This is a regular round up of Parliamentary questions and answers from ministers relevant to defence issues In addition to oral questions, MPs and Peers can ask government ministers questions for written answer. These are often used to obtain detailed information about policies and statistics on the activities of government departments. In the House of Commons ‘ordinary’ questions do not have to be answered on a specific date. An MP will date a written question for two days after they have tabled it (ie, submitted it for answer via the Table Office). The convention is that the MP can expect it to be answered within seven days of the question being tabled.
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Question
David Crausby (Bolton North East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what countries have provided direct heavy lift and transport support to British forces in Afghanistan.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
It is not possible to provide the information requested without incurring disproportionate cost. UK Forces operate in Afghanistan as part of a wider NATO effort and assets are assigned based on task not nationality. Accordingly, the UK will routinely make use of other nations’ assets and vice versa. However, since December 2010, this has included UK troops in theatre utilising heavy lift assets including aircraft, trucks and cranes belonging to Denmark, Slovakia and the United States.
Question
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) if he will assess the merits of providing support to allow Royal Air Force trainee pilots who lose their commissions as a result of reductions in public expenditure to become commercial airline pilots; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when his Department took the decision to end the commissions of 100 Royal Air Force trainee pilots; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what support he plans to provide to Royal Air Force trainee pilots who lose their commissions as a result of reductions in public expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
As part of the strategic defence and security review, it was announced that there would be a reduction in the number of airframes the RAF would be operating in future. This included the early withdrawal from service of the Harrier fleet, a reduction in the number of Tornado aircraft and the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4. As a result of these decisions, the RAF’s requirement for future trained pilots has now reduced. In addition, there has been a reassessment of the required number of helicopter pilots due to there being fewer service leavers and the limited capacity of operational conversion units.
Accordingly, RAF trainee pilots were informed on 15 February 2011 of a decision to remove up to 170 student RAF pilots from the flying training pipeline. They are currently being briefed on the personal implications in one-to-one discussions. Those RAF trainee pilots who are removed from the flying training pipeline will be considered for potential re-selection for other ground based appointments. Those that are not successful will be put forward for redundancy and will receive support from the RAF by way of resettlement packages.
Question
Priti Patel (Witham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many new (a) beds and (b) mattresses were purchased for use by each member of the armed forces in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of such purchases in each such year;
(2) what the average cost of providing a (a) bed and (b) mattress was for each member of the armed forces (i) based in Britain, (ii) serving in Afghanistan and (iii) serving in another country in the latest period for which figures are available;
(3) how long a (a) bed and (b) mattress is issued for use by members of the armed forces before it is due to be replaced.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
There is no business requirement to hold centrally details of the numbers and costs of beds and mattresses used by each member of the armed forces, or to monitor where they are located; this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details of all new beds and mattresses purchased for use by the armed forces in the UK, Afghanistan and other overseas locations, as well as those not yet issued for use, are contained in the following table:
| FY | |||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
| Beds (for a rmed f orces in the UK, Afghanistan and other overseas locations) | |||
| Number purchased | 9,588 | 13,543 | 13,103 |
| Costs (excl VAT) (£ million) | 1.98 | 2.21 | 1.52 |
| Average cost (£) | 116.01 | ||
| Mattresses(for Armed Forces in the UK, Afghanistan and other overseas locations) | |||
| Number purchased | 41,888 | 61,716 | 45,198 |
| Costs (excl VAT) (£ million) | 1.83 | 1.95 | 2.46 |
| Average cost (£) | 54.43 | ||
There is no specific time period for replacing used bed frames and mattresses as this will depend on the level of wear and tear.
Question
Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what proportion of service family accommodation he expects energy efficiency measures to be installed through the Green Deal.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all its property holdings, and is currently monitoring the consultation process in order to establish how the Green Deal may apply to service family accommodation.
Question
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many missions involving (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft have been flown in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what the cost was of ground support crew for the (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft fleet in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many crashes there have been involving (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many and what proportion of missions have been cancelled as a result of mechanical or software failure of (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2010, Hansard, column 989W, to Dr Lewis.
