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PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

December 17, 2020 by

16 Dec 20. Defence Sub-Committee on the Security of 5G publishes Government response. The Defence Sub-Committee on the Security of 5G is today publishing the Government’s response to its report. In this Special Report, the Government responds to the recommendations of the Sub-Committee report. The report’s conclusions focused on the technical and geopolitical considerations of 5G and the Government’s response reacts positively to the recommendations of the Committee.

Chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said, “I am delighted that the Government has taken onboard many of the recommendations made by our Sub-Committee.

The debate around the integration of new technology is ongoing and I hope that this report has helped to move the discourse around technology and security forward. Advances in technology often outpace the conversation around its security, and this is an area that the Defence Committee will continue to monitor.”

House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers

HMS Prince of Wales: Repairs and Maintenance

14 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2020 to Question 126964, when HMS Prince of Wales will be operational again.

Answered on

17 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

HMS PRINCE OF WALES will return to sea in May 2021 to commence preparations for her next planned operational tasking. This underway period will take the form of activities in UK waters prior to her undertaking NATO Command duties in 2022.

Afghanistan: Immigration

14 December 2020

Zarah Sultana

Labour

Coventry South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment her Department has made of the risk to family members of people settled in the UK under the Afghan Ex Gratia scheme who remain in Afghanistan.

Answered on

17 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

We take the safety of immediate family members of former Locally Employed Staff (LES) eligible for relocation under the Ex Gratia Sceme (EGS) very seriously. That is why spouses and dependants under 18 are eligible to relocate with the former LES member. If family members choose to remain in Afghanistan, then they are still eligible to seek support and assistance from our Intimidation Investigation Unit in Kabul, which is open to all immediate family members of LES, whether relocated under the EGS or not.

AWACS: Procurement

10 December 2020

Question

Mr Kevan Jones

Labour

North Durham

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which countries the two secondhand airframes for the E-7 Wedgetail will be purchased.

Answered on

16 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The first two Boeing 737 Next Generation airframes to be modified into Royal Air Force Wedgetail AEW Mark 1 aircraft have been sourced by Boeing from the commercial market through a broker. Further details remain commercially sensitive at this time.

Autonomous Weapons

10 December 2020

Alyn Smith

Scottish National Party

Stirling

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to develop systems that operate without human intervention in the weapon command and control chain.

Answered on

15 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The United Kingdom has no intention of developing systems which operate without any human intervention in the weapon command and control chain.

Reserve Forces: Training

10 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to (a) reform and (b) pause the training programme for navy reservists; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

15 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

The Maritime Reserves is committed to transforming to best support the Royal Navy on future operations, at home and abroad. The Maritime Reserves training capability will be remodelled and integrated into the Royal Navy’s training reform programme which is designed to deliver better trained people more quickly to operations. The Royal Navy is currently working on a solution which will enable some elements of Reserves training to continue to ensure that there is no lasting impact beyond the end of the financial year.

Clyde Naval Base

9 December 2020

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Scottish National Party

West Dunbartonshire

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring all successful bidders across HMNB Clyde for facilities management contracts under the Future Maritime Support Programme to maintain a single collective bargaining unit for purposes of industrial relations.

Answered on

15 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The transition of support services at HM Naval Base Clyde from the existing Maritime Support Delivery Framework will be carefully managed in order to avoid any adverse effect on operations.

As the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) is currently under commercial tender and negotiation, the number of future providers is yet to be finalised. Although support at HM Naval Base Clyde is currently provided through a Prime Contract with Babcock, it is delivered through a number of sub-contractors. FMSP will require industry partners to meet applicable legal obligations under the terms of the Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment legislation.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

7 December 2020

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Labour

Brighton, Kemptown

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which organisations in Saudi Arabia the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery is working with during its Giraffe radar deployment to Saudi Arabia.

Answered on

15 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

This deployment supports the Royal Saudi Air Force in defending the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against the increased air threats that it currently faces.

Armed Forces: Finance

10 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to maintain the level of funding for the armed forces in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

15 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

This year’s Spending Review not only maintains the level of funding for the Armed Forces in the next year, but commits to providing Defence with additional funding of £24.1 billion in cash terms over four years.

The defence of the UK will always be led by the threats that we must deter and defeat. This means making changes and taking hard decisions about our previous commitments. This multi-year settlement will enable Defence to make new investments in Research & Development, space and our shipbuilding pipeline to deliver a modern force, fit for the future.

Defence: Procurement

10 December 2020

Question

Mr Kevan Jones

Labour

North Durham

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of whether the subscription costs for Defence Contracts Online are compatible with his Department’s policy to work more with SMEs.

