A regular copy of defence related Parliamentary answers
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which armoured vehicles are currently (a) deployed and (b) available to service personnel in Afghanistan.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c29W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
The following table lists the types of armoured vehicles (those which have armoured troop carrying capacity as one of their primary roles), currently deployed in Afghanistan, all of which are available to service personnel dependent on their role and requirements.
Type of vehicle
Warrior
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
Warthog
Mastiff
Ridgback
Jackal
Coyote
Husky
Foxhound
Civilian Armoured Vehicles
Wolfhound
Buffalo
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how many Foxhound vehicles are currently awaiting repair in Afghanistan;
(2) how many Foxhound vehicles operated by the armed forces have been (a) based and (b) available for operations in Afghanistan in each month of 2012 to date.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c30W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
We do not comment on the number of vehicles deployed or available for operations in Afghanistan. I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 615W, on Libya: military intervention, how many of the Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone missiles fired during Operation Ellamy were deployed from Tornado aircraft.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c30W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
During Operation Ellamy last year, UK forces employed around 230 Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone missiles. All of these were employed from Tornado aircraft.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 615W, on Libya: military intervention, what the average cost was of a return sortie from RAF Marham to Libyan airspace; and which aircraft provided the mid-air refuelling.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c30W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
The cost of an average seven and half hour Tornado sortie from RAF Marham to Libya was approximately £37,000. This figure is calculated using standard marginal flying hour costs and rounded to the nearest thousand.
The types of air-to-air refuelling aircraft that supported sorties from RAF Marham varied for each individual mission, but were made up of a mixture of TriStar and VC10 aircraft either operating from RAF Brize Norton or deployed at Trapani, Italy.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of flights in Operation United Protector were flown from the French carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c30W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
During Operation Ellamy last year, no UK sorties were flown from the French carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The UK does not comment on the operational details of allied nations’ operations, which are a matter for the governments concerned.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of international state militaries which own unmanned aerial vehicles (a) in total and (b) with missile capacity.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c31W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence assesses that there are approximately 80 states whose armed forces operate an unmanned air vehicle capability. Of these less than a dozen operate systems which have the capacity to be armed with missiles or other munitions.
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the names are of the US Commander and the RAF Liaison Officer at (a) NSA Menwith Hill, (b) USAF Lakenheath, (c) USAF Mildenhall, (d) USAF Feltwell, (e) USAF Molesworth, (f) USAF Fairford, (g) USAF Croughton, (h) USAF Barford St John and (i) USAF St Mawgan.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c32W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The names of the US Base Commanders and RAF Commanders based at the stations listed are shown in the following table:
Name Position Base
Colonel Hamilton US Base Commander RAF Barford St John, RAF Croughton and RAF Fairford(1)
Squadron Leader Still RAF Commander (1)—
Colonel Robinson US Base Commander RAF Lakenheath and RAF Feltwell(1)
Squadron Leader Neild RAF Commander (1)—
Colonel Gilmore US Base Commander RAF Menwith Hill(1)
Squadron Leader Currie RAF Commander (1)—
Colonel Kulas US Base Commander RAF Mildenhall(1)
Squadron Leader Fryer RAF Commander (1)—
Colonel Reiner US Base Commander RAF Molesworth(1)
Squadron Leader Wood RAF Commander (1)—
(1) Indicates brace.
RAF St Mawgan is not a US Visiting Force Base.
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former military personnel have been provided with grace and favour homes; at what cost to the public purse such accommodation is funded; and which Department funds such accommodation.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 29 October 2012, c32W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
It is not a requirement for former military personnel to provide the Ministry of Defence (MOD) with information pertaining to their accommodation arrangements, including any ‘grace and favour’ homes, and indeed it is a matter between the employer and employee. As such, the MOD does not hold specific information on such arrangements. The MOD does not fund any grace and favour accommodation for former military personnel.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Apache helicopter will be able to be moved by lift below deck on the Queen Elizabeth class carrier without the need to manually fold its rotor blades.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 October 2012, c165W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers will be able to transport an Apache helicopter with its rotors fully spread from the flight deck to the hangar and vice-versa using the aircraft lifts. Depending on the number of aircraft embarked, the rotor blades of Apache helicopters may be manually folded prior to entering the hangar to maximise storage space.
David Wright (Telford, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) what assessment he has made of storage capacity for material returning from (a) theatre in Operation Herrick and (b) Germany;
(2) which sites are being considered for the storage of material returning from (a) theatre in Operation Herrick and (b) Germany.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 October 2012, c165W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
Work to assess the future required size of the Ministry of Defence storage capacity is ongoing. No decisions have yet been made regarding storage of material returning from either theatre in Operation Herrick or from Germany.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the Joint Strike Fighter his Department plans to purchase.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 October 2012, c165W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
The overall number of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to be purchased will not be determined before the next Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2015.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to purchase any Variant A Joint Strike Fighters.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 October 2012, c165W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The UK remains committed to the F-35B, the short take-off vertical landing variant, as it forms a key element of the UK’s future Carrier Strike capability. Any possible future requirement for the conventional take-off and landing variant (F-35A) will be dependent on decisions on the future long-term mix of the UK’s combat aircraft and the long-term future of the Typhoon fleet.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2012, Official Report, column 878W, on Libya: military intervention, what the average cost of a single Tornado GR4 sortie to Libyan air space during Operation Ellamy was from (a) RAF Marham and (b) Gioia del Colle.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 October 2012, c165W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
The cost of an average seven and half hour Tornado sortie from RAF Marham to Libya was approximately £37,000. While the average cost of a five and half hour Tornado sortie from Gioia Del Colle to Libya was approximately £27,000.
These figures are calculated using standard marginal flying hour costs and rounded to the nearest thousand.
Graeme Morrice (Livingston, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to ensure that all contracts tendered by his Department are done so in a competitive process.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 30 October 2012, c166W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
It is Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy to maximise the use of competitive tendering in order to seek best value for money. However, the MOD does use a single source, non-competitive, process in certain circumstances, for example, where exclusive rights are owned by one supplier or urgency arising from an operational crisis. The reasons for non-competitive procurement are scrutinised during the approvals process, to ensure they are justifiable and legally compliant.
This process ensures such business cases are scrutinised to provide assurance that procurement will deliver value for money and is affordable.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports of technical difficulties he has received with regard to Foxhound vehicles in Afghanistan since May 2010.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c287W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
Foxhound began fielding on operations in May 2012. Since then, a small number of technical issues with vehicles in Afghanistan have been reported, of which the majority have been corrected.
There are currently two technical issues outstanding for which permanent fixes are being identified, neither of which prevent the operational deployment of Foxhound. One issue is the presence of minor leaks from the hydraulic systems on a number of vehicles, for which an interim fix is already in place. I am withholding details of the second technical issue as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Foxhound represents a new capability using a number of innovative systems which have been introduced to service in a rapid timeframe. Teething problems with new vehicles are not uncommon and rectification processes are well-established.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments raised concerns with Ministers of his Department regarding commercial employment contracts agreed by former military personnel.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c288W)
Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
holding answer 22 October 2012
I am not aware of any such concerns being raised.
