House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Treasury
International Military Services
8403
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department gave permission that the dividend paid to the Secretary of State for Defence by IMS Ltd in 2010 did not need to be returned to the Consolidated Fund by the Ministry of Defence.
A
Answered by: Rishi Sunak
Answered on: 04 February 2020
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence Procurement) James Heappey MP on 30th January 2020 UIN Reference 8402.
Q
Asked by Jeremy Hunt
(South West Surrey)
Asked on: 29 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Maritime Patrol Aircraft: Procurement
9625
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many maritime patrol aircraft his Department has purchased since 2015.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 04 February 2020
The Ministry of Defence has ordered nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the US Government by Foreign Military Sale. Of these, the purchase of one aircraft was completed in October 2019, with a second purchase due for completion imminently.
Q
Asked by Jeremy Hunt
(South West Surrey)
[N]
Asked on: 30 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Unmanned Air Vehicles: France
10339
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the development of an unmanned combat air system programme with France; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 04 February 2020
The UK is continuing to work with France in the £65 million Future Combat Air Systems Technology Development Co-operation (FCAS TDC) programme. This programme is primarily aimed at improving the interoperability of current and future UK and French combat air platforms.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 30 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
10431
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the steps he has (a) identified and (b) taken to protect UK citizens from the risks of the unpaid debt by IMS Ltd to Iran’s MODSAF agency.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 04 February 2020
For the purpose of safeguarding national security, the Ministry of Defence does not comment publicly on the specifics of any potential risk assessments and associated activities.
Q
Asked by Earl Attlee
Asked on: 21 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Type 45 Destroyers
HL597
Her Majesty’s Government how many Type 45 destroyers are (1) at sea, and (2) technically fit to go to sea with 24 hours notice.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 04 February 2020
We do not disclose the readiness state of individual ships for operational security reasons, as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. HMS DEFENDER is currently deployed on operations in the Gulf. All Royal Navy ships rotate through planned operating cycles involving routine maintenance, repair, training, deployment, leave, essential modification and upgrades and will, therefore, be at varying levels of readiness in accordance with Defence requirements.
Q
Asked by Lord Moonie
Asked on: 23 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Patrol Craft
HL756
Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Defence on 23 November 2018 that HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn will forward-operate from their namesake rivers, what progress has been made towards the implementation of that announcement.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 04 February 2020
While HMS TYNE, MERSEY and SEVERN remain base ported in HM Naval Base Portsmouth, they continue to have strong associations with their namesake regions. The Royal Navy is considering how they can further optimise the use of the Offshore Patrol Vessels in supporting our national and global interests.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 28 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
International Military Services: Finance
9095
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how its company IMS Ltd funded its payment into court in 2001; and how much of that payment was provided by (a) his Department or (b) the public purse.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 03 February 2020
In December 2002 a payment of £382,500,000 was made into court funds. Payment was made by a combination of HM Treasury, IMS Ltd., and the Ministry of Defence.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 28 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
International Military Services: Finance
9097
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much International Military Services Ltd received from its investments in local authorities and local authority securities; on what dates those investments ended; and with which financial products those investments were made.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 03 February 2020
International Military Services Ltd has been a private limited company up until this Financial Year (2019-20) and was not required to lay its accounts before Parliament (as is the case with any other private limited company). IMS accounts are publicly available at Companies House.
Q
Asked by Andrew Rosindell
(Romford)
Asked on: 23 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
7136
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans in place for joint procurement between the UK and EU member states after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
The UK regularly collaborates with international partners and will continue to explore the opportunity to work with partners in Europe and beyond on joint capability programmes.
Q
Asked by Emily Thornberry
(Islington South and Finsbury)
Asked on: 23 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Unmanned Air Vehicles
7166
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the international legal framework is for the use of drones in conflict zones.
A
Answered by: Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Answered on: 30 January 2020
Remotely piloted aircraft may or may not carry arms, depending on their function. The use of force in armed conflict, regardless of the method of delivery, is governed by International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL regulates both the choice of weapons and the means and methods of warfare. Guidance to our armed forces on the interpretation and application of IHL is found in Joint Service Publication 383 The United Kingdom Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict; and Joint Doctrine Publication 0-30.2 Unmanned Aircraft Systems sets out UK Defence doctrine for the use of such systems, including the legal framework and moral and ethical issues.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
Asked on: 23 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
International Military Services: Finance
7288
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 7 October 2019 to Question 292965, on International Military Services: Finance, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make regular the transfer of taxpayer funds by Her Majesty’s Treasury into court under the terms of the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Act 1984.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
The Department will always comply with any applicable substantive or procedural requirements of legislation.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
8399
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the instruction was given to IMS Ltd to settle its debt with Iran’s MOSDAF agency.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
Due to ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment.
Grouped Questions: 8400 | 8401
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
8400
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether IMS Ltd has discussed with the Iranian authorities whether its debt can be discharged by way of humanitarian supplies.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
Due to ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment.
Grouped Questions: 8399 | 8401
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
8401
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether IMS Ltd has applied for a licence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to pay its debt to Iran.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
Due to ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment.
Grouped Questions: 8399 | 8400
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
8402
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 8 October 2019 to Question 292967, whether the dividend received by the then Secretary of State in 2010 from IMS Ltd was paid into the Consolidated Fund in line with the requirements of the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Act 1984 .
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
Any dividends from investments are allocated in line with our normal financial and capability planning processes. The Department will always comply with any applicable substantive or procedural requirements of legislation.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
[N]
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
International Military Services: Legal Costs
8409
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much IMS Ltd spent on legal costs in the 2018-19 financial year.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
International Military Services (IMS) Ltd has been a private limited company up until this Financial Year (2019-20) and was not required to lay its accounts before Parliament (as is the case with any other private limited company). IMS accounts are publicly available at Companies House. IMS operating costs are met from accumulated profit from business activities and investment interest.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
[N]
Asked on: 27 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement
8160
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2020 to Question 4716 on Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement, for what reason disclosure of the cost to the public purse of a public procurement programme would prejudice commercial interests.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
Disclosure of the Fleet Solid Support Ship assessment phase funding provision, or of any breakdown of the allocation of that funding provision, would be prejudicial to the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence in that it would provide to potential bidders in a future competition an insight into the likely available funding and its allocation.
Q
Asked by Tulip Siddiq
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
Asked on: 28 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Iran: International Military Services
9098
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the potential risk to UK citizens from the debt dispute between International Military Services Ltd and Iran’s MODSAF is included in his Department’s risk register.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 30 January 2020
For reasons of National Security I cannot comment on the specific details of the Department’s risk register.
Q
Asked by Stewart Malcolm McDonald
(Glasgow South)
Asked on: 30 January 2020
Ministry of Defence
Nuclear Weapons: Military Bases
10395
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January to Question 3807 and with reference to the key findings on page 7 of the NAO’s report entitled Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear-regulated sites, published on 10 January 2020, which projects managed by his Department funding will be re-allocated from to fund the £1.35 billion combined cost increase in respect of the three projects examined by the NAO.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 05 February 2020
The £1.35 billion cost increase reported in the NAO publication ‘Managing Infrastructure on Nuclear-Regulated sites’, represent the difference between initial cost estimates and the latest position for the projects reviewed. These costs have been absorbed and accounted for through business as usual budgetary processes within the Enterprise.