House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Angela Crawley
(Lanark and Hamilton East)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence: Finance
272885
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to her Department.
A
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
Answered on: 10 July 2019
The UK has committed to spending 2% of GDP on defence. We are the largest defence spender in Europe and the second largest in NATO.
The Ministry of Defence has a £39 billion core defence budget which will rise by at least 0.5% above inflation in every year of this Parliament. Any future funding decisions will be taken at the upcoming spending review.
Q
Asked by John Spellar
(Warley)
Asked on: 01 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces: Germany
271371
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in establishing a joint bridging unit in Germany.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 09 July 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 an Engineer Squadron are already operating at Minden, alongside our German partners. We continue to grow the UK elements of this capability and anticipate that the wider battalion will be fully operational within the first half of the next decade.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 01 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Type 31 Frigates: Guided Weapons
271442
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether her Department has plans for the Sea Ceptor missile system to be fitted to the five planned Type 31e frigates.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
Final decisions on the weapons specification and fit of the Type 31e frigates will be made at the main investment decision point, taking into account the role of the ship, operating environment and future threats.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Apache AH-64 Helicopters: Procurement
272138
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when her Department plans to complete its order for all 50 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
The order for all 50 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters was placed with the US Government in June 2016 and deliveries are planned to be complete by early 2024. The US Government manages the timing of subcontracts to support the required aircraft delivery schedule.
Q
Asked by Tom Brake
(Carshalton and Wallington)
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence: Brexit
272111
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what preparations his Department is making for the UK leaving the EU without an agreement; and how much funding has been allocated to those preparations.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 09 July 2019
As a responsible Government, we’ve been preparing to minimise any disruption in the event of a no deal for nearly three years. We are putting in place a range of mitigations, these include a central team who deal exclusively with Defence issues relating to the UK’s decision to leave the EU, including preparations for a no deal scenario. This team draws on subject matter experts from across the department and works with colleagues in other government departments on cross-cutting issues.
The Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This breaks down as £412 million over the spending review period for the Department for Exiting the European Union, the Department for International Trade and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (Autumn Statement 2016); £286 million of additional funding for 2017-18 (a full breakdown of which can be found in Supplementary Estimates 2017-18); over £1.5 billion for 2018-19 (Supplementary Estimates 2018-19); and over £2 billion for 2019-20 (Main Estimates 2019-20).
This funding is to cover all exit scenarios and is in addition to departmental efforts to reprioritise from business as usual toward preparations for the UK’s departure from the EU. Work on no-deal exit preparations cannot be readily separated from other EU exit work, given the significant overlap in plans in many cases.
Q
Asked by Deidre Brock
(Edinburgh North and Leith)
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
HMS Talent and HMS Triumph
272213
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Talent and HMS Triumph will be based at HMNB Clyde; and when and where those vessels will be decommissioned.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
The planned out-of-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
An error has been identified in the answer given to the hon. Member to Question 269749 answered on 3 July 2019 which stated that the three Trafalgar Class submarines were based at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde. While all Royal Navy submarines operate under the administrative command of the Submarine Flotilla, on current plans HMS Talent’s base port change will take place in the next few weeks and HMS Triumph’s in 2020.
Q
Asked by Deidre Brock
(Edinburgh North and Leith)
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Trafalgar Class Submarines
272215
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 1 July 2013 to Question 162999 on Trafalgar Class Submarines, whether those planned end of service dates remain the same for each boat.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
The planned out-of-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
An error has been identified in the answer given to the hon. Member to Question 269749 answered on 3 July 2019 which stated that the three Trafalgar Class submarines were based at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde. While all Royal Navy submarines operate under the administrative command of the Submarine Flotilla, on current plans HMS Talent’s base port change will take place in the next few weeks and HMS Triumph’s in 2020.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Shipbuilding: Digital Technology
272162
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of metal 3D printing in the shipbuilding industry.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
The Ministry of Defence recognises the importance of 3D printing in the UK manufacturing sector and is taking into account related research when developing manufacturing policy. We will support the commercialisation of new technologies such as 3D printing and work with defence suppliers to review requirements and develop manufacturing technologies that can benefit shipbuilding.