Answered on

15 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

Registration for, and access to, opportunities to tender for contracts with the Ministry of Defence published through Defence Contracts Online is completely free of charge, and therefore consistent with the Department’s intent to make as many of our contracts accessible to SMEs as possible. We have set a challenging target for 25% of our procurement spend to be with SMEs by 2022 and are making good progress, achieving 19.3% in 2018/19, the latest year for which figures are available.

Defence: Procurement

10 December 2020

Question

Mr Kevan Jones

Labour

North Durham

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility of the premium service of Defence Contracts Online and Chapter 10 of NATO’s Security Procedures.

Answered on

15 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

It is MOD policy to advertise through Defence Contracts Online all requirements for goods, services or works valued at £10,000 and above, unless the requirement meets the approved grounds for exclusion. One such ground for exclusion is on National Security grounds where an exemption from advertising also applies. Our adverts are formatted to prevent the release of sensitive information; NATO security requirements are also accounted for as part of this process. Registered users have free access to Defence Contracts Online which is provided under contract to the MOD by BiP Solutions.

BiP solutions also offer a “premium service” called Defence Contracts International (DCI). This is not sponsored by the MOD and is purely a commercial venture entirely separate from the the Defence Contracts Online platform provided for the MOD. We understand that the opportunities advertised through DCI are lifted directly from a number of international defence advertising platforms, including Defence Contracts Online.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

7 December 2020

John Healey

Labour

Wentworth and Dearne

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Military Aviation Authority and (b) Civil Aviation Authority on the certification for safe use of drones.

Answered on

15 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The Secretary of State for Defence has requested advice from the Military Aviation Authority with regard to the procurement and governance of small Remotely Piloted Air Systems.

Mali: Armed Forces

10 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the deployment of UK armed forces to Mali is being funded through the conflict, stability and security fund; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

15 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

Net additional costs for the operation are approximately £80million over three years, provided from the Conflict Stability and Security Fund. The deployment is funded using non-ODA and is therefore not affected by the Government’s recent announcement to reduce aid spending to 0.5% in 2021.

Armed Forces: Coronavirus

9 December 2020

Imran Ahmad Khan

Conservative

Wakefield

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that British armed forces personnel serving overseas will receive a covid-19 vaccination as quickly as possible.

Answered on

15 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

Defence is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and other Government Departments to ensure that Armed Forces personnel serving overseas receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest practicable opportunity. Defence is being guided by JCVI guidance, ensuring individuals most at risk from complications of COVID-19 are being offered the vaccine first.

Mali: Armed Forces

10 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that UK armed forces deployed to Mali are adequately equipped to perform their duties safely; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

15 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

MINUSMA operates in a challenging environment. UK personnel have been appropriately trained and are equipped for the task. By way of example, the vehicles deployed have been selected following thorough analysis of the tasks the UK contingent will conduct on mission, and the terrain, environment and threat they will face and will provide the mission with a range of capabilities. Troops will also deploy with a full-spectrum Explosive Ordinance and Search capability to mitigate the risk posed by explosive threats. UK troop exposure to risk will be reviewed to mitigate any threats to their safety.

Turkey: Unmanned Air Vehicles

7 December 2020

Question

John Healey

Labour

Wentworth and Dearne

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech at the Air and Space Power conference on 15 July 2020, what recent discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on drones.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Mr Ben Wallace

Conservative

Wyre and Preston North

Commons

I regularly meet with my international counterparts. My most recent engagement with my Turkish counterpart was in early October when we met and discussed a wide range of Defence and security issues, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capabilities.

AWE

30 November 2020

Lord West of Spithead

Labour

Life peer

Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to renationalise management of the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Baroness Goldie

Conservative

Life peer

Lords

I refer the noble Lord, to the written statement I laid in the House on 2 November, HLWS537. AWE plc will become a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), wholly owned by the MOD, on the 1st July 2021 following the appointment of a new Board. While NDPBs are distanced from Government, the Secretary of State for Defence will be accountable to Parliament for the degree of independence and levels of expenditure delegated to the AWE plc NDPB.

P-8 Poseidon Interim Aircraft Support Service

08 December 2020

Mr Kevan Jones

Labour

North Durham

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) cost and (b) duration is of the P-8 Poseidon Interim Aircraft Support Service spares and repairs contract awarded in February 2020.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

This interim support contract for the P-8 Poseidon, value £5 million, was awarded on 12 December 2019 and was initially due to expire on 31 December 2020. In October 2020, its duration was extended until 31 March 2021 and overall value increased to £15 million.