The total number of sorties flown by Harrier GR7/9 aircraft for financial year 2006-07 to financial year 2010-11 (to out of service date) is contained in the following table:
| Financial Year | Harrier GR7/9 t otal sorties flown |
| 2006-07 | 7,963 |
| 2007-08 | 6,978 |
| 2008-09 | 6,800 |
| 2009-10 | 5,968 |
| 2010-11 to 15 December 2010 | 3,431 |
The total number of sorties flown in each of the last five years involving Tornado GR4 and Tornado F3 aircraft is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We do however hold the total number of flying hours flown by each fleet for financial year 2006-07 to financial year 2010-11 (to end February 2011). These are contained in the following table:
| Financial Year | Tornado QR4 total flying hours | Tornado F3 total flying hours |
| 2006-07 | 31,102 | 15,593 |
| 2007-08 | 27,315 | 12,810 |
| 2008-09 | 22,249 | 7,334 |
| 2009-10 | 22,235 | 2,831 |
| 2010-11 (to end February 2011) | 22,912 | 2,041 |
An average sortie length for Tornado GR4 is currently around one hour 45 minutes and for Tornado F3 is currently around one hour 30 minutes.
Information on the impact of aircraft unserviceability on planned sorties and costs of ground support crews is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
There have been nine Tornado and eight Harrier accidents during the last 10 years (since 1 March 2001) involving death, major injury, significant damage or total loss of the aircraft. These figures exclude the Tornado incident at RAF Lossiemouth on 10 February 2011 as the damage to this aircraft has not yet been categorised.
Question
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many of the 170 trainee pilots to be made redundant in the programme announced on 1 March 2011 fly (a) fast jets, (b) multi-engine aircraft and (c) helicopters;
(2) how many of the 344 trainee pilots who are to continue their training fly (a) fast jets, (b) multi-engine aircraft and (c) helicopters.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
No RAF trainee pilots have been selected for redundancy at this stage. The RAF is currently in the process of selecting up to 170 RAF trainee pilots to be removed from the flying training pipeline. This will be completed and the individuals informed by mid March. Those who will be removed from flying training will undergo a further selection process for possible transfer to ground based branches within the RAF. Those who are unsuccessful will then be considered for redundancy by the redundancy selection board which sits at the end of May this year. Until this process is complete we cannot announce any further details.
Question
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the civil nuclear industry on the role of Royal Navy nuclear personnel in providing training to the industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
There have been no discussions with the civil nuclear industry regarding the provision of training by Royal Navy personnel.
Question
Nigel Dodds (Belfast North, DUP)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
The costs of UK military activity in financial years 2004-05 to 2009-10 for Northern Ireland are provided in the following table. Information for financial years 2001-02 to 2003-04 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Financial year | £ million |
| 2004-05 | 284 |
| 2005-06 | 281 |
| 2006-07 | 128 |
| 2007-08 | 89 |
| 2008-09 | 79 |
| 2009-10 | 90 |
| Notes:1. Figures include costs associated with pay for locally employed civilians and Territorial Army, utilities, white fleet vehicle leasing and fuel. The figures do not include costs associated with military equipment, military personnel pay, or IT and communications.2. Figures from 2005-06 onwards do not include estate works and maintenance. | |
Question
Claire Perry (Devizes, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) pork and (b) bacon for use by service personnel on duty in the UK was procured from UK sources in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Armed forces personnel are primarily catered for through outsourced Catering, Retail and Leisure (CRL) contracts which are being introduced across the UK Defence estate, Germany and Cyprus. Some 65% of armed forces personnel are catered for under these arrangements. The balance of our forces in UK and those serving on operations are catered for under a single Food Supply Contract (FSC).
The third (and most recent) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report on the proportion of domestically produced food procured by government, covering 2008-09, showed that 1% of bacon and 47% of other pork products provided under CRL arrangements was British. The corresponding figures for personnel fed under the FSC were 0% of bacon and 100% of other pork products.
Question
Menzies Campbell (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of meteorological differences between RAF bases located in the UK on their operational sustainability.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
Weather conditions are one of many factors in military aviation and an assessment of the percentage of flying days lost to bad weather at RAF stations across the UK was carried out in 2009 as one of the elements of a study into the UK Military Emergency Diversion Aerodrome capability.