We judge that 3D printing could have future benefit to the shipbuilding and wider defence sector.
Q
Asked by Angela Crawley
(Lanark and Hamilton East)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Electronic Warfare
272888
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment she has made of the UK’s ability to defend itself against cyber-attacks.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 09 July 2019
Cyber is a tier 1 threat and remains a national priority. The National Cyber Security Strategy, published on 1 November 2016, sets out ambitious policies to protect the UK in cyber space, supported by a £1.9 billion transformational investment. Our vision for 2021 is that the UK is secure and resilient to cyber threats, prosperous and confident in the digital world.
To operate and defend our networks and provide worldwide assured communications for defence, our Global Operations and Security Control Centre at Ministry of Defence (MOD) Corsham is operational 24/7, equipped with sophisticated cyber defence capabilities. We take the cyber threat very seriously. We are enhancing our cyber defence capabilities with recently announced plans to invest over £40 million in developing a new Cyber Security Operations Capability (CSOC). The CSOC will enhance our ability to secure Defence networks and systems against cyber threats and bring together our defensive cyber activity, enabling us to continue to operate safely and securely.
We are also investing £265 million in a pioneering approach to root out cyber vulnerabilities within our military platforms and wider cyber dependent systems. The new Cyber Vulnerability Investigations programme enables the MOD to better understand cyber risks, and thereby ensure its ability to defend itself against cyber attacks.
Q
Asked by Scott Mann
(North Cornwall)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Patrol Craft: South West
272894
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress her Department is making on the (a) construction and (b) commissioning of offshore patrol vessels for deployment in the South West.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
The first two Batch 2 River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMS Forth and HMS Medway are now in service with the Royal Navy. Ship 3, Trent, is in the final phase of acceptance, while Ships 4 and 5, Tamar and Spey, remain under construction. All five ships are expected to be in-service before the end of 2021 and, under current plans, will be based at Portsmouth.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Modernisation
272778
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to ensure the modernising defenceprogramme is coordinated with the NATO defence planning process.
A
Answered by: Penny Mordaunt
Answered on: 09 July 2019
NATO is the cornerstone of our defence. The Modernising Defence Programme, published in December 2018, reaffirmed the UK’s position as a leading voice in NATO and European security, including our commitment to the NATO Readiness Initiative. These commitments remain at the heart of UK Defence planning as we modernise to meet new threats.
Q
Asked by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
(Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Type 45 Destroyers
272910
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) time taken and (b) cost incurred to replace a Type 45 destroyer.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
A decision on whether to acquire a replacement Type 45 destroyer would be taken in light of circumstances at the time. The cost and schedule of doing so would depend on the circumstances that created a requirement for a replacement.
Q
Asked by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
(Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
272911
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long it takes and at what cost to replace an F35 fighter jet.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
A decision on whether or not to acquire a replacement F-35 or Typhoon aircraft would be taken in light of circumstances at the time. The cost and schedule of doing so would depend on the circumstances that created a requirement for a replacement.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Arctic: Navy
272789
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps her Department is taking to increase UK maritime capabilities in the Arctic and the High North.
A
Answered by: Mark Lancaster
Answered on: 09 July 2019
The Royal Navy has the capability to project force using a variety of assets in the High North and Arctic, dependent on the location, season and threat, including amphibious assets focused around 3 Commando Brigade and Commando Helicopter Force who have well-established expertise in cold weather warfare. It has one purpose-built Ice Patrol Ship (HMS Protector) and the UK will maintain an ability to operate under the Arctic ice. Given the changing nature of the Arctic, and in support of the UK Government Arctic Policy Framework, we are seeking to develop sustainable, modernised and proportionate Defence capability for the region, including investment in appropriate Defence research and commercial technology. All Royal Air Force operational aircraft are capable of performing in cold weather with appropriate preparation and maintenance. The Royal Air Force’s fleet of nine P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as F35 Lightning II operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will further contribute to the UK’s capabilities in the region. In the longer-term, the Ministry of Defence will explore opportunities offered by space and autonomous systems to meet future Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance requirements.
