Tag: Douglas Chapman

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish an updated timetable for commencing the building of the first T26 Global Combat Ship.

Mr Philip Dunne

We are working with industry to develop an optimised schedule for the T26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) programme. As part of this, on 22 March 2016, we announced that agreement had been reached with BAE Systems on the award of a contract to extend the T26 GCS Demonstration Phase to June 2017.

In addition to maturing further the detailed ship design, investing in Shore Testing Facilities, and extending our investment in the wider supply chain, this extension to the Demonstration Phase will allow us to continue the work to develop a revised baseline for the programme.

The timing of the award of the contract to build the Type 26 Global Combat Ships will be central to this re-baselining work and, in due course, a revised programme will be produced and considered through the normal investment approvals process. An announcement on the timing of the award of a T26 GCS build contract will be made at the appropriate time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many MSI-DSL 30mm guns will be mounted on HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Mr Philip Dunne

In December 2003 a competition was launched to provide the Royal Navy with an improved defensive anti-surface warfare capability with the preference being for an automated 30mm gun system. A number of companies entered the competition, and the MSI ‘Seahawk’ system was eventually chosen on the basis of cost, capability and through life support. The MSI weapon system, now referred to as the Automated Small Calibre Gun (ASCG) System, was subsequently selected for fitting to HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Four ASCGs will be fitted on QUEEN ELIZABETH.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budgeted expenditure is in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18 on facility improvements at Barrow-in-Furness to support the Trident renewal programme.

Mr Philip Dunne

The infrastructure and facilities investments being made at the Barrow-in-Furness and Faslane sites are for all our submarines not just the Successor programme. I am withholding internal Ministry of Defence forecasts on future programme expenditure as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice on-going commercial negotiations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the in-service dates are for the River-Class Offshore Patrol Vessels currently under construction on the Clyde.

Harriett Baldwin

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given in the House of Lords on 12 September 2016 by my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence, the right hon. Earl Howe to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead to Question HL1533.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Fleet Ready Escort met the Russian Navy Research Vessel Yantar as it passed through UK waters; and what other assets were used to monitor the Yantar once inside the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Penny Mordaunt

The designated Fleet Ready Escort was not activated on this occasion, but remained available at high readiness. There are always a number of Royal Navy units available in UK waters at any one time and, if it is appropriate, one of those units could be reprioritised to undertake a required task. In this case, HMS Severn was better placed to respond, and it made the most operational sense for her to undertake this task.

I am withholding further 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 Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 11 of the Op HERRICK (Afghanistan) Aircraft Statistics document, published on 29 October 2015, how many of the 68 strikes made using the Dual Mode Brimstone missile during operation HERRICK were completed with the aid of ground-based HUMINT.

Penny Mordaunt

We do not comment on intelligence matters I am therefore withholding the 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 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the purpose was of the visit of his officials to the USS Ronald Reagan on 8 January 2016; and what the rank of the visiting officials was.

Michael Fallon

The purpose of my visit to the USS Ronald Reagan was to share US thinking about security challenges in North and Southeast Asia. I was accompanied by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, the Director General for Security Policy, the UK Ambassador and the Defence Attache.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many movements of nuclear material there have been on roads in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Penny Mordaunt

It is Ministry of Defence policy not to comment upon the frequency or routes used by nuclear material convoys, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security. Nuclear material convoy movements are kept to the minimum necessary to maintain the operational effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on which Royal Navy ships were repairs carried out from March 2011 following the review of electrical and propulsion systems; and what the cost of those repairs was.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Independent Power and Propulsion System Performance Review, dated March 2011, highlighted sixteen recommendations to improve the reliability of the Type 45 Destroyer’s Power and Propulsion system. Fourteen of the recommendations have been completed across the class.

The remaining two recommendations, involving modifications to existing training procedures and documentation, have been incorporated into day to day business.

Implementation of these recommendations has directly contributed to an improvement in reliability.

All but one of the fourteen tasks were implemented under the Type 45 Destroyer Contract For Availability (CFA) arrangement with BAE Systems, at no additional cost to the Ministry of Defence.

The only task not covered under the CFA contract cost a total of £24,000 for the six Type 45 ships.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a copy of DCDS(MilCap)/14/06/11, dated 18 June 2014, was presented to the Procurator Fiscal.

Penny Mordaunt

A copy of the document was placed in the Library of the house on 20 March 2015 in response to Question 227404. Ministry of Defence (MOD) records suggest that it was not asked for by or provided directly to the Procurator Fiscal. The MOD routinely provides support to the Procurator Fiscal as required in order to support their investigations.