Parliamentary Answers – to 31 October 2011

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.

Question

Bob Russell (Colchester, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment criteria he plans to use to determine the future size of the Ministry of Defence Police; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

Following the comprehensive spending review and the strategic defence and security review, consideration has been given to a range of options that will determine the Department’s future requirement for the services and capabilities provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police to focus these resources on those areas where civil policing powers can best mitigate the crime and security risks faced by the MOD.

These options are currently the subject of formal consultation with the relevant staff associations and trade unions, and as such it would be inappropriate to go into specific detail at this stage.

 

 

Question

Julian Lewis (New Forest East, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made in determining the design of the next generation of frigates for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The design of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme is progressing as scheduled and will be determined as part of its assessment phase, which is expected to complete by early 2014.

 

 

 

Question

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 11 October 2011, Official Report, columns 17-18WS, on Defence Vetting Agency: removal of agency status, what arrangements are in place to ensure that the removal of agency status from the Defence Vetting Agency will not affect (a) security or (b) service delivery in vetting applicants for the (i) armed forces and (ii) intelligence agencies.

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

The Defence Vetting Agency (DVA)’s loss of agency status, necessitated by its move into the Defence Business Services (DBS) organisation, will not affect security or service delivery in vetting applicants for the armed forces and intelligence agencies.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s corporate services board chaired by the 2^(nd) Permanent Secretary will monitor the delivery and standard of the MOD’S vetting functions as part of its oversight of the new DBS organisation. The DVA, under its new title DBS National Security Vetting, will maintain its relationship with the Cabinet Office on national security vetting policy issues, and with repayment customers through joint business agreements.

 

 

Question

Stewart Hosie (Dundee East, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts of a monetary value of (a) between £100,000 and £500,000, (b) between £500,000 and £1 million, (c) between £1 million and £5 million, (d) between £5 million and £10 million, (e) between £10 million and £50 million, (f) between £50 million and £100 million, (g) between £100 million and £500 million, (h) between £500 million and £1 billion, (i) between £1 billion and £5 billion and (j) over £5 billion his Department has entered into with private suppliers in each year since 1990.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The following table shows the total number of new Ministry of Defence contracts in each financial year from 2001-02, by contact value at the time the contract was placed.

Total number of new contracts in financial year by contract value at set up stage
	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Over £5 billion	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0
£1 to £5 billion	1	1	3	2	0	2	2	3	0	0
£500 million to £l billion	0	3	0	3	7	2	1	3	3	3
£100 to £500 million	11	16	10	10	14	6	14	15	17	9
£50 to £100 million	16	15	8	12	12	19	14	17	7	3
£10 to £50 million	73	84	87	81	62	63	103	87	75	86
£5 to £10 million	86	117	80	89	87	80	82	110	77	75
£1 to £5 million	419	681	497	516	448	376	380	382	350	304
£500,000 to £1 million	314	550	388	372	318	286	300	274	266	242
£100,000 to £500,000	1,528	1,847	1,655	1,414	1,247	1,186	1,367	1,244	1,200	1,010
Total	2,448	3,314	2,728	2,499	2,195	2,021	2,264	2,135	1,995	1,732

As a consequence of system changes, the Ministry of Defence could provide equivalent information for earlier years only at disproportionate cost.

 

Question

Julian Lewis (New Forest East, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Afghan interpreters have assisted UK armed forces in Afghanistan since 2001; what plans are in place to ensure their safety after the withdrawal of UK armed forces in 2014; what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on requests by Afghan interpreters to relocate to the UK; how many such requests have been made in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

holding answer20 October 2011

Afghan interpreters working for the UK armed forces in Afghanistan make an invaluable contribution to the UK’s efforts to help support the spread of security, stability and development in the country.