Q
Asked by Jo Stevens
(Cardiff Central)
[N]
Asked on: 04 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence: Serco
273405
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many contracts her Department has awarded to Serco since July 2013; and what the value is of those contracts.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 09 July 2019
Since July 2013 the Ministry of Defence has awarded six contracts to Serco Ltd, with a total value of £27 million. This does not include three contracts awarded to AWE, in which Serco has a 24.5% share.
It should also be noted that since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:
https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive
Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Astute Class Submarines
272153
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will publish the seven Astute class submarines by (a) name, (b) actual or estimated in-service date and (c) estimated out-of-service date.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 08 July 2019
HMS ASTUTE, HMS AMBUSH, and HMS ARTFUL have entered service with the Royal Navy. AUDACIOUS, ANSON, AGAMEMNON and AGINCOURT are in various stages of build.
The planned in-service and out-of-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Future Large Aircraft
272154
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will publish the (a) problems with the (i) engines and (ii) gearbox of the A400M aircraft and (b) extent of the work required to address those problems.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 08 July 2019
The A400M’s engine, the TP-400, is provided by EuroProp International, a subcontractor to Airbus. Problems have been seen on combustion chambers on early versions of the TP-400 degrading at a faster rate than expected; these are currently being replaced with an improved design. The engine’s propeller gearbox has also experienced some issues due to faulty components; these are being replaced with new and redesigned parts. This work will be undertaken during periods of planned maintenance to avoid further impacting availability and is expected to be completed by mid-2020. There is no cost to the Ministry of Defence as it is covered by contractual warranties.
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 02 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Future Large Aircraft
272155
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what decisions were taken at the recent NATO Ministerial meeting on the Airbus A400m aircraft.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 08 July 2019
At the A400M Ministerial meeting on 28 June 2019, a decision was made to progress negotiations with the engine manufacturer on the future support solution for the TP-400 engine, with a view to significantly reducing support costs. Ministers directed that Airbus Defence and Space, as the prime contractor, should participate in those negotiations.
Agreement was also reached to sign a six-nation aircraft support contract to provide common support services and spares to supplement national arrangements and a decision was taken that the A400M Programme Division of OCCAR would relocate from its current base in Toulouse to Madrid in 2022 to enable closer working between the sponsor, prime contractor and subcontractor.
Q
Asked by Tom Brake
(Carshalton and Wallington)
[N]
Asked on: 03 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade
272716
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the effect of the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia on UK contractors assisting the Saudi-led coalition in Saudi Arabia .
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 08 July 2019
We are working closely with our UK industrial partners to assess the possible impacts of the suspension. However, I am withholding further details as this information is commercially sensitive.
Q
Asked by Rosie Cooper
(West Lancashire)
[N]
Asked on: 08 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Aerospace Industry
911784
If she will make an assessment of the sustainability of the UK defence aerospace sector.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 08 July 2019
The UK is at the forefront of the defence aerospace industry. The Ministry of Defence is continuing to invest in capability development of aerospace platforms, which will protect highly skilled jobs for many years to come.
The UK’s Combat Air Strategy, launched at the 2018 Farnborough International Air Show, sets out a clear way forward for preserving national advantage and choice in how our future Combat Air capability is delivered.
Q
Asked by Mr Virendra Sharma
(Ealing, Southall)
[N]
Asked on: 08 July 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Industry
911786
What steps she is taking to support the UK defence industry.
A
Answered by: Stuart Andrew
Answered on: 08 July 2019
On the 14 of March, we provided an update to Parliament on our ambitious Defence Prosperity Programme. This includes work to sustain an internationally competitive and productive UK Defence sector and grow exports and inward investment. In the past two years, we have published strategies for Shipbuilding and Combat Air and refreshed our Defence Industrial Policy with a new emphasis on supporting growth and competitiveness.