House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Chris Stephens
(Glasgow South West)
[N]
Asked on: 05 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Type 31 Frigates: Procurement
241495
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the procurement of Type 31e frigates, what weighting his Department has put on firms bidding for contracts that will sourcing (a) products and (b) materials from the UK supply chain; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 10 April 2019
Supply chain development is an important consideration in evaluating bidders’ proposals in the Type 31e competition. Bidders are incentivised to demonstrate how they intend to strengthen the UK supply chain through increased security of supply, supply chain capability development and the mitigation of supply chain vulnerabilities. I cannot discuss specific criteria or their weighting at this time as to do so would be prejudicial to the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.
Q
Asked by Chris Stephens
(Glasgow South West)
[N]
Asked on: 05 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Shipping
241496
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether bidders participating in the procurement process for fleet support ships are required to provide (a) carrier strike group 22, (b) carrier strike and (c) carrier-enabled power projection capabilities; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 10 April 2019
The Fleet Solid Support ships will not directly provide a carrier strike or carrier-enabled power projection capability but will facilitate these through the delivery of food, stores and ordnance to the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. Bidders for the main design and build contract are not required to provide any specific carrier strike capability.
All sensitive equipment that would be used in the support of carrier strike operations will be subject to a separate UK-only competition after main contract award.
The term Carrier Strike Group 22 is not recognised.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
[N]
Asked on: 05 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Bosnia and Herzegovina: EU Defence Policy
241414
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on Operation Althea of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 10 April 2019
At the Western Balkans Summit in London in July 2018, the Prime Minister was firm in the UK’s commitment to supporting stability and security in the Western Balkans. Since its inception in 2004, the UK has been one of the strongest supporters of Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina; in supporting its executive mandate at the UN and consistently providing personnel deployments. We intend to maintain a UK contribution to the Operation in the event of a deal and an implementation period. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, a third country agreement would be required between the UK and EU for UK troops to continue as part of EU missions and operations, including Operation Althea. We have made clear to the EU that we are open to reaching such an agreement to ensure continuity of the UK’s contribution. In case of no-deal, we have put in place contingency plans to continue UK support to the Western Balkans region.
The UK’s other defence commitments in the Western Balkans, including our support to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), will not be affected by any EU Exit scenario.
Q
Asked by Julian Knight
(Solihull)
Asked on: 02 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Electronic Warfare
240025
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to develop the UK’s offensive cyber capabilities.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 10 April 2019
The Ministry of Defence works in partnership with the Government Communications Headquarters to deliver the National Offensive Cyber Programme which harnesses the expertise of both organisations to establish a world-class offensive cyber capability delivered through a “Joint Mission” construct.
Defence is committed to exploiting offensive cyber (OC) as a warfighting tool. In doing so, we are developing and employing capabilities through the National Offensive Cyber Programme, and ensuring OC is fully integrated with military full-spectrum operations.
Q
Asked by Julian Knight
(Solihull)
Asked on: 02 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ballistic Missile Defence
240024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to modernise the UK’s missile defence capability; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 10 April 2019
Further to the commitments in Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, and subsequently endorsed by the Modernising Defence Programme, the UK is investing in a ground-based radar, which will enhance NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence system. We are also investigating further the potential of the Type 45 Destroyers to operate in a Ballistic Missile Defence role. We will continue to support research and development initiatives and multinational engagement through the UK’s Missile Defence Centre.