This increase reflects that the amended contract is of greater scope and now also includes measures to de-risk the establishment of longer-term support arrangements, including long lead spares procurement, and site activation at RAF Lossiemouth. It also reflects the increase in the size of the RAF’s P-8 Poseidon fleet.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement

8 December 2020

Mr Kevan Jones

Labour

North Durham

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the UK’s unit price figure for the purchase of F-35b is lower than the figure reported by United States Marine Corps.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The current Unit Recurring Flyaway (URF) cost for the F-35B is $101 Million. This is the URF for the F-35B aircraft in Lot 14 which will deliver UK aircraft in Financial Year 2022/23. The unit price figures reported by the United States Marine Corps for the Lots they have procured are a matter for the United States Government.

Minesweepers: Procurement

8 December 2020

Mr Kevan Jones

Labour

North Durham

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial commitment his Department has made to the existing Anglo-French MCMV programme.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

I have interpreted the right hon. Member’s question as referring to the Anglo-French Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme. On 26 November the Secretary of State announced a £184 million investment in the joint MMCM programme, which will create new systems to combat sea mines and keep ships and personnel away from danger. Along with a further £70 million currently committed to the demonstration phase, this new investment brings the total UK commitment to some £254 million.

HMS Prince of Wales: Repairs and Maintenance

8 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department is making on repairing HMS Prince of Wales after its second flooding incident in October 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

Repairs of the damage caused by floodwater in the engine room of HMS PRINCE OF WALES are progressing as planned. The Ship’s Company is conducting concurrent preparations for their programme of at sea training activity in 2021 which precede her operational commitments.

HMS Prince of Wales: Repairs and Maintenance

14 December 2020

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2020 to Question 126964 on HMS Prince of Wales: Repairs and Maintenance, what estimate he has made of the cost of the repairs.

Answered on

17 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The estimated incremental cost of the repair work is £3.3 million.

Remedial work being conducted on both Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers to help prevent a repetition of this event is expected to cost £2.2 million.

Navy

14 December 2020

Question

John Healey

Labour

Wentworth and Dearne

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2020 to Question 118587 on Navy, whether the new platforms and programmes specified in the funding settlement are included in the current future capability planning models.

Answered on

17 December 2020

James Heappey

Conservative

Wells

Commons

The Integrated Review will set out the priorities that the MOD will deliver within the new funding settlement early next year. As the Prime Minister made clear in his Integrated Review speech of 19 November, the Government are going to use the extra defence spending to restore Britain’s position as the foremost naval power in Europe.

Military Aircraft

10 December 2020

Question

Stephen Morgan

Labour

Portsmouth South

Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to decrease the RAF’s Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft fleet; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

15 December 2020

Jeremy Quin

Conservative

Horsham

Commons

The Sentry has provided excellent service and intelligence capability to both NATO and the UK since its first operational mission in 1991. The drawdown of Sentry is ongoing. Since 2017 the fleet has reduced from six airframes to three. As is normal in fleet transition, the numbers of aircraft and crews needed to support frontline operations naturally reduce approaching the formal out of service date. It will continue to deliver this operational capability and the ability to undertake operational tasking all the way to its out of service date.

Nuclear Weapons

30 November 2020

Question

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

Liberal Democrat

Life peer

Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Select Committee on International Relations Rising nuclear risk, disarmament and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, published on 24 April 2019 (HL Paper 338); and what plans they have to ensure high level UK representation at the next Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Conservative

Life peer

Lords

The Government welcomes the continued engagement with the International Relations and Defence Committee, including during the inquiry. We are grateful for the Committee’s feedback on the Government’s approach to the NPT, and the Review Conference. The Government’s full response to the report’s recommendations has been published by the Committee and can be found here: https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/lords-committees/International-Relations-Committee/NPT-and-Nuclear-Disarmament/Government-Response-Risng-nuclear-risk-disarmament-and-the-Nuclear-Non-Proliferation-Report.pdf .(opens in a new tab)The next NPT Review Conference has been postponed until August 2021; the Government has not yet made a decision on UK representation.

OneWeb

30 November 2020

Question

Lord Mendelsohn

Labour

Life peer

Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been allocated as part of the recently announced increase in defence spending to be available to support OneWeb.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Lord Callanan

Conservative

Life peer

Lords

The procurement of OneWeb is not a Defence matter.

OneWeb

30 November 2020

Question

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara

Labour

Life peer

Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 3 August (HL7046), whether the OneWeb offering has changed to include defence specific applications since 3 August.

Answered on

14 December 2020

Lord Callanan

Conservative

Life peer

Lords

While Her Majesty’s Government has a stake in the company, it will operate as a commercial entity. The point raised is a commercial matter and should be directed to the company.

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