Parliamentary Answers – to 10th February 2012

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

William McCrea (South Antrim, DUP)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army personnel are based at each base in Northern Ireland.

Answer

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

As at December 2011, the number of regular army personnel based at each location in Northern Ireland was as follows:

Location	Number (l)
Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove,	1,000
Abercorn Barracks, Ballykinler	650
Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn	1,120
Kinnegar Base	370
Palace Barracks, Holywood	670
(1) Rounded to the nearest 10.

In addition there were some 50 regular army personnel serving at reserve forces locations throughout Northern Ireland.

 

 

Question

Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efficiency savings have been made on maintenance of Royal Air Force planes.

Answer

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

holding answer16 January 2012

The Royal Air Force has operated fleets of a number of different aircraft types over a long period of time. Maintenance arrangements have evolved as aircraft technology has become increasingly more complex and lessons are learned from previous contracts and processes. Current arrangements vary by fleet but range from in-house maintenance carried out by qualified service personnel to availability contracts, specifying airframe numbers and flying hours but inherently including maintenance.

Through this evolution, efficiencies have been made through the Department’s close partnership with industry and rationalisation of infrastructure and processes. The Royal Air Force and industry are committed to a strategy of continuous improvement of both the efficiency and the effectiveness of aircraft maintenance.

 

 

Question

Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 728W, on ex-servicemen: health services, how many patients referred to the Medical Assessment Programme suffering from (a) physical and (b) mental health disorders were subsequently directed back to the NHS in each of the last five years;

(2) what information and guidance he has provided to relevant (a) interest groups and (b) organisations on any changes in Medical Assessment Programme provision to patients presenting with physical health issues; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of information or guidance;

(3) how many patients were referred to the Medical Assessment Programme who had (a) physical and (b) mental disorders in each of the last five years.

Answer

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

holding answer30 January 2012

Changes in the service provided by the Medical Assessment Programme have been notified on the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Veterans-UK, and NHS websites. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Hansard, column 962W, in which I explained that copies of the Ministry of Defence web pages have been placed in the Library of the House. The MOD has received one inquiry relating to changes to the programme from the Royal British Legion in December 2011, and I have placed a copy of our response in the Library of the House.

The numbers of referrals for purely physical health problems over the last five years have been very low, but in such cases, referrals would be redirected through their general practitioner for treatment by the national health service (NHS), which has primary responsibility for health care provision to veterans. No records have been kept of the number of these cases in each of the last five years.

The number of client referrals for mental health assessments during the same period has been stable at around 100 referrals each year; in these cases the details of the assessment and recommendations on treatment, if required, would be provided to the relevant NHS body.

 

 

Question

Andrew Smith (Oxford East, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) whether funding for the Hydrus project has been reallocated to the Teutates programme;

(2) what the cost to the public purse is of the Teutates programme.

Answer

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

The Teutates programme is planned to deliver the hydrodynamics capability previously planned to be delivered through the Hydrus programme. Expenditure on Hydrus has therefore stopped; funding originally allocated for Hydrus has not, however, been reallocated to Teutates. The Teutates programme will seek the funding it requires separately, in accordance with established Ministry of Defence processes.

I am withholding cost information for the Teutates programme as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and impact on the formulation or development of Government policy.

 

 

Question

Graham Jones (Hyndburn, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with UK Trade and Investment on the decision of the Indian Government not to buy the Eurofighter.

Answer

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

holding answer7 February 2012

We are obviously disappointed that the decision has been made by the Indian Government not to take forward Typhoon into the detailed negotiation stage of the Indian Medium Role Combat Aircraft competition.

The campaign to export Typhoon to India being led by Germany on behalf of the Partner Nations is receiving significant UK support.

There have been regular cross-Whitehall discussions throughout the campaign and MOD and UKTI remain in close touch on exports of Eurofighter Typhoon, including the campaign in India.

Ministerial colleagues and I will continue to provide support to all Typhoon export campaigns as part of an active and innovative defence diplomacy initiative.

 

 

Question

Greg Knight (East Yorkshire, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent to change, alter, update or modify radar systems as a result of the presence or likely presence of UK on-shore wind farms; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

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

holding answer9 February 2012

The Ministry of Defence has not committed expenditure to change, alter, update or modify radar systems as a result of the presence, or likely presence, of UK on-shore wind farms. However, to overcome the interference to existing Ministry of Defence radars caused by wind farms, wind farm developers have agreed to fund the cost of three new wind farm tolerant radars.

 

 

Question

Mark Menzies (Fylde, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

(1) what assistance his Department has provided to BAeSystems to help them with securing Typhoon export deals;

(2) how many meetings he has had with his German counterpart to discuss the possibility of selling Typhoon to the Indian Air Force; and what specific topics were discussed at those meetings.

Answer

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

UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation has worked closely with BAeSystems over a number of years to assist them with Typhoon export campaigns. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend Vince Cable, and other Ministers, have met representatives of the company on numerous occasions, and have discussed Typhoon export opportunities with counterparts in other nations.

The Secretary of State has not met with his German counterpart to discuss selling Typhoon to the Indian Air Force. However, there have been a number of meetings to discuss the German led campaign to promote Typhoon to the Indian Government, and how to progress that, between officials of this Government and their counterparts in Germany, as well as Ministers in other Departments.

