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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the proposed in-service date for the Successor class of submarines has been postponed.

Mr Philip Dunne

Designing and building submarines is one of the largest programmes and one of the most complex activities that the Ministry of Defence and UK Industry has ever undertaken. It is the purpose of a design phase to improve our understanding of costs and timescales, which we have now done. The current estimates reflect what we have learned since the design phase began.

As stated in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 2015 (Cm9161), our latest estimate of the total cost to manufacture the four Successor submarines reflects greater maturity of the design and understanding of the supply chain, amounts to £31 billion; we will also set a contingency of £10 billion. This level of contingency represents about 35% of the costs to completion and is a prudent estimate based on past experience of large, complex projects.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 4.105 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, how much of the £1.9 billion investment in cyber defence he plans to spend in each year until 2020.

Matthew Hancock

As announced in the Chancellor’s speech of 17 November, a new National Cyber Security Strategy will be launched in 2016, implemented through a new National Cyber Security Programme. The new programme will determine how much of the £1.9 billion investment is spent each financial year to March 2021.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for the first of the Successor submarines to enter service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

As stated in paragraph 4.76 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 15 (Cm9161), we expect the first Successor submarine to enter service in the early 2030s.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the cost estimates of the Successor class of submarines in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 differs from his Department’s previous cost estimates for those submarines.

Mr Philip Dunne

Designing and building submarines is one of the largest programmes and one of the most complex activities that the Ministry of Defence and UK Industry has ever undertaken. It is the purpose of a design phase to improve our understanding of costs and timescales, which we have now done. The current estimates reflect what we have learned since the design phase began.

As stated in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 2015 (Cm9161), our latest estimate of the total cost to manufacture the four Successor submarines reflects greater maturity of the design and understanding of the supply chain, amounts to £31 billion; we will also set a contingency of £10 billion. This level of contingency represents about 35% of the costs to completion and is a prudent estimate based on past experience of large, complex projects.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Joint Security Fund; and how much his Department may draw from that fund in each year from 2015 to 2020.

Michael Fallon

It has been agreed with Her Majesty’s Treasury that the Ministry of Defence will be able to draw down £2.1 billion from the Joint Security Fund over the remainder of this Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron in each year since 2010.

Penny Mordaunt

Each year since 2010 the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron (RNGS) has consisted of two SCIMITAR Class Patrol Boats, HMS SCIMITAR and HMS SABRE and three Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs). It is also frequently bolstered by Royal Navy vessels transiting the region.

Since 2010 there have been 22 stationed personnel which were increased by five temporary augmentees following a pattern of increased Spanish incursions in 2012. After a review in 2014 the number of personnel was permanently uplifted to 26.

The following table represents the financial expenditure incurred by British Forces Gibraltar in support of the RNGS in each year since 2010.

Figures are in millions.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the size of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron has been in each year since 2010.

Penny Mordaunt

Each year since 2010 the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron (RNGS) has consisted of two SCIMITAR Class Patrol Boats, HMS SCIMITAR and HMS SABRE and three Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs). It is also frequently bolstered by Royal Navy vessels transiting the region.

Since 2010 there have been 22 stationed personnel which were increased by five temporary augmentees following a pattern of increased Spanish incursions in 2012. After a review in 2014 the number of personnel was permanently uplifted to 26.

The following table represents the financial expenditure incurred by British Forces Gibraltar in support of the RNGS in each year since 2010.

Figures are in millions.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 25 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, what projects he plans to fund from the £300 million investment in operational communications.

Mr Philip Dunne

Up to £300 million will be spread across Front Line Commands and a number of capabilities. It will not only be invested to enhance operational communications, but also to renew the existing air defence system and upgrade infrastructure, all in the context of the Falkland Islands.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much he plans to spend on defence engagement functions in each year from 2015 to 2020.

Mr Julian Brazier

The Department is currently working to identify the implications of the Spending Review settlement for specific elements of the Defence budget, and has not yet confirmed the funding which will be allocated to Defence Engagement activities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 49 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, in which countries he plans to locate British defence staffs in 2016.

Mr Julian Brazier

The decision as to where locations of where British Defence Staffs (BDS) will be based has yet to be finalised. The intention of establishing BDS is to build on our existing overseas networks (including Defence Attaches, Liaison and Exchange Officers and Training Teams) in order to provide a cross-regional focus, and improved coordination and coherence, to Defence Engagement activity. We review our overseas footprint regularly to match the requirement and this work is in conjunction with the development of a Defence Engagement Career Field within the UK Armed Forces, improved training, preparation and development for our overseas cohort and greater alignment with other Government Departments with deployed networks.

Once decisions have been made on the future of BDS I will write to the hon. Member to update her.