Alex Cunningham (Stockton North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of the British soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq were recruited under 18 years old.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c288W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
Our policy remains that no service personnel under the age of 18 are deployed on operations which would result in them becoming engaged in, or exposed to hostilities. Of those soldiers who have sadly lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq, our records show that 166 were under 18 years old at the point when they joined the Army. This figure represents 38% of the total number who have lost their lives in the period up to 23 October 2012.
Nick Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential for using Astute class submarines as the vehicle for the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c288W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The 2006 White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrence (Cmd 6994), concluded that continuous at sea deterrence delivered by submarines carrying ballistic missiles remained the most credible and cost-effective method of nuclear deterrence. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister, on 17 October 2012, Hansard, column 316, to my hon. Friend Dr Lewis.
The Trident Alternatives Review is considering whether alternative systems could provide a credible nuclear deterrent. As part of its terms of reference, which were laid in the Library of the House, the study has been asked to consider modified Astute-class submarines armed with cruise missiles.
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his October 2012 defence co-operation agreement with Bahrain covers; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c288W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
The Defence Co-operation Accord signed between the UK and Bahrain on 11 October 2012 provides a framework for current and aspirational defence engagement activity including training and capacity building in order to enhance stability of the wider region, supporting Bahrain’s ability to counter any external aggression. We have had a long standing presence in Bahrain with continuous Royal Navy patrols in the Gulf since the 1980s protecting Britain’s interests.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the nature and extent is of the Defence Co-operation Agreement recently signed between the UK and Bahrain; and if he will place in the Library a copy of that agreement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c289W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
The Defence Co-Operation Accord signed between the UK and Bahrain on 11 October 2012 provides a framework for current and future defence engagement activity, including training and capacity building, in order to enhance the stability of the wider region. The Accord complements existing agreements.
We have had a long-standing presence in Bahrain with continuous Royal Navy patrols in the Gulf since the 1980s protecting Britain’s interests. It is not normal practice to publish such agreements, or to place copies in the Library of the House.
Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c289W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
Information regarding the average cost to pay an invoice and the number of individual invoices paid electronically or by cheque is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information is available for the proportion of total payments made by value between electronic and cheque. For the first six months of the current financial year 2012-2013 this was 99.48 % and 0.52 % respectively.
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to require all cleaning contracts held by his Department to stipulate that the cleaning products used and their ingredients should not have been tested on animals.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c290W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) expects all its suppliers for cleaning products and services to comply with applicable legislation on animal testing. The MOD requires that the Government Buying Standard is used in the specification of the contract for cleaning products and services.
Graeme Morrice (Livingston, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on consultants in each financial year since 2008.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c290W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
Consultancy expenditure as defined by the Cabinet Office for each year since 2007-08 is shown in the following table:
£ million
2007-08 120
2008-09 106
2009-10 79
2010-11 26
The final 2011-12 outturn on consultancy is not yet available.
Expenditure on consultancy is now published annually in UK Defence Statistics and can be found at:
www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2011/c1/trans_sup.php
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) whether (a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) senior military personnel have had any meetings with former senior military personnel to discuss the contract to manage Ministry of Defence estates since May 2010;
(2) what meetings have taken place between Capita Symonds and (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in his Department regarding the contract to manage Ministry of Defence estates since May 2010.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c290W)
There have been no meetings with former senior military personnel to discuss the procurement of a private sector Strategic Business Partner (SBP) to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), who manage the defence estate.
However, the following meetings have taken place between DIO officials and Capita Symonds where the SBP requirement formed all or part of the discussions.
| Date | Purpose of meeting | Capita Symonds attendees | Ministry of Defence attendees |
| 2 August 2011 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Supplier consultation presentation Other suppliers also attended this presentation | Jonathan Goring, Chris Sellers, David Spencer | Andrew Manley, David Olney |
| 9-10 August 2011 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Supplier consultation follow up meetings | Jonathan Goring, Chris Sellers, David Spencer, John Clokey | Andrew Manley, David Olney |
| 3 November 2011 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Meeting | Jonathan Goring | Andrew Manley, David Olney |
| 13 December 2011 | Presentation ‘DIO The Way Ahead’ to suppliers by Andrew Manley and David Olney. Other suppliers also attended this presentation | Jonathan Goring, David Spencer, Christian Rogers | Andrew Manley, David Olney and two other officials below senior civil service (SCS) |
| 16 January 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Meeting | Jonathan Goring | Andrew Manley |
| 27 January 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Soft market testing briefing to successful PINrespondees. Other suppliers also attended this presentation | Jonathan Goring, Martin Prescott, Dwayne Brook, Cliff Green, Keith Skempton, Tracey Millington | Andrew Manley, David Olney Mike Martindale, Richard McKinney, David Marsh and six other officials below SCS |
| 2 February 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner-Soft market test 1-2-1 | Jonathan Goring, Martin Prescott, Dwayne Brook, Cliff Green | David Olney Mike Martindale, Richard McKinney and David Marsh |
| 30 May 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Meeting | Jonathan Goring | Andrew Manley |
| 18 June 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Pre Qualification Questionnaire industry day Other suppliers also attended this presentation | Neil Wallington, Dwayne Brook, Jonathan Goring,Richard McCarthy | Andrew Manley, David Olney Mike Martindale, Richard McKinney, David Marsh, Air Comm. Alan Opie, Brig. Frank Noble, Brig. Mark Armstrong, Andrew Mathewson, Bill Yardley and seven other officials below SCS |
| 11 July 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Resolving potential conflicts of interest meeting | Richard McCarthy (plusURS) | David Marsh and one other official below SCS |
| 28 August 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Pre Qualification Questionnaire de-brief | Richard McCarthy, Anita Randon plus representatives of URS andPA Consulting | David Marsh and one other official below SCS |
| 28 September 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Meeting | Jonathan Goring | Andrew Manley |
| 15 October 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—Meeting | Jonathan Goring | Andrew Manley |
| 18 October 2012 | DIO Strategic Business Partner—ITNupdate and Bid Process Agreement meeting | Neil Wallington, Richard McCarthy, Tony Newsam plus representatives of URS and PA Consulting | David Marsh and one other official below SCS |
David Wright (Telford, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) what benchmark calculations are being made in relation to market testing of the Defence Support Group;
(2) what value for money exercise has been undertaken in relation to the sale of the Defence Support Group; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what market testing his Department has conducted in relation to the Defence Support Group; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c292W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence undertook a short informal market sounding exercise over the summer 2012 to gauge both the level of interest in acquiring the Defence Support Group and to gather market intelligence on how we might eventually package and structure the sale to optimise best value for Government and the taxpayer. The results of the exercise were encouraging and helped to validate many of the planning assumptions that underpin the ongoing internal preparatory work.
That work will, of course, include a value for money assessment of the sale proposition, which will be undertaken in accordance with HM Treasury and MOD departmental policy.