The Ministry of Defence’s labour support unit, which looks after the welfare of our Afghan employed staff, estimates that since their records began in March 2006 the Department has employed around 2,000 to 2,400 interpreters. Information on this subject before the establishment of the labour support unit was not routinely retained and the information required to provide a more detailed figure for the subsequent period is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

We take our responsibility for all those we employ very seriously and have put in place measures to reduce the risks that they face, and we continually keep our policy under review. Where staff face a serious threat our options include providing protected accommodation, giving safety advice to them and their families, granting extended leave or transferring staff to different jobs. In serious cases we may help staff relocate, either within Afghanistan, to a third country or, in exceptional cases, to the UK. We have received one such request by an Afghan interpreter assisting UK forces in the past 12 months.

 

 

Question

Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Rheinmetall Landsysteme Fuchs Reconnaissance vehicle to be removed from service; what estimate he has made of the saving to the public purse of such a removal; and what vehicle he expects to replace them.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The Fuchs vehicle was withdrawn from service in August this year. This will achieve a total saving to the public purse of approximately £235 million over the next 10 years. A decision on the future of the vehicles has yet to be taken.

The removal of Fuchs is possible due to the transfer of specialist Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) responsibilities from the Joint CBRN Regiment, which is being disbanded, to the Defence CBRN Wing. The reductions in manpower and other expenditure associated with this will save the Department approximately £129 million. In addition the Department will save around £13 million in support costs and around £93 million on mid-life vehicle upgrades and replacement vehicles.

We will continue to have a robust and effective specialist CBRN capability. The changes do not affect homeland CBRN protection.

 

 

 

Question

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 11 October 2011, Official Report, columns 17-18WS, on Defence Vetting Agency: removal of agency status, what assessment he has made of the effect that the entry of the Defence Vetting Agency into the Defence Business Service organisation will have on delivery of the vetting functions for the (a) armed forces and (b) intelligence agencies

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

The Defence Vetting Agency’s (DVA) move into the Defence Business Services (DBS) organisation, and its re-naming as DBS National Security Vetting will have no impact on the delivery of the vetting functions for the armed forces and intelligences agencies.

DBS will remain part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The change in operating status for DBS National Security Vetting will enable the MOD to bring together the delivery of corporate services under one organisation and maximise efficiency whilst ensuring the delivery of vetting service is maintained for the MOD, its industry contractors and other Government Departments.

 

 

Question

Michael Weir (Angus, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department have been (a) relocated and (b) agreed for relocation in the last 12 months; and to which areas of the UK.

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

Some employees have to change jobs for legal reasons, for example to meet a Disability Discrimination Act requirement, or to meet urgent departmental needs. The new job may be outside of reasonable daily travel of the civil servant’s home or involve additional travel costs. Where this is the case, the Department may decide to assist with those relocation costs, either with a move of home at public expense, or more often, limited help with the extra travel costs in the initial period. As part of a reorganisation or restructure within a business area it may also be necessary to relocate work and the posts associated with that work. This may mean an employee is moved into a specific job, or a group of staff may be moved with their jobs to another location. Additionally many employees change posts but do not attract any relocation allowances.

The number of staff within the 12 month period (1 October 2010to30 September 2011) who have moved jobs and been offered assistance with relocation expenses, either a move of home at public expense or more commonly limited assistance with travel expenses are detailed in the following table and set out by new post area.

New relocation area	Number of staff
East midlands	35
East of England	196
London	253
North-east	7
North-west	116
Northern Ireland	60
Scotland	64
South-east	373
South-west	1,250
Wales	12
West midlands	124
Yorkshire and the Humber	20
Total	2,510

A large number of employees are issued with change of job notices but many are not eligible for relocation assistance because the moves are in close proximity to their existing job and/or home or because relocation allowances were not offered. However, some employees who have been designated to move with their job to a new location receive advance notice of their job move. The number of staff within the 12 month period (1 October 2010to30 September 2011) who have had notice that they and their job is moving to a new area because of reorganisation or restructuring is detailed in the following table; and set out by new post area. However, many of the following may have already submitted relocation claims in the period and so will be included in the numbers given in the first table. These could not be separated without incurring disproportionate cost

New relocation area	Number of staff
East midlands	6
East of England	156
London	101
North-west	82
Overseas	8
Scotland	9
South-east	75
South-west	920
West midlands	9
Yorkshire and the Humber	20
Total	1,386

 

Question

Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many days on average his Department’s staff in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2010-11.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes a robust approach to managing civilian sickness absence. Occupational health and well-being advice and support is available to all employees and line managers. A review of absence policies has ensured that they remain relevant.

