23 May 19. Defence Committee – Government Response.
- The Defence Committee will be publishing its Eighteenth Special Report, Mental Health and the Armed Forces, Part Two: The Provision of Care: Government response to the Committee’s Fourteenth Report of Session 2017–19 [HC 2213] on Friday 24 May.
The special report will be available on the Committee’s website, www.parliament.uk/defcom from 11.00am on Friday 24 May.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 21 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Shipbuilding
257025
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the recommendations made in the report entitled, National Ship Building Strategy, published by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Shipbuilding and Ship Repair in May 2019.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 23 May 2019
I thank the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Shipbuilding and Ship Repair for their work in completing this report.
The Ministry of Defence is not required to make a formal assessment of the recommendations in the report, but as per my oral contribution on 20 May 2019 (Official Report column 494) I would be happy to meet the APPG to discuss their report.
Q
Asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes
(West Dunbartonshire)
Asked on: 13 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces: Hexavalent Chromium
253590
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Herald article entitled MoD stops using toxic chromium paint on tanks published on 17 April 2019, (a) when and (b) by whom the decision was taken to discontinue the use of paints containing hexavalent chromium on military vehicles.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 21 May 2019
The hexavalent chromate compound used in paints for vehicle servicing was banned in January 2019 under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulations. Work had been ongoing since 2006 to remove paints containing hexavalent chromate compounds, and the Ministry of Defence implemented this ban for the remaining few uses when it came into force. Updated instructions were provided to personnel and any remaining paints were recalled for safe disposal.
Q
Asked by Stephanie Peacock
(Barnsley East)
[N]
Asked on: 16 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Challenger Tanks: Repairs and Maintenance
255360
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when her Department plans to make a decision on how many of the Army’s Challenger 2 tanks will be refitted.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 21 May 2019
Following outcomes of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the British Army currently has 227 Challenger 2 tanks. For current and historical information on the British Army’s vehicle fleet size, statistics may be found online either on the gov.uk website through the ‘UK armed forces equipment and formations’ publication, or on the National Archives website within copies of the ‘UK Defence Statistics Compendium.’
With regards to the future size of the Army’s tank fleet, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 April 2019, to Question 246488 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones).
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 14 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
254250
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2019 to Question 251360 on Iran: International Military Services, for what reason she is not at liberty to disclose the date.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 20 May 2019
The hearing has been listed by the Court on a private and confidential basis. The Ministry of Defence is not a party to these proceedings and there will be no public or third-party access to the hearing.
Q
Asked by Chris Ruane
(Vale of Clwyd)
[N]
Asked on: 14 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence: Contracts
254156
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many companies in each region and nation of the UK secured contracts from her Department in each of the last five years; and what the value of each contract was.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 20 May 2019
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regularly publishes expenditure data via the Trade, Industry and Contracts bulletin on gov.uk. The data includes information about MOD regional expenditure dating back to 2013 and the latest bulletin can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-and-supported-employment-201718
The MOD does not collate more detailed information about individual companies, nor of the value of individual contracts in each region.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
[N]
Asked on: 15 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Aircraft Carriers
254778
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when she plans to publish her national carrier policy.
A
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
Answered on: 20 May 2019
As I said in my speech on 15 May, the national carrier policy will lay the blueprint for how we propose to utilise our aircraft carriers to deliver global Britain’s objectives around the world. This policy is currently under development.
Q
Asked by Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South)
[N]
Asked on: 15 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
254739
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to encourage competition in defence procurement.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 20 May 2019
Competition remains the cornerstone of defence procurement policy, except where other strategic considerations need to be taken into account, for example national security, operational advantage and freedom of action.
The Ministry of Defence routinely engages with prime contractors to maximise competition in the supply chain wherever possible; for example, encouraging early visibility of forthcoming requirements.
Above all, our focus is on securing the best capability for the Armed Forces at the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Q
Asked by Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South)
[N]
Asked on: 15 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
254739
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to encourage competition in defence procurement.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 20 May 2019
Competition remains the cornerstone of defence procurement policy, except where other strategic considerations need to be taken into account, for example national security, operational advantage and freedom of action.
The Ministry of Defence routinely engages with prime contractors to maximise competition in the supply chain wherever possible; for example, encouraging early visibility of forthcoming requirements.
Above all, our focus is on securing the best capability for the Armed Forces at the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Q
Asked by Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex)
[N]
Asked on: 14 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Turkey: Guided Weapons
254055
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations she has made to the Government of Turkey on its potential acquisition of a Russian S-400 missile.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 20 May 2019
My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary has not yet had the opportunity to speak with her Turkish counterpart, but we have repeatedly raised our concerns about the proposed Turkish purchase of the Russian S-400 air and missile defence system, at Ministerial and official level. Turkey is a valued NATO ally, on the front line of some of the UK and the Alliance’s most difficult security challenges. Defence equipment procurement decisions are for nations, but all NATO Allies have committed to reducing their dependence on Russian-sourced military equipment. The proposed purchase would pose real challenges for the interoperability of NATO systems.
Q
Asked by Lloyd Russell-Moyle
(Brighton, Kemptown)
[N]
Asked on: 20 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
256331
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK (a) soldiers and (b) contracted staff work to support air radar systems in Saudi Arabia in the latest period for which figures are available.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 23 May 2019
No UK soldiers work to support air radar systems in Saudi Arabia. There are today around 50 UK-contracted personnel providing routine technical support for the avionics systems on UK-supplied aircraft, including the air radar systems.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 09 May 2019
Ministry of Defence
South Korea: Military Alliances
252586
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to enhance defence and security co-operation with South Korea.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 17 May 2019
We committed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (2015) to deepen our relationship with South Korea as a priority partner in Asia. Two Royal Navy Ships visited South Korea in 2018, and we have carried out regular exercise and training activity. This included combined amphibious training in Exercise SSANGYONG 18, supported by HMS SUTHERLAND.