The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Davis on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East to Question 222431, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Reaper User Group terms of reference.
Penny Mordaunt
Discussions with partner nations are continuing about the release of the Terms of Reference of the Reaper User Group.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 221410, when he expects the concept phase of the development of a collision warning system for the Typhoon aircraft to be complete; and when he expects an investment decision to be made.
Mr Philip Dunne
We remain committed to reducing the risk of aircraft-to-aircraft collision through exploiting technology and reviewing operating procedures on Typhoon aircraft.
Two possible equipment solutions have been demonstrated and will be part of formal assessment in the coming months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 6.55 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence Review 2015, what assessment he has made of the Royal Navy’s operational need for an additional two offshore patrol vessels; what estimate he has made of the total cost of each such vessel; and what estimate he has made of the size of crew required by each such vessel.
Mr Philip Dunne
As outlined in the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence Review 2015 (Cmd 9161), we will buy new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to deliver a more modern and capable fleet. These ships will support our destroyers and frigates in delivering routine tasks and to enhance our contribution to maritime security and fisheries protection, working with the Border Force, Marine Management Organisation and other law enforcement organisations.
We have begun the detailed work to take forward the plans to buy the new OPVs. The cost of each vessel and the size of the ships’ companies have yet to be determined.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance the UK has given to the Ministries of Defence and armed forces of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine to help set up a joint multinational brigade.
Mr Julian Brazier
The UK has developed strong relationships with the Armed Forces of Poland Lithuania and Ukraine: we are partners in the Northern Group with Poland; Lithuania is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force; and to-date our UK Armed Forces have delivered 35 courses to train nearly 1,700 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at nine locations in Ukraine and we remain on course to have trained 2,000 troops by April 2016. We have not provided any assistance to the recently announced joint Polish, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian multinational brigade.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Fleet Ready Escort will meet the Russian ship Mikhail Dudin as he passes through the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Penny Mordaunt
I am withholding details of our capabilities and programmes as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he will implement section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 on awards of costs; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Vaizey
As the Secretary of State said on his speech to the Society of Editors on 19th October 2015, "I am not convinced the time is right for the introduction of these costs provisions. Given the changes under way within the industry, the introduction of the new exemplary damages provisions, and the pressures on the industry, I question whether this additional step, now, will be positive and will lead to the changes I want to see". The Government is continuing to consider the matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what the £1 million funding provided to the City of Hull to create a legacy as part of its status as the 2017 UK City of Culture was spent.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Of the £1 million extra funding announced in November 2015, half will support the Hull Culture Company to make the 2017 City of Culture year a sucess, and to produce benefits for the local community beyond 2017, ensuring that arts and culture remain at the heart of the local authority’s strategy, and encouraging young people and hard to reach groups to engage with the artistic programme. The remaining 0.5m of this funding will support the promotion and management of the UK City of Culture 2021 competition.
DCMS is investing £1.5 million in the Ferens Gallery to help them host the Turner Prize that year, and the Gallery will receive a further £0.5m from ACE for refurbishment. Arts Council England is also providing £3.1 million to three ACE-funded organisations -Artlink, Freedom Festival and Hull Truck Theatre – that will play a key role in the 2017 events. Hull Museums, now among ACE’s Major Partner Museums, have been awarded £2.5m between now and 2018; and an extra £3 million from ACE will help raise the profile of culture in the city and promote new partnerships throughout 2017. This amounts to over £11 million and does not include additional investment that may come from other bodies such as the BBC.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all areas of the UK benefit from the award of 2.3 and 3.4 GHz spectrum bands.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The 2.3 and 3.4 GHz spectrum bands are being made available across the UK as part of the Government’s programme of public sector spectrum release. Ofcom takes independent decisions on how to assign spectrum, including whether and how to auction it and the conditions of licences granted. The licence obligation on Telefonica together with the Government’s 2014 agreement with mobile network operators means that by the end of 2017 95% of premises in Scotland will have indoor 4G coverage and complete not-spots for voice and SMS text will halve.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the universal service obligation for broadband was set at 10mb; and if he will make it his policy to increase the minimum universal service requirements to reflect higher levels set in other European countries.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Prime Minister’s announcement of the Government’s intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) and our ambition to set this at 10Mbps, followed assessments of consumers’ broadband needs from a range of sources, including Ofcom’s annual infrastructure reports. This new broadband USO will give people the legal right to request an affordable broadband connection, at a minimum speed, up to a reasonable cost threshold, no matter where they live.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what preparations the Government is making for the auction of 5G spectrum.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Ofcom takes independent decisions on how to assign spectrum. The Government is making spectrum available – including future 5G – through its programme of public sector spectrum release.