Sickness absence rates by average working days lost (AWDL) per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee in the MOD for the 12 months ending30 June 2011 (the latest information available) is shown in the following table.

The table includes non-industrial and industrial staff and the staff of the four MOD trading funds but excludes staff in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilians for whom sickness absence data is not readily available.

FTE rates (1, 2)
Grade (Equivalent) (3)	AWDL 1 July 2010-30 June 2011	Average FTE strength
Administrative assistant	11.55	9,043
Administrative officer	9.36	24,462
Executive officer	7.73	11,882
Higher executive officer	6.09	11,260
Senior executive officer	4.73	7,023
Grade 7	3.47	2,765
Grade 6	2.70	774
Senior civil servant	1.48	299
Unknown	5.94	2,315
(1) Data presented reflects the current Cabinet Office definition, setting a maximum absence of 225 days per person, and excludes data for weekends, annual leave and bank holidays. Excludes staff who have been classed as on zero pay. (2) Average working days lost per FTE are calculated by dividing the total working days lost for each period by a weighted average of the 1st of the month strengths for the period, with the strengths at the 1 January at the start and end of the period receiving a weighting of 0.5, and the strengths at the 1st of the other months in the period a weighting of. 1. (3)Equivalent civil service grades have been used to amalgamate the various MOD non-industrial, industrial and trading fund grades.

 

Question

Julian Lewis (New Forest East, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy officers of the rank of (a) captain and (b) commodore currently hold (i) sea-going and (ii) shore-based posts; what changes in the numbers of each of these categories he anticipates in the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

Currently there are: 64 Royal Navy commodores and four acting commodores, two hold specific deployable sea appointments; seven hold operational, NATO and Defence diplomacy appointments, the remainder are categorised as shore-based. There are 233 Royal Navy captains and 12 acting captains, 14 of whom hold specific sea-going appointments, 45 hold operational, NATO, Defence diplomacy, and Defence intelligence appointments, the remainder are categorised as shore-based.

As part of Defence reform, the future structure of the Royal Navy is currently under review. The details are still to be determined.

 

 

Question

Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion, Green)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department attended the recent Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The exhibition was attended by the previous Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend Dr Fox, the Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend Mr Howarth, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend Mr Robathan, the Under Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend Lord Astor of Hever and myself.

A wide range of officials at various grades attended from the Ministry of Defence including: the Permanent Secretary, the Chief of Defence Material, the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff.

 

 

Question

Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion, Green)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department attended the recent Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition.

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)

My noble Friend, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, attended the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition in his capacity as Minister for Trade and Investment. No other Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers attended the exhibition. A number of FCO officials whose work is relevant to the defence and security industry were also in attendance.

 

Question

Lisa Nandy (Wigan, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether armed services personnel receive advice on (a) budgetary and life skills, (b) debt management, (c) physical health, (d) mental health and (e) substance misuse before leaving the armed services.

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

All service leavers are entitled to some form of resettlement advice, regardless of rank and length of service, which includes financial related briefings, to which spouses/partners are also invited, covering budget and debt management. If individuals wish further advice in-depth one-to-one meetings are also offered and organisations that can provide advice on debt management are signposted by resettlement staff.

Advice on maintaining good physical and mental health is provided throughout individuals’ service careers, which provides them with an excellent foundation for their future civilian life. All personnel receive a discharge medical assessment prior to discharge, at which any specific concerns can be raised. Personnel are given advice on the importance of seeking medical help, including the ability to access the Military Departments of Community Mental Health and are also given advice on other organisations that can provide help, for example from service charities such as Combat Stress. In addition, a counselling service exists for service personnel who, upon leaving the armed forces, are considered by their unit interviewing officer as vulnerable to social exclusion.

 

 

Question

Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion, Green)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department attended the recent Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition.

