The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new Ajax armoured vehicles will be produced (a) in the UK and (b) abroad.
Mr Philip Dunne
I refer the hon. Member to the reponse given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State for Defence in the House of Lords, Earl Howe, to the noble Lord, Baron Moonie of Bennochy on 27 April 2016 to Question HL7778.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of steel used in the new Ajax armoured vehicles will be (a) sourced from the UK and (b) imported from abroad.
Mr Philip Dunne
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2016 to Question 25075 to the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Mr Doughty).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with NATO allies on the number of troops deployed to the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Julian Brazier
The 2014 Wales Summit, under UK leadership, delivered an effective and united response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its actions in Eastern Ukraine.
NATO has agreed to strengthen its defence and deterrence posture to provide further reassurance to Allies and deter Russian aggression.
In February 2016 Defence Ministers agreed to address specific concerns raised by the Baltic States and Poland. Ahead of the Warsaw Summit in July, work continues within the Alliance to determine the size and scale of an enhanced forward presence in the East. The proposed measures are proportionate, defensive in nature, and not a threat to Russia, but demonstrate unequivocally the unity within the Alliance and the continued commitment of all Allies to the NATO principles of collective defence and security.
A UK contribution will ultimately be shaped by what is agreed by all Allies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department’s policy is on procurement of a British sixth-generation jet fighter.
Mr Philip Dunne
As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, we will invest in the next generation of combat air technology, in partnership with our defence industry and our closest allies. This includes joint work with France to deliver unmanned combat air operational demonstrators by 2025, a programme worth over £1.5 billion, as announced at the Amiens Summit in March 2016. These investments will help inform a decision on how best to meet our future combat air requirements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the planned locating of future aircraft carriers at Sheer Jetty and Victory Jetty has resulted in reconsideration of the transfer of nearby land and buildings to the Portsmouth Naval Base Trust; what assessment his Department has made of the merits of preserving such assets; and if he will make a statement.
Mark Lancaster
The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, confirmed that both carriers will be operational concurrently. This changes the level of activity, security and safety considerations for Victory and Sheer jetties. Such operational consideration and financial challenges faced by the Department have resulted in the need to plan a deferral of the transfer, the Department is working to identify and limit the length of this delay.
Consideration is being given to deferring the transfer of some elements of the adjoining estate until the Naval Base better understands the challenges of maintaining the flow of logistics through the area in question and the security and safety aspects of operating two carriers in the vicinity of what could potentially become a tourist zone.
We have not made an assessment of the merits of preserving the historic assets now that the project has been delayed. The assessment made previously was that their preservation would be best delivered by transferring them to the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust (PNBP).
The Department remains committed to preserving these assets and will examine how best to do so in light of this delay and will work with the PNBP in doing so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the threats facing the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Julian Brazier
The 2014 Wales Summit, under UK leadership, delivered an effective and united response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its actions in Eastern Ukraine.
NATO has agreed to strengthen its defence and deterrence posture to provide further reassurance to Allies and deter Russian aggression.
In February 2016 Defence Ministers agreed to address specific concerns raised by the Baltic States and Poland. Ahead of the Warsaw Summit in July, work continues within the Alliance to determine the size and scale of an enhanced forward presence in the East. The proposed measures are proportionate, defensive in nature, and not a threat to Russia, but demonstrate unequivocally the unity within the Alliance and the continued commitment of all Allies to the NATO principles of collective defence and security.
A UK contribution will ultimately be shaped by what is agreed by all Allies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on whether aircraft manufactured in the UK and granted an export licence to be sold to the Saudi Arabian government have been used by the Saudi Arabian military forces in Yemen since March 2015.
Michael Fallon
Saudi Arabia has purchased UK manufactured Typhoon and Tornado aircraft which have flown combat missions in the current conflict in Yemen.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which army regiments or corps may be joined by new recruits aged (a) under 16 years and six months and (b) under 16 years and three months; and which such regiments or corps entail (i) combat roles and (ii) non-combat roles.
Mark Lancaster
Recruits do not join their Army Regiments or Corps until after they have completed both Phase 1 and 2 training. It is not possible, therefore, for new recruits to join any Army Regiment or Corps whilst under the age of 16 years and six months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many visits (a) by Ministers and (b) officials from her Department were made to Coventry in each of the last five years.
Nick Gibb
The table below shows the total number of visits made by Department for Education ministers to Coventry for each of the last five years.
|
Year |
Total Number of Visits by Ministers |
|
2011-2012 |
3 |
|
2012-2013 |
3 |
|
2013-2014 |
1 |
|
2014-2015 |
1 |
|
2015-2016 |
3 |
We do not hold data centrally on the number of visits made by civil servants to particular locations. This could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools have opened in areas where there are surplus places in the age range covered by the school in each year since 2010.
Edward Timpson
Every free school has been approved for opening in response to either the need to provide extra school places for the future, the need to provide parents with greater choice or the need to provide more high quality places. Of the open mainstream free schools reported in School Capacity data in May 2015, all of which were approved prior to January 2014, seven in ten were approved in areas where there was a basic need for additional school places.
85% of mainstream free schools approved since January 2014 – the majority of which have not yet opened – are in areas where School Capacity data showed there was a basic need for additional school places. The remaining 15% were approved on the basis of more recent local authority intelligence of future need for places; in areas where there was a need for additional high quality places or to create additional choice or diversity.