 

 

Question

Dan Byles (North Warwickshire, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost of each meal provided to armed forces personnel was when stationed (a) in the UK, (b) in Germany and (c) overseas in an operational theatre in the latest period for which figures are available.

Answer

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

At any one time some 70% of armed forces personnel in the UK and permanent bases overseas are catered for through a number of Catering, Retail and Leisure and other multi-activity contracts (incorporating Pay As You Dine arrangements) to deliver this and other services. Contractors are required to offer a core meal, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with set calorific and nutritional standards, in line with the prevailing daily food charge, which is currently capped by the Armed Forces Pay Review body at a maximum of £4.25 per day in UK and €4.85 per day in Germany. Service personnel can, however, choose an alternative retail offering if they prefer. Those serving in the UK at sites not covered by these arrangements are charged the standard daily food charge of £4.25 per day.

Armed forces personnel serving on operations and exercises are not charged for the food provided to them.

 

 

Question

John Robertson (Glasgow North West, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has awarded to Deloitte since May 2010; and what the (a) net and (b) individual monetary value was of each such contract.

Answer

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

holding answer30 January 2012

Since May 2010, MOD has awarded the following 16 contracts with Deloitte or associated companies:

Contract title	Current contract value	Current contract value (banded)	Contract start date
Sector transformation main gate business case scoping study	£27,762	Under £100,000	23 November 2010
Technical support to assist with the implementation of the LE OC portfolio governance arrangements	£32,130	Under £100,000	2 December 2010

Facility of community consultation event at RAF Brampton	£45,000	Under £100,000	1 April 2011
Facility of community consultation event at RAF Brampton	£63,800	Under £100,000	9 September 2010
Generic vehicle architecture cost benefit analysis	£81,917	Under £100,000	7 March 2011
Merlin PT structural review	£90,006	Under £100,000	13 April 2011
Network enabled airspace defence and surveillance (NEADS) acquisition strategy and business model study—part 2	£100,762	£100,000-£250,000	14 September 2010
External assistance to the Army 2020 study	£106,000	£100,000-£250,000	4 January 2012
Technical support to the re-negotiation process	£120,000	£100,000-£250,000	22 September 2010
Provision of accountancy and secretariat support to review board for government contracts	£139,776	£100,000-£250,000	1 April 2011
Supporting services audit	£179,712	£100,000-£250,000	4 May 2010
Whole force (equipment support) pilot study RM 353 catalyst multi-disciplinary framework	£185,175	£100,000-£250,000	14 December 2011
Provision of technical support to the defence core network service commercial team	£694,179	£500,000-£1 million	20 June 2011
And equipment end to end (E2E) support study	£998,528	£500,000-£1 million	21 January 2011
Project and programme management and technical advice to the Vulcan disposal and decommissioning (VDAD) programme	£2,160,000	£1-£5 million	2 August 2010
External assistance for defence infrastructure transformation programme	£2,214,295	£1-£5 million	28 March 2011

The total value of these contracts is £7,239,042.

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department is of deploying (a) Typhoon and (b) Tornado aircraft; how many people are needed to operate each such aircraft; 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 number of staff required to deploy aircraft will vary according to the scenario involved.

On costs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 September 2010, Hansard, column 928W, to Angus Robertson.

 

 

Question

Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, columns 575-6W, on military aircraft, how many (a) Apache, (b) Gazelle, (c) Hawk T1/T1A/T1W, (d) Islander Mk1 and Mk2, (e) Lynx Mk7, (f) Lynx Mk9/9a, (g) Sea King Mk3/3a, (h) Tornado GR4 and (i) Typhoon aircraft are based at each site listed in the answer.

Answer

Question

Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) what the full service date is for the RAF Voyager aircraft;

(2) how many successful (a) operational and (b) training in-flight refuelling missions the Voyager aircraft has made; and which aircraft were re-fuelled.

Answer

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

Full capability for the new platform will be achieved incrementally to achieve the in service date of May 2014. The full service date for the RAF Voyager aircraft is September 2016 when the fleet will consist of 14 aircraft.

There have been no operational or training flights.

 

 

Question

Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the demonstrator contract for the Sea Ceptor missile he estimates will be spent in Scotland.

Answer

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

The Sea Ceptor Demonstration Phase contract, worth £483 million, has been placed with MBDA (UK) as prime contractor. The award of any sub-contract is the responsibility of MBDA.

 

 

Question

Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010.

Answer

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), under Project Phoenix, signed a contract in August 2011 with Babcock International Group PLC, as part of a pan-Government Framework agreement, which covers the management of fleet and self drive vehicles for MOD personnel in the UK. This contract is gradually replacing the existing arrangements and includes a provision, which is still to be introduced, for vehicles with a driver (i.e. private hire vehicles); however this comprises only a very small element of the overall contract.

Outside of this contract, military units may operate local arrangements with taxi companies or with private hire companies. These details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

 

 

Question

Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many away days his Department has held since May 2010; what the location was of each such away day; how many staff attended; and what the cost was of each such event.

Answer

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

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to developing its staff and there are benefits from holding away days and team building events. In the light of the current economic climate, however, we have instructed staff that such events should not be authorised unless they can be held at no extra cost on MOD premises.