House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex)
Asked on: 07 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Tanks: Deployment
251200
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the deployability of the Main Battle Tank throughout Europe.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The British Army maintains the ability to deploy its Challenger 2 main battle tanks throughout Europe, with a number currently deployed in Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence. This is assisted by the Government’s announcement last year that a residual Army presence in Germany will be maintained as a foundation on which to enhance readiness on mainland Europe; a number of main battle tanks are already forward based there. Defence is continuing to examine how we might forward deploy Army capability in the future but no conclusions have been reached.
Q
Asked by Frank Field
(Birkenhead)
[N]
Asked on: 08 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Type 31 Frigates: Procurement
251904
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timescale is for the bidding process for the Type 31e frigates.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 May 2019
It remains our intention to award a single Design and Build contract for five Type 31e Frigates by the end of 2019.
Q
Asked by Jonathan Edwards
(Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Asked on: 03 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Submarines: Cost Effectiveness
250779
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent changes her Department has made to the estimated savings to be accrued from the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The estimated savings to be delivered under the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme are included in the annual Defence Equipment Plan. The 2018 plan was published on 18 March 2019, and can be found here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/788481/20190318-EP18_v3.pdf
Q
Asked by Jonathan Edwards
(Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Asked on: 03 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Devonport Dockyard: Trident Submarines
250778
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of upgrading docks at Devonport as part of the UK nuclear programme.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The Ministry of Defence continues to undertake work to define the future infrastructure requirements at Devonport to deliver the submarine programme safely and securely. We are currently conducting negotiations with industry partners.
Q
Asked by Jonathan Edwards
(Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)
Asked on: 03 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Trident Submarines
250776
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the effect of delays to Dreadnought submarines on the out of service date for Vanguard submarines.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The design and build of the Dreadnought class submarines continues. The programme remains on track to enter service in the early 2030s, it remains within its budget. The build phase for the entire class will take approximately 20 years. The Dreadnought programme will ensure the United Kingdom has a credible, independent and capable nuclear deterrent out to the 2060s.
Q
Asked by Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex)
Asked on: 07 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Army
251199
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Heavy Armoured Brigades her Department plans to have in the British Army Future Force Structure.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out the Government’s intent for the Army to deliver, as part of Joint Force 2025, a warfighting division drawn from two armoured infantry brigades and two new strike brigades.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 08 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
International Military Services: Debts
252014
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department has not published the value of IMS Ltd.’s contingent liabilities as required by the statutory authorities conferred by the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill 1984.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The Department set out its Statutory liability for International Military Sales on page 139 of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 08 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
EU Defence Policy
251960
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what her Department’s policy is on the integration of European armed forces plan; and if she will make a statement.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 13 May 2019
The Government is not aware of an integration of European armed forces plan. The UK supports increased cooperation and interoperability between armed forces, including at European level, for example through joint exercises and development of defence capabilities. Such cooperation must be complementary with NATO, the cornerstone of our defence.