26 Feb 21. Defence to hold session on US-UK defence partnership.
The session is available to watch on Parliament TV: https://parliamentlive.tv/
On Tuesday 2 March, at 14.30, the Defence Committee will hold its second evidence session scrutinising the strengths and weaknesses of the US-UK defence partnership. The Committee will hear from a panel of three expert witnesses, Heather A. Conley, Dr Rob Johnson and Professor Wyn Rees. The session will explore the concepts, doctrine and capabilities required to pursue shared strategic objectives in different theatres, regions and domains and inform scrutiny of the Integrated Review and a future inquiry on NATO and US-UK Relations.
2 March, 14.30:
- Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic; and Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Programme, CSIS
- Dr Rob Johnson, Director of the Oxford Changing Character of War Centre, University of Oxford
- Professor Wyn Rees, Professor of International Security, University of Nottingham
25 Feb 21. David Cameron gives evidence to JCNSS on National Security Machinery. An oral evidence session for the National security machinery inquiry will take place on Monday 1 March 2021. This is the first session of the National security machinery inquiry. The Committee will take evidence from:
At 4.00pm:
- Rt Hon David Cameron, former Prime Minister
At 5.00pm:
- Lord Ricketts, former National Security Adviser
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Indo-Pacific Region: Aircraft Carriers
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 154821, tabled on 19 February 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Carrier Strike Group will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on
25 February 2021
Detailed military planning for the Carrier Strike Group deployment is ongoing. The Indo-Pacific phase of the deployment will be taking place in the latter half of 2021.
Indo-Pacific Region: Navy
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 154816, tabled on 19 February 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential operational advantages for the Royal Navy of deploying to the Indo-Pacific in 2021.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on
25 February 2021
An increased Royal Navy (RN) presence in the Indo Pacific provides the opportunity to reassure, cooperate and operate alongside key regional allies and partners, contributing to regional security and protecting UK interests. Such operations will demonstrate the RN’s ability to persistently and credibly operate around the globe in support of UK interests, including for the protection of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Rules Based International System.
Furthermore, an Indo-Pacific RN presence supports UK prosperity and trade objectives in an increasingly important region of the world. Such operations will allow the RN to develop new, and strengthen existing, navy to navy linkages, that will assist with building partner capacity and interoperability.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 154820, tabled on 19 February 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK maintains operational sovereignty over F-35 aircraft in the event that it does not have the ability to perform depth maintenance in the UK.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
25 February 2021
Yes.
C17 Aircraft
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 156277, tabled on 22 February 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the through-life support costs are for the C-17 aircraft.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
25 February 2021
The through life support costs for the C-17 aircraft, over the current expected in-service life of the aircraft are estimated to be in the region of £2.8 billion.
Answered by
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 154818, tabled on 19 February 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the work undertaken by UK-listed companies, through US subsidiaries, as part of the F-35 programme was designated as UK-content.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
24 February 2021
UK content is defined as work undertaken by UK Suppliers, both UK and foreign-owned companies, that create value, employment, technology or intellectual assets in the UK. This includes work awarded through US subsidiaries or directly to a UK company.
Aircraft Carriers
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 154822, tabled on 19 February 2021
Question
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which ships will make up the Carrier Strike Group Task Force.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on
25 February 2021
The Carrier Strike Group will be formed by the aircraft carrier HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, two Type 45 destroyers, two Type 23 frigates, two Royal Fleet Auxiliary re-supply ships, and the US Navy destroyer, USS The Sullivans. We are likely to see other NATO allies and international partners contributing ships to the Strike Group throughout the deployment.