Answer

Mark Prisk (Minister of State (Business and Enterprise), Business, Innovation and Skills; Hertford and Stortford, Conservative)

The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, attended the recent Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition.

Though not a BIS Minister, the Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change and Government Spokesperson, my noble Friend, Lord Marland, also attended in his capacity as Chairman of UKTI Business Ambassadors’ Group.

We estimate around 220 UKTI and BIS officials attended. The majority of officials were from UKTI Defence and Security Organisation.

 

Question

Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the book value is of the surplus vessels and equipment for sale by tender in Gibraltar.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The surplus vessels and equipment for sale by tender in Gibraltar are advertised on the website:

www.edisposals.com

Net Book Values (the cost of the asset minus depreciation) is an accounting device and bears no relation to the reserve price set by the Disposal Services Authority for the sale of the items, which are shown in the following table:

Disposal Services Authority Reference	Description	Net Book Value (NBV)
DSA (G) 567	Cyclone Harbour Launch	120.23
DSA (G) 620	Typhoon Speedboat(1)	(2)—
DSA (G) 665 (grouped into 35 Lots)	Dumb Sullage Lighter	27.91
	Twin Unit Tractor Tug	446.42
	Range Safety Craft	78.06
	Brow	(2)—
	20 Ton Mobile Crane	(2)—
	30 Ton Mobile Crane	(2)—
	2 Milling Machines	12,448.09
	Pillar Drill	(2)—
	3 Mobile Steam Boilers	2,610.44
	Dumper	(2)—
	Grinder Planer Blade	(2)—
	Mechanical Brow	78,638.83
	Pedestal Buffer	(2)—
	2 Cherry Pickers	17.91
	2 Compressors	(2)—
	2 Load Test Units	15,253.19
	4 Centre Lathes	(2)—
	Horizontal Borer	(2)—
	Blade Sharpener Bandsaw	(2)—
	60 Ton Hydraulic Press	(2)—
	Sonic Tank	(2)—
	Rinse Tank	(2)—
	Condenser Dryer Unit	(2)—
	Engraving Machine	(2)—
	Grinder	(2)—
	HP Air Compressor	(2)—
	Grinder Circular Saw Blade	(2)—
(1) Vessel recovered at sea by Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Ministry of Defence property by default as vessel not claimed. (2) NBV not held.

 

Question

Ian Austin (Dudley North, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on promoting British jobs and contracts within the defence industry.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a range of issues, including the development of the forthcoming White Paper on technology, equipment and support for UK defence and security, encouraging exports and greater support to small and medium sized businesses. The long-term prosperity of UK industry depends on being competitive and market sensitive, in order to offer value for money to the British taxpayer and compete successfully in foreign markets.

 

 

Question

Ian Austin (Dudley North, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage tendering for his Department’s contracts by manufacturers based in the UK.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s first responsibility when procuring equipment is to provide the armed forces with the capabilities they require in an affordable and sustainable way. This is best achieved through open competition on the global market.

Nevertheless, the MOD recognises that a vibrant and self sustaining UK-based Defence industry brings benefit both to the UK armed forces and the economy as a whole. We will publish a White Paper on technology, equipment, and support for UK defence and security later this year. This will set out the Government’s approach on these issues, including building on progress already made at making defence and security opportunities more accessible to a wider range of UK suppliers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many maritime assets were used in Operation Kipion; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

As of18 October 2011, the maritime assets deployed in support of Operation Kipion were as follows.

Type 23s

HMS Somerset

HMS St Albans

HMS Argyll

Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMV)

HMS Middleton

HMS Ramsey

HMS Quorn

HMS Pembroke

Royal Fleet Auxiliaries (RFAs)

RFA Lyme Bay—Landing ship dock

RFA Fort Victoria—Replenishment ship

RFA Wave Knight—Fast Fleet Tanker

RFA Diligence—Forward Repair Ship

Survey Vessel

HMS Echo

The SSN(T) submarines are also deployed periodically in support of Operation Kipion.