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to maintain a financial crime investigative capacity within his Department.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c292W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the then Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend Mr Robathan, on 27 March 2012, Hansard, column 116-19W. The future Ministry of Defence Police investigative capability will form part of a co-ordinated pan-departmental strategy to combat fraud and other acquisitive crime against Defence. Formal consultation with the Ministry of Defence Police staff associations is currently ongoing.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 615W, on Libya: military intervention, how many of the 230 Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone Missiles were fired by (a) Tornado and (b) Typhoon aircraft.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c293W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 30 October 2012
During Operation Ellamy last year, all of the Brimstone munitions used were fired from Tornado aircraft.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 809W, on Libya: military intervention, if he will place in the Library the aircraft condition survey conducted on the Apache helicopters which flew from HMS Ocean during Operation Ellamy; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c293W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 30 October 2012
A review of the information requested is being conducted with regard to its suitability for release. I will write to my hon. Friend concerning the information requested once the assessment is complete.
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual cost is of the British military bases in (a) Canada, (b) Cyprus, (c) the Falkland Islands, (d) Germany, (e) Gibraltar and (f) Ascension Island, in each category of expenditure.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c294W)
Nick Harvey (North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The information is taking time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Angus Robertson:
Further to the letter my predecessor, Sir Nick Harvey MP, sent to you on 17 August 2012 in answer to your parliamentary question of 17 July 2012 (Official Report, column 762W) about military bases, I am afraid that one of the figures quoted was inaccurate. The figure for the “Spend by Lead Front Line Command” for the South Atlantic Islands should have read £64 million, not £61 million.
Please accept my apologies for this error which I have corrected in the following table, reproduced with its original explanatory notes.
| £ million | ||||
| 2011-12 | Cyprus | South Atlantic Islands | Germany | Gibraltar |
| Spend by Lead Front Line Command | 157 | 64 | 816 | 58 |
| Defence Infrastructure Organisation Expenditure | 100 | 35 | *91 | 13 |
| Notes: 1. The figure for DIO spending in Germany includes £1.5 million of expenditure on the European Support Group, which funds projects in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Norway. 2. This is the first time the Defence Infrastructure Organisation expenditure for Cyprus, the South Atlantic Islands (covering the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island), Germany, and Gibraltar spending has been separately identified in this manner. 3. The Falklands cost presented here is the cost of running and maintaining the military base there—not the total cost of defending the Falklands. | ||||
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in each year since 2009.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c294W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
Although the performance element of pay is colloquially known as a ‘bonus’, it is a misleading description because the performance-related element of pay is not additional; it is part of the departmental pay bill.
It continues to be a fundamental principle of Government policy that reward in the public sector should be linked to performance. The Ministry of Defence (MOD), in line with other Government Departments, rewards performance through the use of non-consolidated payments which reflect outputs, results and performance. Such payments are non-pensionable and are a more cost-effective way of rewarding performance since they do not count towards pension costs, and so reduce the overall cost of employing civil servants.
Changes have been made so that this year’s awards were smaller; in doing so we have reduced performance related pay by £13 million. The overall Performance Related Pay for financial year 2012-13, which reflects the performance year of 2011-12, is not yet available. However, this figure is anticipated to be approximately £30 million.
In future, we plan to reduce the number of people eligible, with the intention that only 10% to 20% of staff will receive awards for genuinely outstanding performance.
For the total amount of non-consolidated performance related pay ‘bonuses’ paid to civil servants in financial year 2009-10 (performance year 2008-09) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans my right hon. Friend Mr Robathan, on 26 January 2011, Hansard, columns 362-66W, to my hon. Friend Priti Patel.
For the total amount of non consolidated performance related pay ‘bonuses’ paid to civil servants in financial year 2010-11 (performance year 2009-10) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans my right hon. Friend Mr Robathan, on 18 January 2012, Hansard, columns 827-28W, to my hon. Friend Priti Patel. Please note that, following the answer given, an additional payment of £39,000 has now been made.
In financial year 2011-12 (performance year 2010-11); the non-consolidated performance related pay award for those below the senior civil service amounted to £38,166,950.
The Special Bonus Scheme amounted to £3,859,000.
For the Senior Civil Service, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans my right hon. Friend Mr Robathan, on 18 January 2012, Hansard, columns 827-28W, to my hon. Friend Priti Patel.
For Senior Civil Service Fixed Term appointees, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans my right hon. Friend Mr Robathan, on 18 January 2012, Hansard, columns 827-28W, to my hon. Friend Priti Patel.
Further SCS Fixed Term Appointee awards were agreed, bringing total amount paid in financial year 2011-12 to £616,916. This involved payments to 21 individuals, some of whom had awards paid in two parts in the financial year in accordance with contracts and milestones achieved.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the (a) training of and (b) equipment provided to reserve members of the armed forces.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c295W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
Reserve members of the armed forces receive appropriate training, which is a mandatory requirement as set out in the Reserve Forces Act 1996. Reserve personnel are trained to a standard so they can be called into permanent service if required and this training is conducted in a phased approach arranged by the single services.
As the Reserves become more integrated with the regular armed forces they will increasingly utilise the same equipment. Some Territorial Army units are now receiving new equipment, such as vehicles and radios.
In addition £1.8 billion has been allocated over the next 10 years to ensure that reservists will receive the kit and the training they need to meet their future roles.
Paul Flynn (Newport West, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Project (MODSAP) fits within his Department’s structure; and who the Director General of MODSAP is.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c295W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) falls within the Head Office and Corporate Services management area. The post of Director MODSAP (formerly known as the Director General SAP) is presently vacant.
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the flexible tasking proposals prepared by the Ministry of Defence police when determining future security provision at his Department’s establishments.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c295W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
The ongoing process to determine the future civil policing and guarding requirement at individual Ministry of Defence establishments will include consideration of a flexible tasking option that will ensure the best possible use of the Ministry of Defence police at those Defence sites where there is a clear requirement for constabulary powers as part of the overall protective security arrangements.
Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of his Department are employed on the Trident Alternatives Review on an (a) part-time and (b) full-time basis; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the review to date, by category of expenditure.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c296W)
Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary, HM Treasury; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat)
I have been asked to reply
as the Minister responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review.
The review is being led by a team within the Cabinet Office consisting of two full-time staff and a senior civil servant. They are drawing on expertise held in other Government Departments, primarily the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on an as-required basis.
The costs of the review are met from within existing departmental budgets and are limited to the time spent by experts in providing advice and to any incidental travel costs associated with attending meetings.
Nick Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost-saving is for renewing three Vanguard class Trident submarines rather than four; and whether such a reduction in the number of submarines would be compatible with a continuous at-sea deterrence.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c296W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
There are large costs in the deterrent submarine programme that are not related to the number of submarines, such as the costs associated with designing the submarine and certain infrastructure costs. The detail of the costs of the programme is being developed during the assessment phase which started in 2011, in order to inform a Main Gate decision in 2016 on whether to build the submarines. At this early stage of the assessment phase, no estimates have been produced of savings that might be accrued from reducing from four to three boats.
Ministry of Defence and industry are in the process of developing the detailed design of the successor deterrent submarine and it is too early to say whether we could maintain continuous at sea deterrence with three boats. The Main Gate investment decision is due in 2016, at which point a decision on three or four submarines will be made.
