The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Boeing Poseidon P-8s acquired by the UK will be compatible with the MQ-4 Triton UAV.
Mr Philip Dunne
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 April 2016 to Question 33058 to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (John Woodcock).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-06-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Dauntless is being used as a harbour training and accommodation ship.
Mr Philip Dunne
The introduction of Engineering Training Ships is an important component of the Royal Navy’s comprehensive programme to improve training and career development opportunities by increasing training capacity.
Ships in the operating cycle immediately ahead of refit will be used to deliver training alongside home Bases and Ports. HMS DAUNTLESS entered this profile in February this year. A reduced Ship’s Company reside on board as normal, augmented by trainees who use the opportunity to gain experience through development activities in a realistic environment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-09-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an Airborne Collision Avoidance System and a Digital Advanced Flight Control System (Low Visibility Landing) were fitted to Puma helicopter XW229 at the time of its crash on 12 October 2015.
Harriett Baldwin
Puma helicopter XW229 was fitted with a dual-duplex Digital Automatic Flight Control System but not an Airborne Collision Avoidance System. The Service Inquiry into the incident involving XW229 is on-going, and the report will be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-11-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2015 to Questions 11484, on Army: Scotland, for what reasons the figures cited for 6 SCOTS and 7 SCOTS do not reflect the general increase in reserve numbers forecast in the Future Reserves 2020 programme.
Mr Julian Brazier
It is assumed that the question relates to the reduction in the establishment figures for 6 and 7 SCOTS. These changes reflect the move to a standard structure for all reserve infantry battalions with three companies rather than four as part of the Future Reserves 2020 programme.
In practice Army Reserve manning levels have been historically below establishment. Actual numbers are now increasing in 6 and 7 SCOTS, as they are across the Army Reserve.
The following table shows the manning levels of the reserve battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, complete with establishment and strength as at April of each year between 2004 and 2014.
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
52nd Lowland Regiment/6 SCOTS |
|||||||||||
|
392 |
452 |
406 |
406 |
406 |
406 |
406 |
406 |
406 |
406 |
367 |
|
|
273 |
278 |
280 |
182 |
216 |
190 |
196 |
186 |
155 |
160 |
188 |
|
|
51st Highland Regiment/7 SCOTS |
|||||||||||
|
557 |
656 |
627 |
471 |
472 |
471 |
472 |
472 |
472 |
472 |
367 |
|
|
390 |
425 |
425 |
338 |
294 |
253 |
262 |
191 |
237 |
205 |
270 |
Unit details are single service estimates only and have not been produced by Defence Statistics.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to build facilities to simulate the possibility of the future F35B Lightning II aircraft operating in austere operating bases.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Ministry of Defence is procuring a Lightning II Integrated Training Centre (ITC) at its main operating base at RAF Marham. The ITC will house full mission simulators with the capability of simulating the full range of bases from which the F-35 may be required to operate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from (a) 6 SCOTS and (b) 7 SCOTS did not attend the minimum number of training days in each year since 2012.
Mr Julian Brazier
There is no minimum number of training days for Army Reservists.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-02-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on whether technology in the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation FC-31 aircraft was stolen or copied from the F35-B Lightning II.
Mr Philip Dunne
I am aware of dated reporting in media that suggests this to be the case. The Ministry of Defence does not comment on such material as to do so would or would be likely to prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and other States.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from 6 SCOTS and 7 SCOTS received the annual bonus for fulfilling the minimum training commitment in each of the last three years.
Mr Julian Brazier
The number of personnel who received a bounty is as follows:
|
Unit |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
|
6 SCOTS |
150 |
120 |
150 |
|
7 SCOTS |
200 |
190 |
190 |
Reserve Personnel receive an annual Bounty if they meet all of the following criteria:
Pass the military annual training tests, attend annual continuous training (annual camp), and attend a specified number of non-continuous training days. This is not an obligatory requirement to be in the Army Reserve, but it is a requirement to receive the Bounty.
The number of training days required varies for each individual depending on the terms under which they enlisted, allows for personal circumstances, and allows for other training to count in lieu of annual camp. All elements are required for the award of a Bounty: therefore some individuals may have met the attendance requirement but have not been awarded a Bounty because they have not met another requirement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-03-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2016 to Question 25356, whether the Traffic Collision Avoidance System fitted to 43 Tornado GR4 aircraft is the Honeywell TCAS II system.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) in use on Tornado GR4 is the Honeywell TCAS II system. We continue to make progess on fitting TCAS to Tornado and 48 aircraft are now fitted with the system. The project is planned to be completed by the end of 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to fit airborne collision avoidance systems to Puma helicopters.
Mr Philip Dunne
I can confirm that Traffic Advisory Systems are currently being installed in all Puma Mk2 aircraft, and this work is due to be completed by the end of March 2017.