House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 05 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces: ICT
216993
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the cyber skill capability of the armed forces.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 February 2019
Cyber is becoming an essential part of core military training. A dedicated state-of-the-art Defence Cyber School has opened at the Defence Academy, to deliver a centre of excellence for cyber training and exercising for defence and wider government.
The Defence Cyber School is approaching its first anniversary and has already trained specialist cyber military and civilian personnel, primarily from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its capacity will increase in 2019 and again in 2020.
A foundation training pathway is being implemented in 2019 which provides a recognised route to train personnel to pre-determined, internationally recognised cyber standards, providing the core skills to work in a range of key cyber roles across Defence.
The Defence Cyber School also has a synthetic training capability which supports the core skills taught in the classroom. This capability is available government wide and allows those in a Cyber specialist role to train flexibly away from the classroom and to maintain their skills to combat skill fade in this rapidly developing domain.
From a wider cross-Government civil perspective, Cabinet Office are leading on the development of a Government Security Profession and are working in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and all Government Departments to deliver a capability framework for cyber security professionals. The MOD is heavily engaged in this, with initial focus being on strengthening risk management and security architecture. The Cyber Security capability framework is planned for release in June 2019.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 05 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ascension Island: Airports
217001
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to ask the US Air Force to speed up repairs of the runway on Ascension Island.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 February 2019
Ministry of Defence officials are working closely with the US Air Force to ensure the effective delivery of a full runway resurface on Ascension Island. The isolated and remote location of Ascension Island creates a number of logistical challenges for such a large scale infrastructure project, but I am confident the project will be delivered in a timely manner and to the highest of standards.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 05 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
217005
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government is taking steps to ensure that EU companies will no longer have an automatic right to bid on defence and security contracts after the 29 March 2019 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 February 2019
In the event of ‘no deal’, the Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations 2011 will be amended to provide a legal right of market access for suppliers based in the UK and Gibraltar only. After 29 March, EU suppliers will be allowed to bid for defence and security contracts on the same basis as suppliers outside the EU.
Q
Asked by Daniel Kawczynski
(Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Asked on: 07 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Navy: South China Sea
218241
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to increase the (a) number and (b) frequency of Royal Navy exercises in the South China Sea.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 February 2019
The UK has enduring interests in the region and is committed to maintaining regional peace, prosperity and security, and upholding the Rules Based International System. Royal Navy vessels will therefore continue to regularly operate, navigate and exercise within the South China Sea, including with regional allies and partners. Furthermore, the UK is committed to asserting rights of freedom of navigation and overflight across the globe.
In 2018 HMS Sutherland, HMS Albion and HMS Argyll deployed to the Asia Pacific to provide a near-persistent presence in support of regional security as well as the enforcement of United Nations Security Council (UNSCR) sanctions on North Korea’s illegal weapons programmes. HMS Montrose is currently in the region and will shortly undertake further support to UNSCR sanctions enforcement and a range of regional engagements.
Q
Asked by Leo Docherty
(Aldershot)
Asked on: 07 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Gurkhas: Recruitment
218363
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to recruit more Gurkhas into the British Army; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 February 2019
Gurkhas continue to make an outstanding contribution to the UK through their service in the British Army and are rightly held in high esteem. Gurkhas are recruited on an annual basis, based on the requirements set by the Brigade of Gurkhas, and we plan to continue annual recruiting on an enduring basis.
Q
Asked by Mark Menzies
(Fylde)
Asked on: 07 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
European Fighter Aircraft and Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Weapons
218277
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the Typhoon and F-35 to deliver the full spectrum of weapons capabilities currently provided by Tornado; and what plans he has to fill the capability gap in the meantime.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 February 2019
There will be no capability gap when Tornado retires from service in March 2019. The timetable to deliver the full spectrum of weapons capabilities currently provided by Tornado to other platforms was completed on time and on budget in 2018.
Q
Asked by Mark Menzies
(Fylde)
Asked on: 07 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Imports
218278
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department’s policies of the findings of the IHS Markit report published on 6 February, that the UK will become a net defence importer by 2024 and the fifth largest global market for defence imports.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 February 2019
We are committed to creating the right conditions for a thriving UK defence industry and our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy outlines steps to help UK industry grow and compete, while affirming the UK’s commitment to open competition and free, fair and responsible trade.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with industry to identify new opportunities to export and support both national capability and the UK Prosperity Agenda. Open competition remains our default procurement approach as we seek to source the best capability for our Armed Forces. Nonetheless, even where MOD does acquire defence equipment from overseas at significant value for money to the taxpayer, this often provides important benefit in terms of domestic partnership to UK industry.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
[N]
Asked on: 08 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
218778
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2019 to Question 216198 on Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft, how many of the F-35B fleet do not meet the 8,000 hour service life requirement; and when the modifications of the early contract F-35B are planned to be completed.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 February 2019
A full testing programme for the F-35B is being developed by the Joint Programme Office, which will see all aircraft modified to bring them up to at least the 8,000 hour life and possibly beyond. Future aircraft and those in production will incorporate any relevant design changes as the programme progresses.