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the final TriStar aircraft will be retired; and what the cost has been of extending their service life to that date.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c296W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The TriStar aircraft will be retired in March 2014. The cost of extending the service life of the aircraft fleet from the previous out of service date of December 2013 is some £3.6 million. It is not possible at this stage to determine what additional operating costs will be incurred.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many unmanned aerial vehicles have been lost or damaged in such a way that they have been taken permanently out of use since their introduction by the RAF.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c297W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
One Reaper MQ-9 has been lost since entering service in 2007. The remotely piloted air system suffered mechanical failure while airborne over Afghanistan in April 2008. It made a controlled landing but was damaged beyond economic repair. There were no casualties.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Air Force are qualified to fly unmanned aerial vehicles.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c297W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
There are currently 32 Royal Air Force personnel qualified to pilot the Reaper remotely piloted air system.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) what the (a) full cost and (b) operating lifespan is of a Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle;
(2) what the cost is of a Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle in each of the variants that have been purchased by the armed forces.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c297W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The total financial approval for delivering and supporting the UK Reaper system from 2007, when it entered service, until the end of combat operations in Afghanistan in 2015, is £506 million. I am withholding information on the unit cost of UK Reaper air vehicles as it’s disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and another state. No decisions have yet been taken on whether to retain the Reaper system once combat operations end in Afghanistan.
The UK operates only one version of the Reaper unmanned air system.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether controllers of unmanned aerial vehicles are required to be pilots previously qualified in flying other military aircraft.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c297W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Military Aviation Authority provides the regulation for the operation and command of remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) including the qualifications required by RPAS pilots and operators. The Reaper is the only RPAS which has an attack capability.
All RAF and Royal Navy Reaper RPAS pilots are qualified in operating other military aircraft including fast jet, helicopter and multi-engine types. The majority of these pilots have served on at least one operational tour on a traditional manned platform.
The pilots of the Army’s unarmed RPAS are not required to be previously qualified in flying other military aircraft, due to the greater level of autonomy of their RPAS.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition is used to distinguish between (a) insurgents and (b) civilians when reporting casualties in Afghanistan.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c369W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
Within the context of the operational environment in Afghanistan, we report the number of casualties that are caused by UK forces’ actions, whether these are civilian or insurgent casualties, as accurately as practicable.
The Ministry of Defence does not, as a matter of course, monitor overall insurgent or civilian casualty figures.
However, where a possible civilian casualty is reported, UK forces will investigate the circumstances. The presumption of that investigation will be that any casualty is a civilian unless it can be established that the individual was directly involved in immediate attempts or plans to threaten the lives of International Security Assistance Force personnel.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been delays to the delivery of (a) protective glasses and (b) uniforms to theatre in Afghanistan; and what the length of any such delays has been.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c369W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
There have been no reported delays in the delivery of protective glasses or uniforms to service personnel currently deployed on operations in Afghanistan.
Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many missiles have been fired by Royal Air Force unmanned aerial vehicles in Afghanistan since the introduction of those vehicles.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c370W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Reaper is the only UK remotely piloted air system (RPAS) and has been armed with precision guided weapons since May 2008. As of 22 October 2012, the UK Reaper RPAS has provided more than 40,000 hours of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to UK and coalition forces in Afghanistan. 293 Hellfire precision guided missiles and 52 laser guided bombs have been deployed using the UK Reaper RPAS.
Reaper is not an autonomous system and all weapons employment depends upon commands from the flight crew. The weapons may be released under the command of a pilot who uses Rules of Engagement (ROE) that are no different to those used for manned UK combat aircraft. The targets are always positively identified as legitimate military objectives, and attacks are prosecuted in strict accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and UK ROE. Every effort is made to ensure the risk of collateral damage, including civilian casualties, is minimised.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the dimensions are of the main cargo and aircraft lift planned for the Queen Elizabeth class carrier.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c370W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
There are two aircraft lifts on each Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier, which measure around 28 metres long, 15 metres wide, and 2.5 metres deep.
Dan Byles (North Warwickshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the deployable collective protection capacity of Defence Medical Services with regard to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c370W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Collective Protection Capacity of the Defence Medical Services with regard to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threats has been assessed during a number of departmental audits between July 2011 and July 2012. The details of these audits are classified in the interests of national security.
Dan Byles (North Warwickshire, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Defence Medical Service personnel are currently trained to (a) treat and (b) decontaminate patients contaminated with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear material.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c370W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Two training courses are run for Defence Medical Service personnel that cover both treatment and decontamination in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) environment.
The CBRN Clinical Course is designed to train pre-hospital and hospital (medical, nursing and paramedic) personnel in the recognition, triage and management of casualties in a CBRN environment and beyond, including casualty decontamination. The course has a “life” of five years, and to date a total of 150 personnel have attended since 2008-09 (so would be regarded as currently qualified).
The Emergency Medical Treatment course is designed to train pre-hospital medical personnel (specifically junior doctors) in the recognition, triage and management of casualties in a CBRN environment, including casualty decontamination. The course has a “life” of three years, and to date a total of 294 personnel have attended since 2009-10 (so would be regarded as currently qualified).
While these figures show the numbers that have attended the courses, centrally maintained records do not indicate how many of the individual personnel have left the services since attending. Precise numbers could only be obtained by reference to the personal files of each individual who is recorded as having attended one of the courses, which would entail disproportionate cost.
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost savings to his Department of the changes to the Military Flight Training System programme; and over what period such savings are expected to be achieved.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c371W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
There have been no significant changes to those elements of the UK Military Flying Training System that are currently under contract. While savings are expected to be achieved for those elements of the programme not currently under contract, it would be prejudicial to commercial interests to disclose these assessments.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 614W, on guided weapons, whether the Royal Navy had any direct involvement in the procurement of Fire Shadow.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c371W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
The Royal Navy’s involvement in the procurement of the Fire Shadow weapon system has been limited to participation in briefings in order to maintain awareness and general understanding.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the elements of Lightning II aircraft variants are common.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c371W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
The elements of the Lightning II (F35) Avionics and Mission systems suite are 100% common across all variants.
The proportion of component parts of the aircraft that are common to all variants are as follows:
Percentage
F35-A 39
F35-B 30
F35-C 28
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 615W, on Libya: military intervention, which aircraft provided the mid-air refuelling to the Tornado aircraft flying to Libyan airspace from (a) Italy and (b) RAF Marham.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c372W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
During Operation Ellamy, Tornado aircraft flying to Libyan airspace from Gioia Del Colle airbase in Italy were provided air-to-air refuelling by Royal Air Force VC10 and Tristar aircraft, as well as coalition tanker aircraft.
For the air-to-air refuelling aircraft which fuelled Tornado aircraft flying to Libyan airspace from RAF Marham, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 29 October 2012, Hansard, column 30W.
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the purchase of training helicopters to support the rotary wing training programme has been deferred until after the next strategic defence and security review; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c372W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
Since 1997, rotary wing training has been contracted to FBHeliservices who have operated the Defence Helicopter Flying School. In April 2012, this contract was extended for four years to 2016. A study is currently being conducted to determine how best to take forward rotary wing training after 2016.
Nick Harvey (North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence attachés have been based in overseas embassies and high commissions in each of the last seven years.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c372W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
The number of defence attachés in overseas embassies and high commissions in each of the last seven years is shown in the following table:
Defence attachés Number of defence sections
2006 127 84
2007 124 82
2008 119 81
2009 116 79
2010 105 71
2011 110 74
2012 111 73
Defence sections may also employ senior non-commissioned officers, United Kingdom-based civilians and locally engaged civilians as support staff. Such staff are not included in the table.