Question
Menzies Campbell (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many days each RAF base located in the UK was closed as a result of (a) adverse weather conditions and (b) other factors in each of the last five years.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
No RAF stations have closed because of adverse weather conditions or other factors during the last five years. However, some of the RAF stations’ runways have experienced temporary closures during this period. Details of the runway closures are not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Question
Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) which courses RAF pilots in training and served with (a) a redundancy and (b) a transfer notice were undertaking; and what the (i) mean and (ii) median number of weeks they were from course completion;
(2) what criteria were used to determine which pilots in training were to be (a) made redundant and (b) transferred in the last six months;
(3) how many pilots in training at RAF Valley were served with redundancy notices in the latest period for which figures are available; and what courses they were on.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The RAF is currently in the process of selecting up to 170 RAF trainee pilots to be removed from the flying training pipeline. The criteria being used to assess the pilots will be a combination of the service need, officer qualities, ground based pilot aptitude testing and flying performance to date.
Those students affected will currently be undertaking one of the following courses: initial officer training, elementary flying training or type-specific training for either fast-jet, rotary or multi-engine. Further details relating to those being removed from the training pipeline will not be available until the selection process is complete.
Question
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of training a Royal Air Force pilot was in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
A pilot is considered to be fully trained once they have successfully completed the flying training pipeline and an operational conversion unit where student pilots train to fly specific aircraft types.
To put a pilot through the flying training pipeline costs (per pilot) £3.2 million for fast jet aircraft, £0.6 million for multi-engine aircraft and £0.8 million for helicopters. These figures include a pro rata share of the cost of instructors, fuel, aircraft and simulator support, station and airfield support, recruitment, selection, student pay and shared training costs.
Information relating to the costs for individual operational conversion units is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Question
Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the potential savings to his Department from the decommissioning of aircraft carriers in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Savings from the withdrawal from service of HMS Ark Royal in December 2010 are estimated at £10 million in financial year 2011-12, £25 million in 2012-13, £35 million in 2013-14 and £35 million in 2014-15. Savings from the withdrawal from service of HMS Illustrious in 2014, which is our present planning assumption, are estimated at £5 million in 2013-14 and £30 million in 2014-15.
Question
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many Royal Air Force personnel not deployed on operations, recently returned from operations and preparing to deploy on operations are in the pool of personnel considered for the redundancies announced on 1 March 2011;
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of Royal Air Force personnel who will volunteer for redundancy as part of the programme of reductions announced on 1 March 2011.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The information requested is not available at this time.
Some 4,350 service personnel will be eligible for redundancy in tranche one of the RAF redundancy programme. Personnel within this group who are engaged in combat operations for which they are in receipt of operational allowance, within six months of deploying on those operations, or recovering from operations on the day the redundancy notices are issued, will not be considered for redundancy unless they have applied for voluntary redundancy. The sift to remove the individuals who fall into these categories will not be completed until mid-August.
No estimate has been made of the number of RAF personnel who will volunteer for redundancy as part of the RAF redundancy programme as this will depend on the personal choices made by the individuals concerned.
Question
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effect on military operations in Afghanistan of the redundancies from the armed forces announced on 1 March 2011.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The reduction in the size of the armed forces was first announced following the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the Prime Minister has made it clear that there is no cut whatsoever in the support for our forces in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, when announcing the need for redundancies, the Secretary of State for Defence made it clear that no one who is preparing to deploy, deployed and in receipt of operational allowance or who has recently returned from an operational deployment will be made redundant unless they have volunteered,
Afghanistan remains our top foreign policy priority and the Ministry of Defence’s main effort and we will continue to ensure that the campaign is properly resourced.
Question
James Gray (North Wiltshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Boeing full hazard analysis of the flying controls and associated systems that was carried out with reference to paragraph 9 of the Ministry of Defence Military Aircraft Accident Summary 2/89-Aircraft Accident to Royal Air Force Chinook HC1 ZA721.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
I will write to the hon. Member.
Time is required to retrieve information on the 1987 accident from archive.
Substantive answer from Nick Harvey to James Gray:
I undertook to write to you in response to the answer I gave to your written parliamentary question on 9 February 2011 (Official Report, column 252W) regarding the Boeing full hazard analysis.
