The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information and communications technology projects his Department has implemented (a) to the original deadline and on budget and (b) after the original deadline and over budget in the last 10 years.
Mr Philip Dunne
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the loudest decibel levels are that are produced by JSF 35B during operations aboard an aircraft carrier.
Mr Philip Dunne
The loudest operation to be conducted by the F-35B onboard an aircraft carrier is a Military Power take-off. The measured aircraft sound level of a Military Power take-off is approximately 145 dB at 135 degrees from the aircraft nose centre line, at a distance of 50 feet from the rear of the aircraft. The Military Power take-off is a standard operating procedure and managing exposure to noise is an integral part of normal embarked operations. This level of noise is similar to that of the Harrier, F18’s, F15’s and the same level as produced by an F-16.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times HMS Hermes docked in Portsmouth Harbour.
Mr Philip Dunne
The number of times HMS Hermes docked in Portsmouth Harbour for maintenance and refit, is shown in the following table.
|
Dates |
Reason |
|
September – November 1960 |
Maintenance |
|
October 1961 – April 1962 |
Refit |
|
October – November 1962 |
Maintenance |
|
November 1966 – January 1967 |
Maintenance |
|
March – May 1968 |
Maintenance |
|
April – August 1969 |
Maintenance |
|
December 1969 – January 1970 |
Maintenance |
|
November 1978 – January 1979 |
Maintenance |
|
March – May 1979 |
Maintenance |
|
November 1979 – January 1980 |
Maintenance |
|
March 1980 – May 1981 |
Refit |
|
December 1981 – January 1982 |
Maintenance |
|
March – April 1982 |
Maintenance |
|
August – November 1982 |
Maintenance |
|
July – August 1983 |
Maintenance |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Skynet 5 satellites can use facilities at West Freugh for data transmission.
Mr Philip Dunne
Skynet 5 does not currently use the facilities at West Freugh for data transmission.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total amount is of the financial risk provision within the Joint Strike Fighter programme budget.
Mr Philip Dunne
The financial risk provision within the UK Joint Strike Fighter Programme has been calculated in line with Ministry of Defence policy. The Department does not publish its financial risk provision as to do so could undermine its commercial position.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to (a) improve the security of humanitarian aid goods and workers and (b) speed up customs processes for humanitarian aid shipments in South Sudan.
Lynne Featherstone
The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to press for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian goods and workers in South Sudan. At the Humanitarian Conference on South Sudan in Oslo on 20 May, which was attended by both the South Sudanese Government and the Opposition, I called on all parties to facilitate safe and speedy access, including accelerated customs clearance. The FCO Minister for Africa raised humanitarian access with senior Ministers when he visited Juba in April.
The UK is also providing practical support to help improve security. For example we are funding well-coordinated and security-aware transportation of goods and staff, including emergency air evacuations, through the World Food Programme Logistics Cluster. We are also supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which works to increase understanding of, and respect for, International Humanitarian Law by all parties to the conflict. UK officials raise our concerns about the humanitarian situation and the need to improve access regularly in Juba and Addis Ababa.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military or civilian personnel in his Department of what rank or grade have been reprimanded for failing to deliver an ICT hosting environment for Capita as part of the Recruiting Partnering Project.
Anna Soubry
No personnel have been reprimanded in connection with the delivery of the Recruiting Partnering Project.
An ICT hosting platform is being provided for Capita.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Ocean will be declared fit to deploy; and when she will depart on Exercise Cougar 14.
Mr Mark Francois
HMS OCEAN is completing refit and will soon put to sea. However, I am withholding precise details of HMS OCEAN’s future programme as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any other aircraft were operating in the area at the time of the collision between the two Tornado aircraft above the Moray Firth on 3 July 2012.
Dr Andrew Murrison
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right Hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Francois) on 3 December 2013, (Official Report, column 639W). It would be inappropriate to comment on any details relating to this incident prior to the publication of the Service Inquiry.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions (a) photographs have been taken of intercepted aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert flights and (b) such photographs have been released to the public in each of the last three years.
Mr Mark Francois
Photographs are routinely taken during Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) interceptions. There is strong public and media interest in the RAF Quick Reaction Alert deterrent capability. MOD policy is to release a limited amount of non-sensitive information on QRA launches, sometimes including photographs. This provides the public with strong examples of how the RAF is able to respond to this kind of incident. It also provides public awareness of the RAF’s ability to defend the UK through the effectiveness of its air defences and to maintain the full deterrence value of the QRA mission. Media enquiries regarding QRA launches also often include requests for photographs.
Consequently, RAF Operations Staffs in coordination with MOD officials, including the MOD Directorate of Media and Communications, will occasionally consider these photographs for public release.
Photographs of a recent QRA mission were released on 25 April 2014. The previous release of photographs of intercepted aircraft from a recent mission was in March 2010; additionally for other QRA information releases in the last three years, MOD have utilised stock images from the Defence Image Library.