There are a number of defence attachés who have attaché accreditation in countries in which they are non-resident. During 2012, the 73 overseas defence sections provided defence attaché services to a further 74 countries.
An announcement will soon be made about the development of the defence attaché network after the International Defence Engagement Strategy is launched by Ministers.
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total current deployment of UK naval vessels in the Persian Gulf is; and how many military personnel are attached to UK bases in the region.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c373W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
As of 31 October 2012, the UK has the following naval vessels deployed in the Gulf region (including the Red sea, Arabian gulf and Indian ocean):
One Type 45 Destroyer
One Type 23 Frigate
Four Mine Countermeasure vessels
Four Royal Fleet Auxiliary support vessels
One Echo-class survey vessel
Trafalgar class submarines are also deployed periodically in the Gulf region.
The UK does not have any bases in the region. However, there are currently just under 2,000 UK military personnel in the region serving on current operations, of which the majority are royal naval personnel based predominately at sea. It is not possible to provide an exact figure as the number fluctuates for a variety of reasons, including mid-tour rest and recuperation, temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors.
Tom Watson (West Bromwich East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK has supplied unmanned aerial vehicles to Syria in the last three years.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c373W)
Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks, Conservative)
I have been asked to reply
on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Government does hold details of export licensing decisions and, for the period specified, there are no records relating to the proposed export of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Syria. However, some UAVs are not strategically controlled because they are not of significant military utility and therefore do not require a licence for export or trade activity and, where this is the case, we do not hold information about what may have been supplied without a licence.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was any British industrial interest in the procurement of Fire Scout.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c373W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
Fire Scout is a commercial product, manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the US armed forces. It does not meet any endorsed UK capability need and the Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on British industrial interest in it.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 310W, on aircraft carriers, what estimate he has made of the expected number of days in a year a single Queen Elizabeth class carrier will be operational; and how many days each year he estimates will be required for refit and maintenance.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 2 November 2012, c428W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 26 October 2012
I am withholding the information on how many days a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier will be operational in a year, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. The in-service support solution for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers is still in development, with a decision expected around the middle of this decade.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department made of trials of Scan Eagle aboard HMS Sutherland; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 2 November 2012, c428W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
Scan Eagle was trialled aboard HMS Sutherland in February-March 2005 and February-March 2006. The trials established that, in principle, a system like Scan Eagle can usefully be operated from a vessel of this size in a range of roles, for example, spotting for naval gunfire support.
Tom Watson (West Bromwich East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition his Department uses of the term civilian in respect of UK operations in Afghanistan.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c437W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
There is no single definition of a civilian in use in respect of UK operations in Afghanistan. However, the law of armed conflict makes a distinction between combatants, who take part in fighting and non-combatants, who do not and must be protected as far as possible from its effects.
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many summary offences handed to service personnel have been entered onto the Police National Database since 2006; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c437W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
Service police have been entering conviction data onto the Police National Database (PND) since March 2011. This includes some historical data dating back before 2006. Other forces civil police only see the headline offence with a marker and must contact the service police for further information with regards to gaining additional detail.
All convictions data (which include summary offences) are now entered onto the PND. However, information is uploaded onto the PND as intelligence and contains both conviction and non-conviction data. It is for this reason that we are unable to provide a figure of exactly how many summary offences have been uploaded to PND.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to encourage those who have been made redundant recently from the armed forces to join the reserves.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c438W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 26 October 2012
All three services are working to make it as quick and easy as possible for individuals leaving the regular forces to join the reserves, including those who leave under redundancy terms. This includes simplifying administrative processes, examining the use of incentives and ensuring coherent communications so individuals who are leaving the regular forces are aware of the opportunities that exist in the reserves.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior military personnel have retired from the armed forces since May 2010; who they were; and how many meetings each such person has held with Ministers or senior civil servants in his Department since their retirement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c438W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
During the period 1 May 2010 to 1 October 2012, there were 24 three and four-star armed forces personnel who have retired or left the services for other reasons. The information concerning meetings with Ministers or senior civil servants since their departure is not held in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Three and four-star officers who have retired between 1 May 2010 to 1 October 2012 are as follows:
Service
Royal Navy Admiral Trevor Soar
Vice-Admiral Richard Ibbotson
Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence
Vice-Admiral Paul Lambert
Vice-Admiral Peter Wilkinson
Vice-Admiral Alan Massey
Vice-Admiral Robert Cooling
Royal Marines Lieutenant-General James Dutton
Army General Kevin O’Donoghue
General John McColl
Lieutenant-General Arundell Leakey
Lieutenant-General David Bill
Lieutenant-General Richard Applegate
Lieutenant-General Christopher Brown
Lieutenant-General Robert Baxter
Lieutenant-General Paul Newton
Lieutenant-General Andrew Graham
Lieutenant-General Barnabas White-Spunner
Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant
Air Chief Marshal Graham Stirrup
Air Marshal Iain McNicoll
Air Marshal Christopher Nickols
Air Marshal David Walker
Air Marshal Peter Ruddock
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of Ministers in his Department is in monitoring the commercial employment contracts agreed by former military personnel post-retirement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c439W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
Ministry of Defence Ministers have no role in monitoring commercial employment contracts. Applications made by former military personnel to take up commercial appointments up to two years from their last paid date in service are considered at the appropriate delegated level. For the most senior former personnel, this will take the form of a recommendation from an internal panel for endorsement by the Permanent Secretary, and consideration by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault of members of the armed forces have been conducted in (i) Iraq since 2003 and (ii) Afghanistan since 2001; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c439W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
There have been no prosecutions of members of the armed forces for rape or sexual assault conducted in Iraq since 2003 or Afghanistan since 2001. A prosecution would not be held in theatre, provided the case could be heard in the United Kingdom at a later stage.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces are attached to the Bahraini armed forces or are advising the Bahraini Government.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c439W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
No members of the UK armed forces are permanently attached to the Bahraini armed forces, or to the Bahrain Government as advisers. The UK does regularly deploy short term training teams to Bahrain to provide specific training to the Bahrain defence force in niche areas. These deployments are temporary in nature and linked to specific capacity building projects.
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent requests he has received from the US administration for the use of Diego Garcia for (a) military action against Iran and (b) operations in the Persian Gulf.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c439W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 1 November 2012
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister for the Armed Forces, Sir Nick Harvey, on 6 March 2012, Hansard, column 660W. The UK continues to work with other countries to achieve a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. We wish to see a peaceful, negotiated diplomatic settlement to the Iranian nuclear crisis, by which Iran gives the world confidence that it is not developing and will not develop nuclear weapons. All our efforts are devoted towards such a peaceful resolution through a twin track strategy of engagement and sanctions, although we are clear that all options for addressing the issue remain on the table.
There have been numerous occasions in the past when the US has requested, and we have agreed, the temporary use of UK bases and base areas or UK sovereign territory. The precise circumstances are always subject to the closest consultation, including all legal aspects.
