House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 08 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
East China Sea: Deployment
242051
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the reporting by HMS Montrose of North Korea’s evasion of sanctions, whether he plans to increase the number of patrols in the East China Sea.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 16 April 2019
Through the deployment of HMS SUTHERLAND, HMS ALBION, HMS ARGYLL and HMS MONTROSE over the past year, the Royal Navy has helped lead the enforcement of UN sanctions on North Korea’s illegal nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council we are committed to ensuring that all UN sanctions are fully implemented. Until North Korea’s nuclear programmes are dismantled, these sanctions will remain and the Royal Navy will continue to play a full role in enforcement as under our UN obligations.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 08 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ukraine: Defence and Security
242053
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps the Government is taking to safeguard Ukrainian defence and security.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 16 April 2019
The UK remains a steadfast partner to Ukraine as it faces continued acts of aggression and threats to its sovereignty.
British personnel have been involved in the training mission, Operation Orbital since February 2015; in this time they have trained over 13,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. During a visit in September 2018 the Secretary of State for Defence extended Operation Orbital to March 2020.
In November 2018, Russia seized three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors. In response the Secretary of State accelerated the deployment of HMS Echo into the Black Sea, clearly demonstrating the UK’s unwavering support both to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. The UK continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder alongside the international community in calling for the immediate release of the sailors.
This year Operation Orbital has delivered support and mentoring to the Ukrainian Navy through training teams consisting of personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the Army. The UK and Ukrainian Armed Forces will also gain further opportunities to develop capability and share expertise by committing to bilateral and multilateral exercises later this year. The Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has stated on several occasions that Operation Orbital has saved lives.
Finally, the UK remains committed to supporting Ukraine as it implements wide-ranging reforms, including those set out in their Strategic Defence Bulletin. We view supporting defence reform, and reform more broadly, as a key priority in our bilateral engagement and in relation to Ukraine’s EU and NATO aspirations. The UK has an assistance programme focused on Defence Reform and institution-building, as well as transparency in procurement and anti-corruption. This programme is facilitated by our Special Defence Advisor, embedded within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
Q
Asked by The Marquess of Lothian
Asked on: 04 April 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Arctic Council
HL15072
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their priorities for the forthcoming Arctic Council ministerial meeting in Finland on 7 May, particularly in relation to their commitment, in the Defence Arctic Strategy, to put the Arctic and the High North central to the security of the UK.
A
Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Answered on: 15 April 2019
The priority of Her Majesty’s Government is to maintain the Arctic as a peaceful and stable region. At the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in May, we will reaffirm our commitment to support the Arctic Council in its work to promote cooperation and coordination on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection, and to work in partnership with the eight Arctic States and the region’s indigenous peoples to that end. The Arctic Council does not discuss security or defence matters. The United Kingdom will be represented at the meeting by a senior official of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, in accordance with our status as an observer.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 08 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Electronic Warfare
242052
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK is a world leader in autonomous cyber defence of military systems.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 15 April 2019
The National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 is supported by a £1.9 billion of transformational investment. It sets out ambitious policies to protect the UK in cyber space. Defence operates many Cyber defencecapabilities with varying levels of automation. These systems are typically used for monitoring and defending key capabilities. New, emergent and advanced technologies are also monitored by working closely with Dstl, academia and industry partners.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 08 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
HMS Prince of Wales
242054
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Prince of Wales will (a) be ready for sea trials by the end of the calendar year and (b) delivered on budget.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 15 April 2019
HMS Prince of Wales is structurally complete and on current plans will commence contractor sea trials later this year.
The final cost of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme is the subject of ongoing commercial negotiations with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, and I am therefore withholding our current cost estimate as its disclosure at this time would be prejudicial to the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.
Q
Asked by Richard Burden
(Birmingham, Northfield)
[N]
Asked on: 09 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
GKN: Birmingham
242681
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 2018 deed of covenant undertakings provided by Melrose Industries, whether he has plans to issue a note of concern in relation to the announcement by GKN Aerospace that it intends to close its Kings Norton plant.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 15 April 2019
As required by the undertakings provided last year, Melrose Industries have notified the Ministry of Defence(MOD) of their intention to relocate Defence work from GKN’s Kings Norton site to other GKN sites. The MOD has discussed these proposals with Melrose and is confident that the important work that GKN does for Defence will continue. The MOD understands that there will be no overall reduction in GKN’s defence capacity, as the defence work is being moved, not stopped. On that basis there are no plans to issue a note of concern.
Q
Asked by Dr David Drew
(Stroud)
[N]
Asked on: 09 April 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Sudan: Rapid Reaction Forces
242674
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Rapid Defence Force has been deployed on the streets of Khartoum.
A
Answered by: Harriett Baldwin
Answered on: 15 April 2019
We are aware of credible reports of the presence of the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other security forces, in the vicinity of protests in Khartoum. We have consistently urged the Sudanese authorities to refrain from using force against civilians.
Q
Asked by Stewart Malcolm McDonald
(Glasgow South)
[N]
Asked on: 10 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning
243514
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to establish a public inquiry into the handling of UK nuclear submarine decommissioning.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 15 April 2019
We have no plans for a public inquiry.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
[N]
Asked on: 10 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
243367
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on the delivery of 17 F-35B fighter jets to the UK after 2020 of Turkey’s potential removal from the F35 programme.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 15 April 2019
There is no anticipated effect to the delivery of the UK’s F-35B aircraft after 2020.
Q
Asked by Mr Paul Sweeney
(Glasgow North East)
[N]
Asked on: 10 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement
243560
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) Team UK, (b) Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, (c) Fincantieri, (d) Navantia, and (e) Japan Marine United Corporation remain in the competition to tender for the Fleet Solid Support Ship design and build contract.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 15 April 2019
Yes.
Q
Asked by Gareth Thomas
(Harrow West)
[N]
Asked on: 10 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
Veterans: Homelessness
243310
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will fund research into the number of former members of the armed forces who are homeless; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood
Answered on: 15 April 2019
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) strongly believes that no-one should be homeless, least of all someone who has served their country. However, there is no substantive evidence to suggest that veterans are over-represented in the homeless population. As part of the recently launched Veterans Strategy the Government has made clear its commitment to tackling rough sleeping and homelessness and ensuring that all veterans have a secure place to live.
We recognise that there are limited statistics on homelessness; that is the why the MOD and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working together to gather more comprehensive data on this issue. The Combined Homelessness and Information Network statistics suggest that 3% of the rough sleeping population in London have served in the Armed Forces and other independent research shows that the rough sleeping figures for veterans are around 3-4% across the UK. The same research shows that that an individual is less likely to be homeless if they have served in the Armed Forces.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 08 April 2019
Ministry of Defence
EU Defence Policy
242049
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has plans to continue to participate in EU defence policy, as a signatory to EU Council agreements after the UK has left the EU.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 16 April 2019
The UK will be leaving the EU’s common security and defence structures, and our future relationship with those structures will be as a third country. The UK will pursue a distinctive, independent, and sovereign foreign and defence policy that meets British interests and promotes our values. The Political Declaration negotiated with the EU recognises the shared threats and values of the UK and the EU and provides a framework for an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible future relationship. There is value in the UK and EU continuing to work closely together and our future partnership should offer us both the means to combine efforts to the greatest effect. Such a partnership must also respect the sovereignty of the UK and the decision-making autonomy of the EU.