Tag: Douglas Chapman

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.

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 equipped with an (a) magnetic anomaly detector, (b) APS-143C rear mounted radar, (c) APS-153 advanced airborne sensor, (d) AN/APY-10 radar and (e) advanced airborne sensor.

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 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Navy has deployed any unmanned maritime systems for the purpose of (a) anti-submarine and (b) port and harbour security.

Penny Mordaunt

The Royal Navy currently deploys unmanned systems to enhance maritime surveillance and improve situational awareness in a number of air and sea environments.

I am withholding further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has made representations to the Department of Transport on negotiations on the bilateral agreement regulating direct flights between the UK and the People’s Republic of China.

David Mundell

On Tuesday 11 October, following successful negotiations in London, the UK Government announced an agreement between the UK and China to more than double the number of flights allowed to operate between the two countries, lifting all limits on cargo services and the number of destinations that can be served. Transport Scotland and representatives from both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were present at these negotiations, and the agreement will provide economic opportunities right across the UK, including Scotland.

Visits from China to the UK are on the increase, with 2015 figures up 46% on 2014 to almost 270,000, and spend rising by 18% to £586 million during that same period. This moves China into the UK’s top 10 most valuable inbound markets, and provides yet another positive example that it is a strong United Kingdom with a strong global voice that is the union which matters to Scotland.