Douglas Carswell (Clacton, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings staff of his Department have had with former staff of his Department employed by defence contractors to discuss the (a) Terrier programme, (b) Capability Upgrade Strategy (Pilot), (c) Naval EHF/SHF SATCOM Terminals programme, (d) Land Environment Air Picture Provision programme, (e) Medium Range Radar RT997 programme, (f) Sting Ray Mod 1 Insensitive Munition Warhead programme, (g) Sentry Mode S IFF programme and (h) Lucie-Systems Dismounted Close Combat Consolidation since June 2010.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c440W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The information requested is not held by the Ministry of Defence.
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many schedule 2 offences were reported to the Royal Military Police in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c440W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
Schedule 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 incorporates in excess of 50 offences. Information relating to these offences is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates a UK warship has not been available for Operation Atalanta over the last two years.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c441W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 2 November 2012
The Royal Navy maintains a constant presence, including at least one frigate or destroyer, east of Suez. These vessels are able to carry out a number of duties including specific deliberate counter-piracy operations as the need arises.
Since 2008, the Royal Navy has contributed to EU, NATO and CMF counter-piracy operations in several capacities—from the contribution of assets, to the provision of the Operational Headquarters and Operational Commander for Operation Atalanta.
Over the last two years, HMS Richmond supported the EU’s Operation Atalanta between 22 January 2011 and 10 July 2011.
David Anderson (Blaydon, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with the Attorney-General’s office on the legality of armed drone strikes.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c441W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
It is the longstanding position of Government, reflected in the Ministerial Code, that whether the Law Officers have been consulted on any issue on any matter is not disclosed outside Government.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration his Department has given to the creation of a Government department with responsibility for veterans.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c441W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
There are a number of mechanisms in place to ensure that Government policies towards veterans are co-ordinated effectively, including my own role as the Minister responsible for Veterans, and the Cabinet sub-committee on the Armed Forces Covenant chaired by the Minister for Government Policy, and on which I sit. In addition, in September 2012 the Prime Minister appointed Lord Ashcroft as Special Representative for Veterans’ Transition. He will review the support available to service leavers making the transition to civilian life and make recommendations for improving that support and for better co-ordination across Government and with service charities.
Mark Menzies (Fylde, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department has been in respect of (a) solicitors’, (b) barristers’, (c) experts’ fees and (d) other costs in relation to ionising radiation appeals at war pensions tribunals to date; and what estimate he has made of the likely costs of such appeal hearings in January and February 2013.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 5 November 2012, c441W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
In the current group of ongoing nuclear test veterans war pensions appeals the Ministry of Defence has, to date been notified of bills as follows:
£
Solicitors 185,541.80
Barristers 191,017.05
Experts 37,887.00
Other costs 98,931.94
Total 513,377.79
These figures exclude VAT and do not include the cost of any associated Ministry of Defence resourcing or obtaining security clearances for individuals involved in the cases.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent reports he has received on the availability of protective glasses and uniforms in theatre in Afghanistan.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c519W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 31 October 2012
I have received no reports regarding shortages of protective glasses or uniforms to service personnel currently deployed on operations in Afghanistan.
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many projects being delivered by (a) Babcock, (b) Boeing, (c) Cobham, (d) European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, (e) Finmeccanica, (f) General Dynamics, (g) Kellogg-Brown-Root, (h) Lockhead Martin, (i) Marshall Aerospace, (j) Northrup Grumman, (k) Rolls-Royce, (l) Thales and (m) Ultra Electronics for his Department are overrunning in (i) time and (ii) budget; and where each project is located.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c519W)
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
The information will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
Substantive answer from Philip Dunne to A ngus Robertson:
My predecessor undertook to write to you in his answer of 10 July 2012 (Official Report, column 199W) regarding your parliamentary question about Defence projects.
The following table demonstrates the number of procurement and support projects managed by Defence Equipment and Support involving the contractors you asked about where the projects are presently considered to be overrunning regarding time or budget.
Performance against contract can be affected by a number of reasons not all of which are in the contractor’s control. For the purpose of answering this question these contracts have been limited to those with a value of £1 million or more, and where the Ministry of Defence has let a contract directly to the named company as a Prime Contractor. The locations of where the contractors are carrying out the work are also set out in the table.
Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investment his Department has made at Devonport Dockyard and Naval Base since May 2010.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c521W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 31 October 2012
Investment at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport, which covers investment in infrastructure projects, plant and machinery and facilities from May 2010 to the end of September 2012 amounts to some £162 million.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average hourly cost was of flying the Typhoon fighter (a) with and (b) without fuel costs.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c521W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 1 November 2012
The standard marginal flying hour cost for a Typhoon is £3,875, including the cost of fuel. Excluding fuel costs the figure reduces to approximately £2,670.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Joint Strike Fighters he plans would be deployable at any one time.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c521W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 1 November 2012
The number of Lightning II aircraft available to deploy at any one time will depend on how many aircraft are procured. The Government will not take a final decision until the strategic defence and security review in 2015, at the earliest.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) when the agreement to forward-base Storm Shadow missiles at Gioia del Colle during Operation Ellamy was signed;
(2) whether Storm Shadow missiles were forward-based for use by Tornado at the Gioia del Colle air base in Italy.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c522W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 1 and 2 November 2012
During Operation Ellamy last year, Storm Shadow missiles were forward-based at Gioia del Colle airbase in Italy. Agreement to base munitions in Gioia del Colle was covered by a pre-existing government to government arrangement signed in 2004.
Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department, (b) its non-departmental public bodies and (c) its Executive agencies spent on marine sciences in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and what spending for each is forecast in (A) 2012-13 and (B) 2013-14.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c522W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence, its non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies have not spent and do not forecast any spending on marine science.
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the competition for aircraft service provision for the UK Military Flying Training System.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c522W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The UK Military Flying Training System (UK MFTS) will incrementally procure all flying training for Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force aircrew. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its Training System partner, Ascent Flying Training, continue to consider the optimal strategy for the delivery of future flying training services.
While the MOD expects the competition for aircraft service provision for the fixed wing elements of the UK MFTS to commence in the near future, due diligence work is still in progress and a precise timetable will not be confirmed until this work is completed.
Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c522W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
The majority of mobile telephones supplied to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are provided by Vodafone through an enabling arrangement under the Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service (DFTS) contract with British Telecom. A small number, less than 1%, are procured outside this arrangement to meet local operational demands, typically at MOD establishments overseas.
Mobile data services supplied to the MOD are provided through the DFTS contract direct with British Telecom.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are attached to Headquarter Operation Atlanta; and what the (a) rank and (b) duty is of each such person.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c523W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 2 November 2012
Forty nine UK service personnel are currently attached to the Operational Headquarters of the EU’s Operation Atalanta. The military personnel by rank and roles are shown in the following table. I am withholding the actual number of personnel at each rank as it contains personal data which cannot be released.