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many maritime assets were utilised from each platform during Operation Telic in each year between 2005 and 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

The number of individual maritime assets, by platform, deployed in the Gulf region over the years 2005 to 2010 are given in the following table. The units would have had a number of tasks at different times including Operation TELIC, supporting our international partners as part of our contribution to Gulf security, and counter piracy activities.

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Carrier	0	1	3	1	0	0
T42 Destroyer	2	1	1	2	0	0
T23 Frigate	3	5	4	8	7	6
172 Frigate	2	0	2	3	2	2
MCMV(1)	0	3	3	5	5	4
LPH(2)	0	0	0	0	1	0
LPD(3)	1	1	0	0	1	0
Survey Vessel	1	0	0	1	0	0
RFA(4)—Supply Ship	0	0	l	1	0	1
RFA—Fast Fleet Tanker	1	1	1	2	3	1
RFA—Forward Repair	1	1	0	1	1	1
RFA—Landing Ship Dock	0	0	1	1	2	1
PCRF(5)	0	0	1	1	0	0
(1) Mine Counter Measure Vessel. (2) Landing Platform Helicopter. (3) Landing Platform Dock. (4) Royal Fleet Auxiliary. (5) Primary Casualty Receiving Facility.

Fleet submarines were also deployed periodically in the Gulf region.

 

 

Question

Gareth Thomas (Harrow West, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has advertised on the Contracts Finder website in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; what proportion were awarded to (a) third sector organisations and (b) small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Contracts Finder went live on1 January 2011and the ability to advertise contract opportunities was added on31 March 2011. Statistics for contracts advertised are available from31 March 2011onwards, and are given in the following table. Due to these being contract opportunities, values are expressed within ranges.

Number advertised
	Sub Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) contracts (£10,000 to £101,323)	OJEU Opportunities (£101,323 to £400 million and above)
April	12	25
May	23	28
June	49	24
July	17	22
August	21	35
September	34	19
October	4	18

Since1 January 201132 sub-OJEU contracts have been recorded as being awarded to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The award of contracts to third sector organisations is not captured.

The Ministry of Defence’s OJEU contract opportunities are published in the Tenders Electronic Daily portal (the on-line version of Supplement S to the OJEU containing calls for competitions and award notices), which feeds into Contracts Finder. Tenders Electronic Daily does not capture whether contracts are awarded to third sector organisations or SMEs.

 

 

Question

Lord Barnett (Labour)

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of defence expenditure in respect of the United Kingdom’s intervention in Libya; whether that spending has all been drawn from the Treasury reserve; and, if not, where the spending has been drawn from.

Answer

Lord Sassoon (Commercial Secretary, HM Treasury; Conservative)

The latest estimate for the net additional costs of operations in Libya in support of the UK’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1973 was set out by the Secretary of State for Defence in a Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 12 October 2011, (Hansard, col. 30WS).

In summary, the Ministry of Defence’s latest estimate for the costs of the operation, on the basis that it might run from mid-March to mid-December, was £160 million. The estimated cost of replenishing munitions used in Libya over this period was £140 million. The additional costs on Operation Ellamy will be borne by the reserve.

 

 

Question

Michael Crockart (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, column 878, on military bases, when he expects the more detailed planning for RAF Lossiemouth support for Typhoon operations to be complete.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

The detailed planning for RAF Lossiemouth support for Typhoon operations is currently expected to be complete in 2012.

 

 

Question

Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion, Green)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK has provided any support to Syria in respect of (a) internal security training, (b) public order training and (c) sniper training since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The UK has not provided any support to Syria in respect of internal security training, public order training or sniper training since May 2010.

 

 

Question

Hugh Bayley (York Central, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on anti-piracy measures off the Horn of Africa in each of the last three years; and what information his Department holds on spending by (a) NATO and (b) the EU in the same period.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Anti-piracy measures off the Horn of Africa are among a number of concurrent tasks carried out by the Royal Navy and supporting assets. Expenditure incurred on counter-piracy measures is not identified separately.

