27 May 21. Today, the Defence Committee launches its inquiry into the role of space in modern warfare and security. The inquiry will discuss the emergence of space as a military domain in its own right, and will examine how space-based assets play an essential role in supporting operations. In both the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper, space was identified as an important focus for the UK moving forward. The inquiry will explore the reliance on strategic relationships with our allies and consider where the UK can most effectively develop and deploy sovereign defence capabilities. The Committee will ask how vulnerable our space assets are and how we can improve their resilience. Additionally, the inquiry will explore the new Space Command, and ask whether recent changes to the machinery of Government will enable a joined-up approach to space policy and operations.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said, “Space has long played a role in supporting our defence capabilities. The importance of the Space Domain in modern warfare is set to increase as we become more and more reliant on space-based assets for our day-to-day functioning, as well as our security and protection. Despite its status as the ‘province of all mankind’, space is an increasingly contested and congested environment, and a new generation of threats risks undermining our ability to defend ourselves. Preventing this clear vulnerability is crucial. The Government has identified space as one of the next key areas in UK defence and this inquiry will investigate what steps should be taken to meet the challenges ahead.”
Form of written evidence:
Submissions should be no longer than 3,000 words. The main body of any submission should use numbered paragraphs. Each submission should contain:
* a short summary, perhaps in bullet point form;
* a brief introduction about the person or organisation submitting evidence, for example explaining their area of expertise or experience;
* any factual information from which the Committee might be able to draw conclusions, or which could be put to other witnesses;
* any recommendations for action by the Government or others which the submitter would like the Committee to consider for inclusion in its report to the House.
Submissions should be in malleable format such as MS Word (not PDFs) with no use of colour or logos. Guidance on submitting written evidence and data protection information is available here:?Guidance on submitting written evidence.
Deadline for submissions
The Committee is asking for initial written evidence to be submitted through the Committee’s web portal by midnight on 30 June 2021. It is recommended that all submitters familiarise themselves with the Guidance on giving evidence to a Select Committee of the House of Commons which outlines particulars of word count, format, document size, and content restrictions.
Diversity
We encourage members of underrepresented groups to submit written evidence. We aim to have diverse panels of Select Committee witnesses and ask organisations to bear this in mind when we ask them to choose a representative. We are currently monitoring the diversity of our witnesses.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Defence Cyber Academy: Location
UIN 5144, tabled on 21 May 2021
Question
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the Defence Cyber Academy will be located.
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
26 May 2021
The Defence Cyber Academy will be located in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, as part of the UK Defence Academy.
F-35 aircraft
UIN 5148, tabled on 21 May 2021
Question
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to decide on the number of Lightning II F-35 aircraft to order in addition to those aircraft already ordered.
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
26 May 2021
Following the outcome of the Integrated Review and confirmation that the UK Lightning Force will grow beyond 48 F-35B aircraft, we are undertaking a period of further analysis to evaluate the scale and optimum delivery profile of our second tranche of F-35Bs as well as associated infrastructure and support equipment. Once complete, this activity will inform procurement timelines.
Shipbuilding
UIN 4612, tabled on 20 May 2021
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
Labour
South Shields
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy is planned to include a commitment that Government-funded vessels will be built in the UK through a competitive process.
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
25 May 2021
The Defence and Security Industrial Strategy set out the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) policy that the procurement approach for each class of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel will henceforth be decided on a case-by-case basis. As well as considering the specific capability requirements, we will consider the long-term industrial impact of different options, including delivering value for money for our overall programme and maintaining the key industrial capabilities required for operational independence. Overall, we consider that a regular drumbeat of design and manufacturing work is needed to maintain the industrial capabilities critical for our national security and to drive efficiencies which will reduce longer-term costs in the shipbuilding portfolio.
Other Government-funded shipbuilding programmes will be run in accordance with our international treaty obligations and the UK’s procurement regulations. The Government is also taking steps to continue the roll out of a minimum of 10 per cent social value weighting to defence procurement.
Defence: Space Technology
UIN 4520, tabled on 20 May 2021
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel are working in the UK defence space sector as at 20 May 2021.
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on
25 May 2021
The UK space sector as a whole directly employed 45,100 people in 2018-19. We do not hold information on how many personnel are working specifically in defence-related functions as part of the UK space sector.
Defence Space Strategy
UIN 4517, tabled on 20 May 2021
Question
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the Defence Space Strategy.
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on
25 May 2021
We aim to publish the Defence Space Strategy after the National Space Strategy later this year.
A400M Aircraft and C17 Aircraft
UIN HL507, tabled on 24 May 2021
Lord Jones
Labour
Life peer
Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) A400M, and (2) C17, aircraft are currently in service in the Royal Air Force.
Baroness Goldie
Conservative
Life peer
Lords
Answered on
27 May 2021
There are currently a total of 20 A400M Atlas and eight C-17 Globemaster aircraft in RAF service.