Tag: Angus Robertson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel are taking part in the Seedcorn initiative; what the location is of each such member of personnel; with what equipment those personnel are training; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Seedcorn initiative in each of the next two years.

Mr Mark Francois

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 February 2015 to Question 223239, giving the number of personnel, their location, and type of equipment those personnel are training on, as part of the Seedcorn initiative.

The cost of the Seedcorn initiative in financial year 2015-16 is £2.5 million. Funding beyond that date is yet to be determined.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what risk rating was placed on a collision involving a Tornado and another aircraft in (a) 1991, (b) 1998 and (c) 2010.

Mr Philip Dunne

The risk rating placed on a collision involving a Tornado for the years 1991 and 1998 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For 2010 the risk placed on a collision involving a Tornado classifies the severity of Mid Air Collision as ‘Catastrophic’, and the likelihood as ‘Remote’. Nevertheless, we have initiated a programme to fit Tornado aircraft with a collision warning system, which is currently being trialed on two aircraft and a third has been fitted for further development. On current planning, we intend to introduce this capability in stages from later this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost of restructuring the shipbuilding agreement with BAE Systems.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 November 2013, (Official Report, column 696W).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times an RAF aircraft has engaged an enemy aircraft beyond visual range by firing a beyond visual range air-to-air missile in the last 30 years; what aircraft it was fired from; and what the target and missile was in each case.

Mr Mark Francois

RAF aircraft have not engaged any enemy aircraft by firing beyond visual range air-to-air missiles in the last 30 years. The last air-to-air engagement involving UK aircraft took place during the Falklands conflict.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department will spend on the D-5 missile life extension programme in each of the next five years.

Mr Philip Dunne

Forecast and planned expenditure on the D5 missile life extension programme for the current and next financial years (FY) are as follows:

FY 2014-15 £27.1 million (Forecast)
FY 2015-16 £35.0 million (Planned)
Spending plans for 2016-17 and beyond have not yet been agreed and will be set as part of the Government’s spending review process. Therefore, I am withholding details of the proposed spending beyond 2015-16 as to release this information would be likely to impact upon the formulation of Government policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on the Unmanned Sea Vehicle-based Mine Countermeasures Hydrographic Programme Sweep Demonstrator project.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Mine Countermeasures Hydrographic Programme’s sweep demonstrator project is in its pre-contract award stage; spending to date has been on technical preparation activities at a cost of approximately £40,000.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate how much contract overruns in the Aircraft Carrier Alliance have cost the public purse to date.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 November 2013, (Official Report, column 399W). The Major Project Report 2013 reported the cost of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers at £6.102 billion (£6.2 Billion less assessment phase costs that do not fall under the remit of the Major Projects Report).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Shallow Water Influence Minesweeping System was purchased; on what vessels it operated from; whether it is still operational; and what the total cost of the system has been.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Shallow Water Influence Minesweeping System was purchased as an urgent operational requirement in financial year 2002-03 to be operated remotely from Mine Countermeasures Vessels in the Gulf for 12 months, at a cost of approximately £3.5 million. It has been non-operational since 2004.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Military Aviation Authority Regulatory Article 1210 replaced Ministry of Defence Business Procedure 1201 with regards to air safety.

Mr Philip Dunne

Military Aviation Authority (MAA) Regulatory Instruction 02/11, issued on 28 January 2011, mandated a Risk Management framework to support Aviation Duty Holder decision making and replace existing procedures. This was superseded by Regulatory Article 1210 on 1 August 2011.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of the Weapon Handling and Launch System and Submerged Signal Ejector support contract.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Weapon Handling and Launch System support contract, which includes Submerged Signal Ejector support, has an agreed fixed price of £22 million to provide defined technical and logistic support until 31 March 2019. The contract also allows for further tasking of the support contractor by the Ministry of Defence and the purchase of consumable spares when required at an additional cost.