28 Jan 21. Committees on Arms Export Controls – Arms Export Controls: Initial Review.
The Committees on Arms Export Controls will hold an oral evidence session on its Arms Export Controls: Initial review with academics on Tuesday 2 February 2021. The meeting will be held virtually and can be watched live here. The Committees will take evidence from:
At 10.00am:
- Professor Anna Stavrianakis, Professor of International Relations, University of Sussex
- Dr Ian J Stewart, Executive Director, Washington DC Office, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Topics to be covered at the session include:
- Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2019;
- Enforcement of, and compliance with, export controls;
- The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the licencing system;
- The implications of the FCO/DfID merger for arms export controls;
- The work undertaken by the Department for International Trade and the Export Control Joint Unit as a result of the Appeal Court judgment in June 2019; and
- Consequences of Brexit for arms export controls, including potential deviation from the existing EU-based ‘Consolidated Criteria’ rules and the implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
22 Jan 21. Defence Committee – Evidence Session Announcement. Johnny Mercer and Nadine Dorries to appear in front of Defence on mental health of Armed Forces and Veterans.
On Tuesday 26 January, at 14.30, the Defence Committee will hold a second follow up session on Armed Forces and Veterans’ Mental Health, reflecting on any updates since the Committee’s reports on mental health were released in the last parliament. The session will seek information on the mental health treatment available for veterans and members of the Armed Forces and examine whether the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other Government Departments have improved their performance in this area since the report. Departmental officials will accompany ministers Johnny Mercer and Nadine Dorries for the first panel.
On 12 January the Committee discussed the concerns of charities and campaigners about the Government’s performance and will now put these to Ministers at the MoD and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The Committee will also hear from medical experts on military mental health.
This session follows two reports in the last parliament, the first focusing on the scale of mental health issues, and the second addressing the provision of care.
26 January, 14.30:
Panel 1
- Johnny Mercer MP, Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, People, and Veterans, Ministry of Defence;
- Nadine Dorries MP, Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Patient Safety, Department of Health and Social Care
Panel 2
- Sir Professor Simon Wessely, Co-Director
- Professor Nicola Fear, Co-Director, King’s Centre for Military Health Research
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Space Technology
Question for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
UIN 141923, tabled on 22 January 2021
Question
Wayne David
Labour
Caerphilly
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of representations from industry to develop a sovereign space-based positioning, navigation and timing capability on the UK’s space capability.
Answer
Amanda Solloway
Conservative
Derby North
Commons
Answered on
27 January 2021
The Government’s Space-Based Positioning Navigation and Timing Programme (SBPP) is exploring innovative and alternative ways of delivering vital satellite navigation and timing services to the UK. These services are critical for electricity networks, communications systems, and the maritime, aviation and defence sectors, as well as for getting from A to B. In October a ‘Request for Information’ consultation was opened with industry and academia to ensure the right space-based solutions are explored by the new programme. This has now closed, we are grateful for the inputs received and are now considering this feedback that will set out approach and workstreams going forward.
Once approved, the SBPP Pre-Market Engagement strategy will set out the next steps and timings for engagement with and the opportunities for industry in 2021. Further details will be shared as soon as possible.
This work will boost the UK’s already thriving space industry and expertise, whilst paving the way for a more ’Global Britain’, with greater independence from foreign systems.
AWACS: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 141935, tabled on 22 January 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to renegotiate the E-7 Wedgetail contract with the prime contractor.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
27 January 2021
In March 2019, HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence approved the procurement of five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, with the first expected to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2023. The associated contracts are continually reviewed to ensure that they remain relevant to the required output.
Defence: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 141932, tabled on 22 January 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to respond to the National Audit Office’s report on the Defence Equipment Plan 2020-2030.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
27 January 2021
We are grateful to the NAO for their report. This year has seen progress on many of their recommendations and we continue to work with them to improve our processes.
The MOD Permanent Secretary wrote to the Public Accounts Committee Chair on 12 January 2021 presenting the Department’s assessment of the affordability of the Equipment Plan, and this letter is available in the Library of the House.
Senior MOD officials will respond to the NAO’s findings on the Equipment Plan 2020-30 at the Public Accounts Committee hearing on 4 February 2021.
AWACS: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 141933, tabled on 22 January 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security limitations were placed on the prime contractor with regard to the sourcing of the airframe for the E-7 Wedgetail contract.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
27 January 2021
The E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft is a military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next Generation civil airliner and is produced by modifying the airframe and embodying a sophisticated radar and mission system. Boeing is required to provide airframes that meet our overall requirements in terms of performance, quality and security. As part of this process, Boeing undertakes comprehensive overhaul and stringent security checks prior to the airframes entering the modification process. This in itself is an extensive programme of work that involves significant adaptation of the original airframe.