Foreign Minister Gargash, and US Defence Secretary Mattis in the margins of the Manama Dialogue on 27 October.
Q
Asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes
(West Dunbartonshire)
Asked on: 29 October 2018
Ministry of Defence
Sea King Helicopters: Decommissioning
185065
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea King helicopters were decommissioned in 2016; and if any of those helicopters were subsequently brought back into service.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 06 November 2018
Sixteen Sea King helicopters were decommissioned in 2016. This included two Sea King HU Mk 5 helicopters which were retired from Ministry of Defence service and placed in the disposal reserve, until being regenerated for lease to a company, HeliOperations Ltd, for training purposes. This lease ended in September 2018.
Q
Asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes
(West Dunbartonshire)
Asked on: 29 October 2018
Ministry of Defence
Sea King Helicopters: Asbestos
185067
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department was first notified of asbestos in the Sea King helicopter fleet.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 06 November 2018
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has known about the presence of asbestos in Sea King helicopters since they entered service in 1969 and it has been managed in accordance with the regulations in place at the time.
As part of the wider remit to reduce and eliminate Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) in military systems, progressive action was taken since 1999 to reduce ACM in the Sea King fleet. By 2006, as major ACM components had been replaced and the risk was identified as very low, remaining ACM components were replaced as and when maintenance allowed.
Earlier this year, a routine maintenance training activity being conducted on a retired Sea King airframe revealed the presence of asbestos and immediate containment measures were put in place. Subsequent investigation identified that the MOD supply chain had not been purged of ACM components, with the risk that these components could still be fitted to Sea King helicopters. Action has been taken to remove these components from the supply chain, initial guidance has been issued to serving and former personnel and further information will be made available as soon as we are able to do so.
Q
Asked by Tom Brake
(Carshalton and Wallington)
Asked on: 01 November 2018
Ministry of Defence
Cyprus: Military Bases
186914
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on border access between the RAF bases Akrotiri and Dhekelia and Cyprus after the UK leave the EU.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 06 November 2018
As the Prime Minister stated in Parliament on 22 October 2018 (Official Report, column 648), a Protocol has now been developed for the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), reflecting the constructive discussions between the UK, Republic of Cyprus and the EU. This will provide certainty for citizens, businesses and residents in the SBAs. We intend to maintain current arrangements for immigration checks for those entering the SBAs at the two crossing points from north Cyprus, which are recognised points of entry into the EU, and to ensure that no border controls are established between the SBAs in Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the Republic of Cyprus.