We are still waiting for Boeing to provide the information you requested. You may however wish to be aware that some of the information may be covered by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which may limit its release. This will not be fully clear until the information is received and assessed.
Question
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) purpose and (b) remit of the Critical Capabilities Pool is.
Answer
Alistair Burt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Afghanistan/South Asia, counter terrorism/proliferation, North America, Middle East and North Africa), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
I have been asked to reply.
The purpose of the Critical Capabilities Pool is to fund some of the key programmes and capabilities required to reduce proliferation-related risks to national security and to improve co-ordination of those resources across the Government’s counter-proliferation community. The Critical Capabilities Pool includes several programmatic elements and also contains resources for security-related science and technology work in the radiological and nuclear, and chemical and biological fields.
Question
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of the Critical Capabilities Pool introduced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and which departments have contributed to it.
Answer
Alistair Burt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Afghanistan/South Asia, counter terrorism/proliferation, North America, Middle East and North Africa), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
I have been asked to reply.
Work to finalise the exact level of resources included within the Critical Capabilities Pool is still ongoing. I will write to inform you of the final figure once it is available. The following Departments are contributing funding: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Energy and Climate Change, HM Treasury, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Department.
Question
Stephen Barclay (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 515W, on defence: procurement, when he plans to place in the Library a copy of the project history maintained in respect of the Typhoon project.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
It is my intention to place a copy of the Typhoon project history in the Library of the House before the Easter recess.
Question
David Laws (Yeovil, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the information his Department holds on the increase in costs (a) of the Eurofighter typhoon project and (b) for each such aircraft delivered since 1988; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
Information about the increase in cost of Typhoon is published within the Major Projects Report 2010, HC 489-11 dated 15 October 2010. Typhoon has been contracted for in three tranches. Increase in cost is not recorded on a per aircraft basis.
Question
Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many (a) RAF and (b) Royal Navy pilots are assigned to search and rescue duties, excluding those assigned for training purposes; and from which bases such pilots operate;
(2) which helicopters are deployed to carry out search and rescue tasks in the UK; and from which bases such helicopters operate.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The RAF provide search and rescue (SAR) capability from six UK bases using the Sea King Mk3/3a helicopters: RAF Valley, Wattisham airfield, Defence School of Transport (DST) Leconfield, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Boulmer and Royal Marines Base (RMB) Chivenor. The Royal Navy provide SAR cover from Gannet SAR Flight (Glasgow Prestwick International airport) and Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose using the Sea King HU Mk5 helicopter. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency provides SAR capability from bases at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Portland and Lee-on-Solent, using AgustaWestland AW139 and Sikorsky S92 helicopters.
The number of RAF and Royal Navy pilots assigned to SAR duties and the bases from which they operate are shown in the following table.
| Service | Base | Number of pilots |
| RAF | UK | (1)71 |
| Royal Navy | UK | 20 |
| (1) RAF pilots are also stationed in Cyprus and on detachment to the Falkland Islands. | ||
Question
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many submarines are currently available for operations;
(2) what the (a) name and (b) type is of each (i) destroyer and (ii) frigate in service with the Royal Navy and available for operations.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
holding answer 4 March 2011
The surface ships in service with the Royal Navy currently available for operations are as follows:
Frigates
Type 22:
HMS Campbeltown
HMS Cornwall
HMS Cumberland
Destroyers
Type 23:
HMS St Albans
HMS Westminster
HMS Richmond
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Montrose
HMS Monmouth
HMS Sutherland
HMS Somerset
HMS Portland
Type 42:
HMS Gloucester
HMS Liverpool
HMS York
Type 45:
HMS Daring.
Two types of submarines make up the Royal Navy Submarine Service. There are six fleet submarines, of which four are operational. There are four ballistic missile submarines, of which three are operational. HMS Astute has joined the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, but is not yet fully operational, so is not included in these figures.
While the units identified will be at various states of readiness, while engaging in various forms of activity such as sea trials, training, ammunitioning, storing etc., they remain in fleet time and are therefore considered operational.
Those units not currently part of the operational schedule are undergoing deep maintenance.