Q
Asked by Jo Stevens
(Cardiff Central)
[N]
Asked on: 08 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Navy: Shipping
218820
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Royal Navy ships in service were built in the UK.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 February 2019
Of the 61 Royal Navy ships presently in service 59 (96.7%) were built in the UK.
Q
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
Asked on: 29 January 2019
Department for International Trade
Arms Trade
HL13263
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of potential trading opportunities in the defence sector with non-European countries after Brexit.
A
Answered by: Baroness Fairhead
Answered on: 12 February 2019
The Department for International Trade’s Defence and Security Organisation (DIT DSO) regularly pursues export and investment opportunities in the defence sector with non-European countries as part of its role helping the UK defence and security industries to export and will continue to do so after Brexit.
On a rolling 10-year basis, the UK remains the second largest global defence exporter. In 2017, the UK won defence orders worth £9 billion. The UK share of the global defence export market was estimated at 12% in 2017.
Recent success in defence contracts won, such as Australia’s selection of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship for its Future Frigates programme, highlight the UK’s world-leading ability to deliver cutting edge capability whilst supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to national prosperity.
The UK will continue to be one of the most successful defence and security exporting countries backed by a government that continues to support defence and security exports but rightly has one of the most robust export licensing regimes. In 2019 the UK will again host Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) to support this success.
Q
Asked by Dr Matthew Offord
(Hendon)
Asked on: 04 February 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
UK Relations with EU
216263
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has for future cooperation and collaboration on security and defence policy with the EU27 nations in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
A
Answered by: Sir Alan Duncan
Answered on: 12 February 2019
Delivering the deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority. This has not changed. As set out in the Political Declaration on the future relationship between the UK and EU, the Government has offered to cooperate closely on defence and security as part of an ambitious Security Partnership. This would be on a case-by-case basis, where of mutual benefit.
While our focus remains on securing agreement with the EU, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, like the rest of Government, is also preparing for “No Deal”. In a No Deal scenario, the UK would have to withdraw from Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations – both military and civilian – and withdraw associated personnel seconded to the EU institutions. The UK would continue to act through other multilateral fora, including through the UN and NATO, and the UK’s cooperation and collaboration on security and defencewith individual EU Member States will continue.
Q
Asked by Dr Matthew Offord
(Hendon)
Asked on: 04 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
USA: INF Treaty
216319
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the decision by the US Government to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on UK security.
A
Answered by: Gavin Williamson
Answered on: 12 February 2019
Along with NATO Allies, we strongly support the US findings that Russia’s development and deployment of its SSC-8 cruise missile system amounts to a material breach of the INF Treaty. This reflects a broader pattern of Russian behaviour that is intended to weaken the overall Euro-Atlantic security architecture. The Treaty’s six-month withdrawal process offers Russia a final opportunity to return to full and verified compliance and respect its Treaty obligations.
The UK is engaged with NATO to assess the military implications for NATO in the event that Russia does not return to verifiable compliance. We remain confident in our capabilities and our ability to effectively deter and defend against Russian attempts to undermine Euro-Atlantic security. We will continue to consult regularly with Allies to keep the fielding of Russian intermediate range missiles under close review. NATO Allies reaffirmed this position on 2 February 2019.
Q
Asked by Lloyd Russell-Moyle
(Brighton, Kemptown)
Asked on: 05 February 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
USA: Nuclear Weapons
217100
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the US withdrawal from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, whether US intermediate-range nuclear weapons be accepted for deployment within UK land borders.
A
Answered by: Sir Alan Duncan
Answered on: 12 February 2019
There has been no request from the US to deploy new missiles to Europe. As NATO made clear in a recent statement on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, NATO continues to review closely the security implications of Russian intermediate-range missiles and will continue to take steps necessary to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the Alliance’s overall deterrence and defence posture. Allies will continue to consult each other regularly with a view to ensuring our collective security.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 05 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Japan: Military Alliances
217007
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to strengthen the defence and security relationship between the UK and Japan.
A Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 12 February 2019
In 2017 Prime Ministers May and Abe signed a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and reaffirmed this in January 2019 during Prime Minister Abe’s visit to the UK. We have delivered on this throughout 2018 by deploying three Royal Navy ships to the region which exercised with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and conducted the first-ever UK land exercise in Japan. In addition, we are developing an administrative and legal framework to support further exercises, operations, and capability partnerships, including the possibility of exploring cooperation on future combat aircraft and air-to-air missiles.
During HMS Montrose’s upcoming deployment to the region, in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions against North Korea, she will take the opportunity to exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Q
Asked by Mrs Madeleine Moon
(Bridgend)
Asked on: 06 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Army: Germany
217504
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many M3 Amphibious Rigs are available at Ayrshire Barracks in Monchengladbach; when those M3 Amphibious Rigs will be transferred to the German Army barracks at Minden; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 12 February 2019
In October 2018, a Joint Vision Statement was signed, reaffirming the continuing importance of close defenceco-operation with Germany. This committed the UK to a combined river crossing capability with shared facilities in Minden. Elements of 23 Amphibious Engineer squadron, including some M3 rigs, are already located at Minden and will continue to grow until it is fully established in 2020.
We do not routinely comment on specific locations for individual capabilities as to do so would compromise operational security, or would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Grouped Questions: 217503