The common costs (ie costs shared by NATO and EU members, which are additional to the national contribution to the operation) for anti-piracy measures off the Horn of Africa in the last three years for NATO and the EU are as follows:

NATO counter-piracy
	Common cost (€ million)
2009	0.327
2010	0.568
2011	0.850

EU—Operation Atalanta
	Common funding budget cost (€ million)
2009	8.3
2010	8.8
2011	7.8

 

Question

Gareth Thomas (Harrow West, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to improve cyber-security in relation to his Department’s estate; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

As we set out in the strategic defence and security review, we attach a high priority to the cyber-defence of our systems. Our forces depend on computer networks, both in the UK and on operations around the world, but our adversaries present an advanced and rapidly developing threat to these networks.

We have established a new global operations security control centre to co-ordinate cyber defence of our systems and we have commissioned a new monitoring system to detect cyber-attacks against our systems. In addition, we are establishing the Defence Cyber Operations Group (DCOG). The group will mainstream cyber security throughout the Ministry of Defence and ensure the coherent integration of cyber activities across the spectrum of Defence operations.

 

 

Question

Douglas Carswell (Clacton, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters have been damaged on landing in Afghanistan.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Since 2006, 42 UK helicopters have been damaged on landing in Afghanistan. Information prior to 2006 was not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In all cases where aircraft suffer damage, the helicopter fleet is carefully managed to ensure that tasking continues to be met in accordance with operational priorities.

 

 

Statement

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The Ministry of Defence will tomorrow— 8 October 2011—start a period of public consultation on the options for dismantling nuclear-powered submarines that have left service with the Royal Navy, including those that are in afloat storage at Devonport and Rosyth dockyards.

Submarines in afloat storage are maintained safely, in a similar way to operational submarines. As they age, however, and as further submarines leave service, the cost to the taxpayer of maintaining them is rising significantly, and space to store them is running out.

This consultation will seek the public’s views on the proposals that have been developed by the MOD’s Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) for dismantling and disposing of the submarines in a safe, secure and environmentally responsible way. It will seek views on the three key decisions that need to be made about submarine dismantling:

How the radioactive material is removed from the submarines;

Where we carry out the removal of the radioactive material from the submarines; and

Which type of site is used to store the radioactive waste that is awaiting disposal.

The consultation will run for 16 weeks, from28 October 2011until17 February 2012. This period has been extended from the 12-week minimum to account for the Christmas holidays and in recognition of the interest in the project.

A series of events, including exhibitions and workshops, will be held in and around the Devonport and Rosyth areas, where the candidate sites for the removal of the radioactive waste from the submarines are located. National workshops will also be held in accessible locations in England and Scotland.

Consultation events will be advertised in the local press and on the project website, www.mod.uk/submarinedismantling, where all relevant documentation, including extensive supporting information, will also be published. All the responses received during the consultation process will be considered by the MOD during its further analysis of the options before final decisions are made around 2013. Only then will planning applications for activities on specific sites be made.

Details of the MOD’s proposals and of the plans for public consultation are included in the SDP consultation document, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

 

 

 

Statement

Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative)

My hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces, Nick Harvey and I are pleased to inform the House that the financial dispute between the Ministry of Defence and the Ascension Island Government has been resolved and that we have agreed with the Ascension Island Council a number of changes to the island’s finance model which will help to ensure a sustainable future for Ascension.

Earlier this year, we commissioned a review of service delivery and finance arrangements on the island. That review was carried out by FCO officials working closely with all stakeholders. The three key recommendations of the review which we have agreed, and to which all stakeholders have committed, are:

The establishment of a Budget Consultation Forum to make recommendations on the Ascension Island Government’s budget. The forum will comprise representatives of the Ascension Island Government and the major, externally based taxpaying Employing Organisations on the island;

The replacement of Property Tax with a Business Levy based on employee headcount; and

A year-on-year reduction of 7% over the next four years in the levy on the major Employing Organisations.

We recognise the role played by the Island Council in this process, who have already begun a programme of significant efficiency savings. They will now consider the remainder of the recommendations in the report which concern the increase or implementation of taxes and duties and other means of raising revenue, and continue to reduce duplication of services on the island.

We welcome this approach which we believe will ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery and the viability of Ascension Island’s finances.