Rank Roles
Rear Admiral Operational Commander
Captain Command Support
Commander Command Support, Liaison
Squadron Leader Operations
Lieutenant Commander Operations, Intelligence, Command Support, Media Officer
Major Media Officer, Command Support
Lieutenant Legal Advisor, Command Support, Communications Support, Medical Support, Logistics Support
Warrant Officer Communications Support
Chief Petty Officer Engineer
Petty Officer Operations, Analysts, Information Support, Clerks, Command Support
Leading Hand Operations, Information Support, Communications Support, Intelligence
Lance Corporal Analyst
Senior Aircraftman Communications Support
Able Seamen Personal Assistants, Clerks, Communications Support, Analysts
Tom Watson (West Bromwich East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK has undertaken military missions to Syria in the last three years.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c523W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The only UK military commitment to Syria was a small Defence section at the British embassy in Damascus. This ceased in February 2012 when the embassy was closed due to the deterioration of the security situation.
Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy that the development costs of the replacement for Trident will be met from the core defence budget.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c523W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
I refer the right hon. Member to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend Mr Hammond, on 14 May 2012, Hansard, column 263, in which he stated that the successor nuclear deterrent is included within the core programme.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the nature and extent is of the Defence Co-operation Agreements signed between the UK and the United Arab Emirates; and if he will place in the Library a copy of those agreements.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c524W)
Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)
holding answer 5 November 2012
The Defence Co-Operation Accord signed between the UK and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1996 provides a framework for current and future defence engagement activity including training and capacity building in order to enhance the stability of the wider region. There are a number of short complementary agreements, for example relating to Ministry of Defence intellectual property. We have had a long-standing maritime presence off the UAE with continuous Royal Navy patrols in the Gulf since the 1980s protecting Britain’s interests. We also regularly conduct joint air exercises with our Emirati counterparts. It is not normal practice to publish such agreements, or to place copies in the Library of the House.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 812W, on unmanned air vehicles, when the urgent operational requirement for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships was first agreed; and when the subsequent procurement project will be delivered.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c524W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 1 November 2012
The urgent operational requirement to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships was agreed on 3 August 2012. The capability will be delivered as soon as is practicable.
Tom Watson (West Bromwich East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department’s policy is on follow-up drone strikes; and what steps he is taking to ensure that rescue workers and people providing assistance to the injured are not targeted as part of such missions.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 November 2012, c524W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Any weapon released by the UK’s Reaper remotely piloted air system is done so under the command of a pilot bounded by Rules of Engagement which are no different from those used for manned UK combat aircraft. The targets are always positively identified as legitimate military objectives, and strikes are prosecuted in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and UK Rules of Engagement. Strikes should not be directed against non-combatants, including any individuals assisting the wounded or deceased, or individuals who are “hors de combat”.
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the maintenance, operation and re-fitting of Trident submarines in each of the last 10 years.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 7 November 2012, c629W)
Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
The costs of maintenance, operation and refitting of the Vanguard class submarines are one part of the wider costs of maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
It is not possible to provide full costs for the Vanguard class for the whole of the last 10 years as some of the information is not held in the format requested, and some is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) if he will detail how many people serving in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) RAF and (c) Army have a conviction from civil courts for offences of (i) rape and (ii) sexual assaults; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault were reported to the civilian police by members of the armed forces in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c704W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
The service police are not aware of any serving armed forces personnel that have been convicted of rape in a civil court. There are, as of 17 October 2012, two armed forces personnel serving in the Army who have been found guilty of sexual assault in a civilian court and who are subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Records are not held centrally of any convictions where MAPPA does not apply.
Police primacy for serious sexual offences committed in the UK usually rests with the civilian police. Civil police forces are under no obligation to inform the Ministry of Defence of crimes reported to them by members of the armed forces. Therefore we are unable to provide this information.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) how much has been spent on the refurbishment of bases to facilitate the return to the UK of troops currently stationed in Germany;
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse in (a) 2012-13 and (b) each subsequent financial year of the return to the UK of troops currently stationed in Germany;
(3) what the present timetable is for the return to the UK of troops currently stationed in Germany.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c704W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 1 November 2012
The Ministry of Defence is meeting its time scales to withdraw troops from Germany by 2020. The detailed work to optimise the military footprint and associated costs, is being developed. An announcement will be made in due course.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which officials in his Department have received gifts or hospitality from employees or representatives of the defence industry valued at over (a) £100, (b) £250, (c) £500 and (d) £1,000 in each of the last three years.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c705W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 31 October 2012
The Ministry of Defence’s rules on the acceptance of gifts and hospitality state that every Head of Division or Commanding Officer must maintain a hospitality log in which to record contact with persons, firms or organisations holding or seeking to obtain Government contracts. All offers of gifts, complimentary vouchers, other incentives and hospitality made to Crown servants whether accepted or declined must be recorded in the log. Senior management are responsible for undertaking regular reviews of the hospitality log, but the information is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what areas he proposes that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation will find savings.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c705W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 5 November 2012
The formation of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has brought together property and infrastructure functions from across Defence, which will for the first time provide a strategic and integrated view across the estate.
The major costs of the DIO are manpower and contract costs associated with hard and soft facilities management, utilities and accommodation. It is anticipated that the formation of the DIO will eliminate duplication, deliver economies of scale and allow the Department to focus investment in the estate, resulting in savings in both manpower and contract costs.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the functionality and performance of the Combined Forces Air Component Command and the Combined Air Operations Centre was during Operation Ellamy; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c705W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 5 November 2012
The Combined Forces Air Component Command (CFACC) exercises the command function over the air component during an operation. During the majority of Operation Ellamy the CFACC was based in the existing NATO Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Poggio, Italy, co-ordinating all NATO air operations during the campaign. Additional personnel from across the contributing countries were accordingly posted to this centre during Ellamy.
During the NATO-led Libyan campaign, the Alliance proved it can deliver a robust and credible response to new security challenges in line with the 2010 Strategic Concept. The NATO Command Structure responded promptly to manage the Libya operation and the Alliance proved to be reliable, capable and very successful at combining its members and partners into an effective force; the UK played a critical role in this success.
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the response times were of the Air Tasking Order cycle during Operation Ellamy; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c706W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 5 November 2012
During Operation Ellamy last year, the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre in Italy employed an air tasking order with a 72 hour overall cycle. This allowed comprehensive planning of deliberate targets and supporting air activities. However, the NATO process also allowed for the generation of targets on a much shorter timeframe as required. The planning cycle also ensured that, where required, consecutive coalition fast jet sorties could respond dynamically to any emerging threats to the Libyan civilian population.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing a customer-funded approach to the NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency budget; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c708W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA) was subsumed into the new NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA), which was established on 1 July 2012. Elements of the NCIA programme are already customer-funded, and we expect all business to be financed in this way from 2014.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing the new NATO Command Structure; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c708W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The new NATO Command Structure (NCS) was agreed in principle at the Lisbon summit in 2010, since when the new geographic footprint and allocation of senior level posts amongst the allies has been agreed. The United Kingdom has retained the post of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) and is filling the post of Commander of the Maritime HQ at Northwood. The allocation of the remaining posts should be agreed in December 2012. Initial operating capability for the NCS is planned for December 2013 with full operating capability to follow no later than December 2015.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) achieved and (b) planned savings for the NATO Agencies Reform Programme are.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c708W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The new NATO agencies structure has only been in place since 1 July 2012 so it is too early to make a realistic assessment of savings achieved. The agencies have been directed to deliver an initial saving of 20% on their running and personnel costs while maintaining capability and service delivery.
