House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord Touhig
Asked on: 05 March 2020
Department for International Development
Hospital Ships: Procurement
HL2302
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review will consider the possibility of procuring a hospital ship.
A
Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Answered on: 17 March 2020
DFID and the Ministry of Defence already work closely together deploying ships to respond to humanitarian emergencies. For example, following Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas last September, RFA Mounts Bay played a critical role in the UK response.
The integrated review is the deepest review of the UK’s foreign, defence, security and development policy since the end of the Cold War.
It will establish the strategic aims for our national security and foreign policy, determining the capabilities and structural reforms needed to meet those aims and how we will work with international partners and organisations to promote the UK’s interests around the world.
No decision has been made on the construction or operation of a UK hospital ship, and we will continue to ensure that UKaid is deployed in a way that maximises value for money for development and the UK taxpayer.
Q
Asked by Ms Lyn Brown
(West Ham)
[N]
Asked on: 12 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces: Coronavirus
28589
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is preparing to train service personnel to perform essential (a) public health, (b) nursing and (c) civil protection functions in the event that work forces are depleted or reassigned during the peak period of covid-19 infection.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 17 March 2020
Defence has a number of existing contingency operations to provide support to the civil authorities, including the Police and Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service. In light of the likely additional call on military assistance to mitigate COVID-19 related staff absence in civil authorities, Defence is reviewing its plans, training and readiness in order to support additional requests.
Q
Asked by Zarah Sultana
(Coventry South)
[N]
Asked on: 12 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Committee On Arms Export Controls
28767
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to support the establishment of a Committee on Arms Export Controls as a full non-departmental Select Committee.
A
Answered by: Jeremy Quin
Answered on: 17 March 2020
Any plan to change the status of the Committee on Arms Exports Controls from a joint meeting of members of the relevant departmental committees (Foreign Affairs, Defence, International Trade and International Development) to a standalone committee is a matter for the House of Commons.
Q
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
[N]
Asked on: 12 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
28572
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what upgrade costs have been for the Jackal light patrol vehicle in the past twelve months; and whether that figure was included in the Defence Equipment Plan.
A
Answered by: Jeremy Quin
Answered on: 17 March 2020
Over the last twelve months the Army has not spent any money on upgrading the Jackal Light Patrol Vehicle.
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 11 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Army
27961
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the new Strike Brigade will be in-service.
A
Answered by: James Heappey
Answered on: 16 March 2020
The development of the Strike capability continues at pace with ongoing experimentation within 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade. The formation of the strike brigade is dependent on the delivery schedule of the vehicles that will be used within the brigade. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Jeremy Quin) on 9 March 2020 to Question 24277.
27961 – Armoured Fighting Vehicles (Word Document, 22.35 KB)
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 11 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
27962
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse is of (a) the F-35 programme and (b) each F-35 aircraft.
A
Answered by: Jeremy Quin
Answered on: 16 March 2020
The price of an F-35B from Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 11 which comprises the last finalised contract is $115 million. This covers airframe and engine cost and represents a 24% price reduction from our first aircraft ordered. We expect this downward trend to continue in future lots.
Costs of the overall Lightning Programme are set out in the Ministry of Defence Government Major Projects Portfolio data, 2019, which is available in the Library of the House.
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 11 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Future Large Aircraft
27963
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Airbus A400m aircraft have been delivered to the RAF; and what the timetable is for the final delivery of that aircraft to be made.
A
Answered by: Jeremy Quin
Answered on: 16 March 2020
To date, 20 aircraft have been delivered to the RAF, with the final delivery planned for 2022.
Q
Asked by Mr Mark Francois
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
[N]
Asked on: 11 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Defence Equipment and Support: Pay
27964
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary band is of the head of Defence Equipment and Support.
A
Answered by: Jeremy Quin
Answered on: 16 March 2020
The salary of the Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is published in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts, which is available on gov.uk at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-equipment-support-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019
The Chief Executive’s current salary band is £270,000 – £275,000.
Q
Asked by Luke Pollard
(Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Asked on: 11 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Type 26 Frigates
28096
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether shipyards other than those based in the UK will be able to bid for the deep maintenance contract for the new Type 26 frigates.
A
Answered by: Jeremy Quin
Answered on: 18 March 2020
No decisions have yet been made regarding Type 26 Frigate deep maintenance periods.