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  • Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilian staff support operations at RAF Waddington; and what their payroll costs were in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

    Mark Lancaster

    The table below shows the number of civilian staff supporting operations at RAF Waddington and their payroll costs for the previous five financial years (FY).

    The information for FY2010-11 is not held centrally, and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    FY2011-12

    FY2012-13

    FY2013-14

    FY2014-15

    (£ million)

    Average paid strength

    200

    150

    130

    130

    Total Cost

    £4.880M

    £4.263M

    £3.833M

    £3.728M

  • Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the costs of infrastructure improvements at RAF Waddington were in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

    Mark Lancaster

    The costs of infrastructure improvements at RAF Waddington in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 are shown in the following table:

    Financial Year

    Grand Total

    2010-11

    £1,494,929.99

    2011-12

    £2,794,486.46

    2012-13

    £2,503,485.61

    2013-14

    £1,044,565.26

    2014-15

    £18,857,704.44

    Grand Total

    £26,695,171.76

    The significant increase in Financial Year 2014-15 is due to the Waddington boiler replacement work, the upgrade of Single Living Accommodation, and the start of the construction phases of the reconstruction and resurfacing of the runway and hangar refurbishments.

  • Toby Perkins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Toby Perkins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the consequences for the UK’s capability of the retirement in 2018 of the 53 Typhoon aircraft purchased in tranche 1; and if he will reverse this decision in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Strategic Review.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the potential utility of all its current platforms, including its fleet of Tranche 1 Typhoon aircraft, as part of the ongoing Strategic Defence and Security Review. Where there is clear merit in extending the life of existing equipment in terms of both military utility and value-for-money, the opportunity to do so will be considered in the context of the wider Review. It is therefore not appropriate to anticipate decisions on the Typhoon Tranche 1, or other capabilities, that have not yet been made.

  • Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2015 to the hon. Member for Reigate to Question 12151, whether he plans for the boats built to replace the nuclear submarine fleet to be built with steel manufactured in the UK.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Steel for key defence programmes, including submarines, is sourced from a range of suppliers. It is the responsibility of prime contractors to obtain the steel required to complete MOD programmes at a competitive cost, within time constraints and to the required quality.

    I expect a range of UK suppliers and others will be invited to bid and provide steel for the Successor programme.

  • Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to his Department was of maintenance of facilities at (a) Prestwick, (b) RAF Benbecula, (c) RAF Buchan, (d) RAF Lossiemouth, (e) RAF Tain, (f) RRH Saxa Vord, (g) HMNB Clyde, (h) Redford Barracks, (i) Dreghorn Barracks, (j) Glencorse Barracks, (k) Fort George (l) Kinloss and (m) Leuchars in each of the last five years.

    Mark Lancaster

    Reliable information on maintenance costs is only held since financial year (FY) 2012-13 as shown in the following table:

    Financial Year

    2012-13 Total

    2013-14 Total

    2014-15 Total

    2015-16 Total to 31/10/2015

    HMS Gannet (Prestwick)

    Information not held

    £117,000

    £118,690

    £70,616

    RAF Benbecula

    £56,000

    £74,000

    £86,981

    £61,339

    RAF Buchan

    £81,000

    £106,000

    £116,784

    £76,931

    RAF Lossiemouth

    £1,683,000

    £1,731,000

    £1,618,861

    £1,288,955

    RAF Tain

    £11,000

    £20,000

    £11,667

    £0

    RRH Saxa Vord

    £43,000

    £51,000

    £86,445

    £79,373

    HMNB Clyde

    £122,000

    £132,000

    £77,000

    £14,000

    Redford Bks

    £694,000

    £724,000

    £585,831

    £279,097

    Dreghorn Bks

    £526,000

    £633,000

    £487,636

    £166,740

    Glencorse Bks

    £491,000

    £547,000

    £433,281

    £159,876

    Fort George

    £246,000

    £319,000

    £331,140

    £254,079

    Kinloss

    £1,050,000

    £1,118,000

    £1,254,464

    £936,217

    Leuchars

    Information not held

    Information not held

    £530,590

    £1,220,826

  • Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to safely store or treat nuclear contaminated material arising from the decommissioning of nuclear-powered submarines at Rosyth by Babcock.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    All radioactive waste arising from the decommissioning of nuclear-powered submarines at Rosyth will be transported off-site either for recycling, direct disposal, or storage in an interim storage facility as part of the Submarine Dismantling Project.

    For certain components, a temporary holding facility may be required on site; this short-term holding and all other activities will be fully regulated by nuclear safety and environmental regulators.

  • Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements are in place to monitor Babcock’s performance and safety record.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Babcock is a key supplier to the Ministry of Defenceand the company’s relationship with the Department is managed at a strategic level through a key supplier representative. This role is currently undertaken by the Chief of Materiel (Fleet) within Defence Equipment and Support, who engages with Babcock on a regular basis. Project and safety performance reviews form a significant element of these discussions.

    With regards to safety, appropriate measures are in place to reduce risk and these are rigorously monitored to ensure that any emerging issues are identified and addressed.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training is provided to officials of his Department working on the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme and the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project on responding to whistleblowers from the private sector.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Members of the MOD Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) and Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications (SANGCOM) Project attend a mandatory bribery and fraud awareness workshop which explains current legislation in this area, assists members to understand their responsibilities under the provisions of the legislation and identifies areas of risk of bribery and fraud within the workplace. This training highlights the statutory protection against dismissal and victimisation provided to whistleblowers under the provisions of the Public Disclosure Act 1998 and provides advice on reporting suspicious activity.

  • Toby Perkins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Toby Perkins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to hold discussions with the Canadian government on future Royal Canadian Air Force procurement policy.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I and my Ministerial colleagues expect to continue to have periodic discussions with the Canadian Defence Minister, once appointed, and relevant colleagues and officials on a range of issues including future Royal Canadian Air Force procurement policy.

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department are from a lower socio-economic background.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    This information is not held.