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the NATO Agencies Reform Programme; and if he will make a statement.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c708W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The reform of NATO’s agencies is a key element of the wider programme of transforming the North Atlantic Alliance for the 21st Century. Under plans agreed by Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon summit in 2010 the Alliance has transitioned to a new structure that comprises three core agencies covering communications and information, support, and procurement, all of which were formally established on 1 July 2012. Additionally, an Office of Shared Services has been set up to take forward the provision of shared services across the three agencies and NATO HQ, thus achieving savings through collective procurement and rationalisation.
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the additional reservists the armed forces plans to recruit will have military experience.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 8 November 2012, c708W)
Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford, Conservative)
holding answer 29 October 2012
As we build our reserve forces it will be important to capture the skills of those leaving the regular forces, to grow the size of the reserve forces and to benefit from their resilience and experience.
All three services are working to make it as quick and easy as possible for individuals leaving the regular forces to join the reserves. This includes simplifying administrative processes, examining the use of incentives and ensuring coherent communications so that individuals leaving or who have left the regular forces are aware of the opportunities that exist in the reserves should they choose to enlist.
‘The UK does not have any bases in the region. However, there are currently just under 2,000 UK military personnel in the region serving on current operations’
Do anyone else think it’s about time we did have a combined and permanent base to cover the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf?
Thanks as always TD for keeping your finger on the pulse on our behalf. Just my opinion of course, but the highlights include:
Any plans to buy F35A:
The UK remains committed to the F-35B, the short take-off vertical landing variant, as it forms a key element of the UK’s future Carrier Strike capability. Any possible future requirement for the conventional take-off and landing variant (F-35A) will be dependent on decisions on the future long-term mix of the UK’s combat aircraft and the long-term future of the Typhoon fleet.
On-going deterrent review:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost-saving is for renewing three Vanguard class Trident submarines rather than four; and whether such a reduction in the number of submarines would be compatible with a continuous at-sea deterrence.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c296W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
There are large costs in the deterrent submarine programme that are not related to the number of submarines, such as the costs associated with designing the submarine and certain infrastructure costs. The detail of the costs of the programme is being developed during the assessment phase which started in 2011, in order to inform a Main Gate decision in 2016 on whether to build the submarines. At this early stage of the assessment phase, no estimates have been produced of savings that might be accrued from reducing from four to three boats.
Ministry of Defence and industry are in the process of developing the detailed design of the successor deterrent submarine and it is too early to say whether we could maintain continuous at sea deterrence with three boats. The Main Gate investment decision is due in 2016, at which point a decision on three or four submarines will be made.
And:
The Trident Alternatives Review is considering whether alternative systems could provide a credible nuclear deterrent. As part of its terms of reference, which were laid in the Library of the House, the study has been asked to consider modified Astute-class submarines armed with cruise missiles.
Use of Brimstone in Libya:
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 615W, on Libya: military intervention, how many of the 230 Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone Missiles were fired by (a) Tornado and (b) Typhoon aircraft.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 31 October 2012, c293W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 30 October 2012
During Operation Ellamy last year, all of the Brimstone munitions used were fired from Tornado aircraft. (230 fired).
F35 commonality:
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the elements of Lightning II aircraft variants are common.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c371W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
The elements of the Lightning II (F35) Avionics and Mission systems suite are 100% common across all variants.
The proportion of component parts of the aircraft that are common to all variants are as follows:
Percentage
F35-A 39
F35-B 30
F35-C 28
Persian Gulf deployments:
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total current deployment of UK naval vessels in the Persian Gulf is; and how many military personnel are attached to UK bases in the region.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c373W)
Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
As of 31 October 2012, the UK has the following naval vessels deployed in the Gulf region (including the Red sea, Arabian gulf and Indian ocean):
One Type 45 Destroyer
One Type 23 Frigate
Four Mine Countermeasure vessels
Four Royal Fleet Auxiliary support vessels
One Echo-class survey vessel
Trafalgar class submarines are also deployed periodically in the Gulf region.
The UK does not have any bases in the region. However, there are currently just under 2,000 UK military personnel in the region serving on current operations, of which the majority are royal naval personnel based predominately at sea. It is not possible to provide an exact figure as the number fluctuates for a variety of reasons, including mid-tour rest and recuperation, temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors.
Any chance of buying Firescout:
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there was any British industrial interest in the procurement of Fire Scout.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 1 November 2012, c373W)
Philip Dunne (Ludlow, Conservative)
holding answer 25 October 2012
Fire Scout is a commercial product, manufactured by Northrop Grumman for the US armed forces. It does not meet any endorsed UK capability need and the Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on British industrial interest in it.
Better news on ScanEagle:
Scan Eagle was trialled aboard HMS Sutherland in February-March 2005 and February-March 2006. The trials established that, in principle, a system like Scan Eagle can usefully be operated from a vessel of this size in a range of roles, for example, spotting for naval gunfire support.
There is a very interesting table showing the costs of overseas defence which I couldn’t copy in proper format, but well worth a look.
Edit @Challenger – India and Australia are in talks about Indian Ocean co-operation. Perhaps we should offer them joint use of Diego Garcia if the US decides to leave?
http://brahmand.com/news/Australia-keen-on-developing-maritime-security-in-Indian-Ocean/10366/1/14.html
Interesting the flying cost per hour of tornado and typhoon. Hopefully the mod has seen sense and stopped using there normal rediculous numbers to discuss cost a/c flight hours.
Challenger
“Do anyone else think it’s about time we did have a combined and permanent base to cover the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf?”
We have a permanent presence at Bahrain.
Old Tobias, he looks to be asking questions of a certain bent, a bent that would certainly align with the agenda of a known and not respected think tank which arises from the ashes every now and then like something the name of which I can’t quite remember…
‘We have a permanent presence at Bahrain’
Yes we base the 4 mine-hunter’s there don’t we. We also seem to use air facilities in Qatar, are currently attempting to get basing rights in the United Arab Emirates and use facilities in Oman for counter piracy operations. All of those arrangements are in addition to us having but not using Diego Garcia.
Surely their is some way of combining all of those scattered arrangements and commitments into 1 tri-service hub?. It seems to me that post Afghanistan our east of Suez deployments are going to be centred around flying the flag and lower level ‘presence’ (with the exception of counter piracy) which could all be done from a single, multifunctional base, similar to the set-up in Cyprus.
The thing is a lot of those places are borne of necessity. Simply combining them for the sake of tidiness, efficiency and rationalisation might not prove so rational a choice if we spend money doing that but future events necessitate a base somewhere else for whatever reason and all the expense associated with it.
If I call the present system a Responsive Basing Matrix Strategy doesn’t it sound all the more rational and cool?
I’m with Phil on this – unless our Armed Forces get much bigger, we need the Diplomatic skills to negotiate ad hoc basing arrangements quickly, and also the ability to concentrate kit and people as needed; and if everything really does go Pete Tong, everybody does a bunk for DG until we work out what the h_ll to do next.
Mind you, if we operated on a bigger scale – as I think we all secretly agree we should – I would favour recognising Somaliland, pumping shed-loads of DFiD cash in and developing base facilities at Berbera…a similar plan to the one I recall somebody proposing in respect of Freetown/Sierra Leone on this very website…