House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
Asked on: 16 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Firing Ranges: Closures
4312
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK firing ranges have closed since 2015.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 22 January 2020
Between 1 January 2015 and 20 January 2020 183 UK Defence Ranges have been centrally recorded by the Defence Regulator as being closed.
Q
Asked by Lord Moonie
Asked on: 09 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Defence Equipment
HL267
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish the next Defence Equipment Plan.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 21 January 2020
We intend to publish our 2019 financial summary of the Equipment Plan alongside the NAO’s updated assessment in due course.
Q
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 13 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Frigates
HL364
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to increase the number of frigates in the Royal Navy; and if so, when they intend to start expanding that fleet.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 21 January 2020
The Government remains committed to a surface fleet of at least 19 Frigates and Destroyers, and the Royal Navy will have the ships required to fulfil their Defence and Policy commitments. The intent remains to grow the Destroyer and Frigate force by the 2030s, and the Type 31 Frigates will provide the opportunity to do this. It is not uncommon to have planned, temporary, small fluctuations in overall numbers during the transition from any class of ship or submarine to another.
Grouped Questions: HL365
Q
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 13 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
EU Defence Policy
HL367
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the agreement on the EU Concept for Military Command and Control, agreed by the EU Military Committee on 23 April 2019, has any application to the UK.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 21 January 2020
The EU Concept for Military Command and Control applies to all forces under the operational control of the EU operation and mission commanders including those provided by EU Member States and third country partners. However, UK personnel remain under UK sovereign command at all times.
If the UK continues to contribute to EU military operations and missions as a third country partner, the Concept would continue to apply to the UK as it does to all other third country participating nations.
Q
Asked by Jessica Morden
(Newport East)
[N]
Asked on: 16 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence: Iron and Steel
4322
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of steel procured by his Department in 2019 was produced in the UK.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 21 January 2020
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold a central record of the origin of all steel used in defence equipment projects. This is because steel for our major programmes is mainly sourced by our prime contractors and the supply chains are complex.
The MOD does, however, collate some information about the origin of steel for projects with the largest steel requirements. This information is published annually on gov.uk at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/steel-public-procurement
The data was last published in January 2019, with the next iteration due to be published shortly.
Q
Asked by Jeremy Hunt
(South West Surrey)
[N]
Asked on: 16 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
4324
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the average per hour maintenance cost for the (a) AgustaWestland Apache AH1, (b) AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat, (c) Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II and (d) Westland Gazelle.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 21 January 2020
The average per hour and per annum maintenance costs are given below:
Type
Apache1 Wildcat1 Gazelle2
Cost per annum
£33million £48million £13million
Cost per hour
£3,451 £4,033 £3,250
* Numbers are rounded and to the nearest hour.
1Apache and Wildcat figures are based on actual figures from financial year 2018/19.
2 Gazelle figures are the annualised cost for the period 1 April 2019 to March 2025 (planned out of service date).
The Dauphin II aircraft is maintained via a civilian contract, on an availability basis, with maintenance cost per flying hour/per annum managed by the contractor. The Ministry of Defence does not therefore hold figures relating to that platform.
Figures are based on estimates and are not official statistics produced by Defence Statistics.
Grouped Questions: 4325
Q
Asked by Lord Chidgey
Asked on: 09 January 2020
Cabinet Office
Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review
HL248
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review will be conducted; and when it will conclude.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 20 January 2020
The Prime Minister has committed to undertake the deepest review of Britain’s security, defence, and foreign policy. The review will examine how we strengthen and prioritise our alliances, diplomacy and development; it will consider all aspects of our defence and security capabilities. An announcement of the timings of the review will be made in due course.
Q
Asked by Gerald Jones
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
[N]
Asked on: 14 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence: Land
3257
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will include a land sector strategy in its Defence Industrial Strategy refresh.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 20 January 2020
Our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy, published in December 2017, sets out our commitment to encouraging a thriving and globally competitive UK defence sector. The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach under constant review to ensure that the implementation and impact of our policies remain effective. We have decided in the past to adopt alternative approaches in specific areas, as we have done in Shipbuilding and Combat Air, and we continually assess our approach to other sectors to determine whether we need to develop separate strategies. Our approach to the Land sector is no different. Last year the Army launched the Army Industrial Engagement Framework which defined how the Army will develop a more cohesive and effective relationship with industry throughout the procurement and development process. The refreshed Defence Industrial Policy from 2017 remains the overarching policy document which describes our approach to industry more broadly.
Q
Asked by Gerald Jones
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
[N]
Asked on: 14 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Army: Vehicles
3260
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his Department’s policy to ensure that future vehicle procurement programmes for the British Army are awarded through open competition.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 20 January 2020
The Government’s default position on defence procurement remains competition wherever appropriate. The Ministry of Defence has a responsibility to procure the best equipment for our Armed Forces whilst achieving value for money for the taxpayer.
Q
Asked by Gerald Jones
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
[N]
Asked on: 14 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement
3261
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish representations his Department has received on value for money in relation to Armoured Fighting Vehicle procurements.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 20 January 2020
The approach taken by the Ministry of Defence to both achieving and demonstrating value for money follows clear policy and guidance, with the evidential case being subject to full independent scrutiny. Comprehensive market analysis of the options available for the procurement of Armoured Fighting Vehicles is conducted as part of this process, and this includes industry representation.
Q
Asked by Nia Griffith
(Llanelli)
[N]
Asked on: 15 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Defence
3707
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish (a) Defence Space Strategy and (b) Defence Arctic Strategy.
A
Answered by: Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Answered on: 20 January 2020
The Defence Space Strategy has developed significantly. We are currently reviewing the right timing for publication and how best to align it with the emerging National Space Strategy. The Ministry of Defence is firmly committed to a number of space programmes, and we are assessing our space capabilities, coherence and requirements. The strategy on the UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North will be published shortly.
Q
Asked by Gareth Thomas
(Harrow West)
Asked on: 09 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Military Aircraft
1668
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the four BAe 146 aircraft based at RAF Northolt will be retired from service; when replacements for those aircraft will be procured; how many such replacements will be procured; how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to replacing those aircraft; and whether the RAF Voyager ZZ336 will be used for short haul trips previously undertaken by those aircraft.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 16 January 2020
The current fleet of four BAe 146 aircraft are planned to be retired from Service on 31 March 2022.
Replacements for those aircraft are currently under consideration as part of normal capability planning.
The fleet of 14 Voyager will continue to support the collective Air Transport task including VIP and Command Support Air Transport tasking.
Q
Asked by Lord Moonie
Asked on: 09 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
HL271
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve the availability of armoured vehicles for the army.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 16 January 2020
There are a range of programmes in place that will improve availability, reduce obsolescence and improve safety and reliability across the armoured fleet.
The Heavy Armour Automotive Improvement Programme (HAAIP) will provide improvements for the heavy armour fleet including Challenger 2, Challenger Armoured Recovery Vehicle, Titan and Trojan. The HAAIP will deliver a common engine and suspension across all variants which will substantially enhance reliability. In addition, Warrior is being upgraded through the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme which will significantly enhance reliability.
The Ministry of Defence is also working closely with Babcock to better anticipate maintenance requirements in order to take preventative action and improve reliability. The new Boxer and AJAX platforms will both have a fully integrated ‘Health and Usage Monitoring System’ which will greatly enhance the Army’s ability to conduct preventative maintenance and so remedy faults early.