House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Fleet Solid Support Ships: Shipbuilding
Question for Ministry of Defence
Chris Evans
Labour
Islwyn
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2022 to Question 61035 on Fleet Solid Support Ships: Shipbuilding, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the procurement process on the British shipbuilding sector.
Answer
Alex Chalk
Conservative
Cheltenham
Commons
Answered on 21 December 2022
The procurement process for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships is being conducted strictly in accordance with the relevant UK public procurement legislation and rules. The Department is committed to continuous reform of its procurement process to ensure it continues to deliver the best possible value for money. The decision to appoint Team Resolute as preferred bidder was founded on a thorough evaluation of the bids in a fair and open competition and the outcome supports the objectives of the National Shipbuilding Strategy through significant capital investment in the UK.
The investment the FSS contract will bring is set to leverage the UK’s position in the global market for both shipbuilding and equipment and systems, improving competitiveness and improving UK supply chain access to the international market. Of the bids received by the Ministry of Defence, the Team Resolute bid provides the best value for money to the taxpayer and is the best outcome for the UK shipbuilding industry.
Challenger Tanks
Question for Ministry of Defence
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the (a) in service date and (b) out of service date for the upgraded Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
Answer
Alex Chalk
Conservative
Cheltenham
Commons
Answered on 21 December 2022
The Challenger programme will upgrade 148 of the Army’s existing Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to the Challenger 3 standard. Challenger 3 is scheduled to enter service in 2027, with an out of service date of 2040.
Shipbuilding: Contracts
Question for Ministry of Defence
Mr Kevan Jones
Labour
North Durham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the National Shipbuilding Office had discussions with the Northern Lighthouse Board prior to the award of a £51.8 million shipbuilding contract to a company based in Spain.
Answer
Alex Chalk
Conservative
Cheltenham
Commons
Answered on 21 December 2022
The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) had regular engagement with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and the Department for Transport (DfT) before the contract for the new vessel was awarded to identify opportunities for the programme to support the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Astilleros Gondán S.A. was awarded the contract following an open, fair and transparent competitive tender process. Two UK shipyards were included in the shortlist but both yards elected not to submit a tender. The NSO continues to work with both the NLB and DfT to maximise the opportunities that the contract has created for the UK supply chain.
Type 26 Frigates: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to answer of 14 December to Question 106333, how inflation has increased the cost of the Type 26 Frigate programme.
Answer
Alex Chalk
Conservative
Cheltenham
Commons
Answered on 21 December 2022
The challenges of rising inflation to the T26 and T31 shipbuilding programmes are being addressed through routine finance processes as part of the shipbuilding pipeline.
Australia and USA: Guided Weapons
Question for Ministry of Defence
Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party
Strangford
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the cooperation between the UK, US and Australia on anti-hypersonic weaponry on future weapons cooperation between these countries.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells Commons
Answered on 20 December 2022
The Ministry of Defence invests significant resources in international capability strategy with allies, including assessing the impact of capability cooperation. In December, AUKUS partners approved plans to pursue additional demonstrations of several collaborative initiatives-including hypersonic and autonomous systems-in the 2023-2024 timeframe and beyond.
Air Force: Alternative Fuels
Question for Ministry of Defence
Sir Greg Knight
Conservative
East Yorkshire
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost differential of powering RAF flights by sustainable fuel compared with traditional fuel.
Answer
Alex Chalk
Conservative
Cheltenham
Commons
Answered on 20 December 2022
While the RAF conducted a test flight on 15 November 2022 using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel, we have made no estimate of the cost differential for all RAF flights to use such fuel as it is not available at scale and is not yet manufactured in industrial quantities.
Saudi Arabia: Military Alliances
Question for Ministry of Defence
Kenny MacAskill
Alba Party
East Lothian
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled UK signs Plan for Defence Cooperation with Saudi Arabia, published on 13 December 2022, what the scope of the agreements contained in that plan are; and whether that plan will be published.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on 20 December 2022
The Plan for Defence Cooperation with Saudi Arabia, signed on 13 December 2022, reflects the strong defence relationship between the UK and KSA, and a shared commitment to peace and stability. The agreements outlined in the Plan seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address shared security challenges in the region – including through regular dialogue and consultation, education and training, and the exchange of visits. The Plan will not be published.
USA: Nuclear Weapons
Question for Ministry of Defence
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Labour
Streatham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the US B61-12 is able to operate as a GPS guided bomb; for what reason it is to be deployed in NATO bases in Europe; and whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterparts about the deployment of B61-12 at RAF Lakenheath
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on 19 December 2022
The Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on the capabilities of US nuclear weapons, which is a matter for the US Government.
To guarantee the security of its NATO Allies, the United States has deployed a limited number of B-61 nuclear weapons to certain locations in Europe. These remain under US custody and control in full compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
It remains longstanding UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location.
Georgia: Russia
Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Stephen Doughty
Labour
Cardiff South and Penarth
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Georgian counterpart on the implications of the visit of the Speaker of the Russian State Duma to Abkhazia on 1 December 2022 and the subsequent signing of a cooperation agreement.
Answer
Leo Docherty
Conservative
Aldershot
Commons
Answered on 19 December 2022
Although the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this issue with his Georgian counterpart, it is the longstanding policy of the UK and the vast majority of the international community that Abkhazia is Georgian territory, as we have repeatedly made clear in statements at the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe. The signing of the cooperation agreement is a further attempt to undermine Georgia’s sovereignty over the territory of Abkhazia. The UK’s strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and close cooperation on defence and security, makes us one of Georgia’s most valued partners in countering Russian hybrid threats.