11 Sep 20. Defence Committee to hold evidence session on MoD and Armed Forces’ progress on F-35 and Carrier Strike programmes. On Tuesday 15 September, at 13.15, the Defence Committee will hold an evidence session hearing from expert commentators on the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces’ progress on the F-35 and Carrier Strike programmes. The Committee will also examine the possible impact for the programmes of the ongoing Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review.
The Committee will hear from a panel of three witnesses: James Bronk, Nick Childs and Captain Royal (Rtd) Navy Dan Stembridge.
James Bronk is a Research Fellow in Combat Airpower and Technology at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and Editor of the RUSI Defence Systems online journal. Nick Childs is a Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Prior to IISS, Childs was a BBC journalist for more than 30 years, working as World Affairs Correspondent and the BBC’s first Pentagon Correspondent and specialising in covering defence, security and international affairs. Captain Royal Navy (Rtd) Dan Stembridge. Dan Stembridge is a former Royal Navy fighter pilot and senior leader with significant operational and programmatic experience of the F-35, Carrier Strike and wider Combat Air, having served in the Navy for 30 years. Stembridge is currently the MD of Whole Ship, a leadership and team training company and has recently been voted in as the Deputy Chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society Air Power Group.
Tuesday 15 September
13.15:
- Justin Bronk, Research Fellow in Combat Airpower and Technology, Royal United Services Institute
- Nick Childs, Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security, International Institute for Strategic Studies
- Captain Royal Navy (Rtd) Dan Stembridge, Deputy Chair, Air Power Group, Royal Aeronautical Society
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements are being required by his Department from the industry for procurement competitions; and for what reasons those such agreements are necessary.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Answered on 9 September 2020
It is Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy to use standard contract conditions to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of information for a variety of reasons, including protection of national security, commercial confidentiality and personal data.
The MOD would only use Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in its commercial arrangements by exception. Any such NDAs, if agreed, would be prepared on a project by project basis: the MOD does not hold any central record of any such agreements.
Similarly, the MOD has no centrally held records of any contractual conditions or NDAs that would prevent an industry expert from attending a Parliamentary Committee. Where circumstances arose in which information is requested, the disclosure of which may be prohibited under contractual arrangements; for example, on grounds of national security or commercial sensitivities, this would have to be carefully considered on a case by case basis.
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether non-disclosure agreements agreed between his Department and prime defence contractors purport to prohibit industry experts from providing evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Answered on
9 September 2020
It is Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy to use standard contract conditions to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of information for a variety of reasons, including protection of national security, commercial confidentiality and personal data. The MOD would only use Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in its commercial arrangements by exception. Any such NDAs, if agreed, would be prepared on a project by project basis: the MOD does not hold any central record of any such agreements. Similarly, the MOD has no centrally held records of any contractual conditions or NDAs that would prevent an industry expert from attending a Parliamentary Committee. Where circumstances arose in which information is requested, the disclosure of which may be prohibited under contractual arrangements; for example, on grounds of national security or commercial sensitivities, this would have to be carefully considered on a case by case basis.
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of the use of Giraffe radar prior to the deployment of RAF aircraft in the English Channel in the last two months.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Answered on
9 September 2020
An assessment on the suitability of Giraffe radar system was conducted and it was deemed that this capability was not appropriate due to the good existing radar coverage in the area.
Answered by
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his policy to deliver the Carrier Enabled Power Projection project by 2026 following the Infrastructure and Projects Authority report classifying the Type 26, Type 31, FSS and Astute programmes as Amber or Amber/Red.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Answered on
8 September 2020
Achieving full operating capability for the Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP) programme requires the delivery of three core programmes; Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, Lightning aircraft and the CROWSNEST radar system. The Department is on track to deliver CEPP full operating capability on time.
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the compatibility of his Department’s policy on engagement with journalists from selective publications and the Civil Service Code.
Answer
Johnny Mercer
Conservative
Plymouth, Moor View
Answered on
8 September 2020
The Ministry of Defence engages with media outlets who report responsibly.
We take care to consider the reputation and track-record of all domestic and international publications as part of that commitment to openness and accuracy.