Tag: Julian Lewis

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the original planned date was for cutting steel to begin for the first Type 26 Global Combat Ship; to what date this planned date has been moved; whether the cause of that change was (a) limited capacity of BAE Systems and its sub-contractors to meet the original schedule or (b) a decision to remove a significant sum from the annual T26 budget; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

No firm date has yet been set for cutting steel which will mark the start of the manufacture phase of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (T26 GCS) programme.

For equipment procurement programmes the cost and schedule is set at the main investment decision, and we have not yet reached that decision point.

The approval, in March 2016, of the Extended Demonstration Phase is consistent with the incremental approach to approvals we have adopted for the T26 GCS programme.

During the Demonstration Phase, we will continue to work with industry to re-baseline the programme in order to implement the changes resulting from the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, the investment in Shore Testing Facilities, extending investment in our wider supply chain as well as further developing the detailed design of the ship ahead of the main investment decision and the start of manufacture.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his evidence to the Defence Committee on UK military operations in Syria and Iraq on 1 December 2015, HC 657, Q36, if he will publish a breakdown of the groups comprising the estimated 70,000 fighters in Syria described by the UK government as moderate.

Michael Fallon

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 December 2015 to Question 18014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of by how much the cost of the Type 26 programme is expected to increase for every year that the in-service date for each ship is delayed.

Mr Philip Dunne

For equipment procurement programmes, the cost and schedule is set at the main investment decision, however, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) programme has not yet reached that stage.

As is normal practice for equipment procurement programmes, we have developed a planning assumption that the first Type 26 GCS would come into service in 2022.

We are working with industry to develop an optimised schedule for the Type 26 GCS programme to implement the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. This work is ongoing and will inform the main investment decision.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether fact sheets have been prepared providing (a) supporting detail and (b) timetables for implementation of the proposals set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon

The Ministry of Defence has produced a series of fact sheets offering additional detail on the impact of the Strategic Defence and Security Review on Defence policy, plans, capabilities and organisation. They will be made available on the gov.uk website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the original projected in-service date was for the first Type 26 Global Combat Ship; and what the current projected in-service date is for first such ship.

Mr Philip Dunne

For equipment procurement programmes, the cost and schedule is set at the main investment decision, however, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) programme has not yet reached that stage.

As is normal practice for equipment procurement programmes, we have developed a planning assumption that the first Type 26 GCS would come into service in 2022.

We are working with industry to develop an optimised schedule for the Type 26 GCS programme to implement the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. This work is ongoing and will inform the main investment decision.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 19048, whether a later decommissioning date was specified when HMS Ocean was originally commissioned; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 December 2015 to Question 17860 to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether obligations on private owners to preserve scheduled monuments and listed buildings are applicable to government departments; and what his policy is on fulfilling such obligations.

Mark Lancaster

There is no legal requirement for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), to maintain a listed building or scheduled monument.

The MOD acts in accordance with the ‘Protocol for the care of the government historic estate 2009’. This is mandatory across central government, and can be found via the following link:

https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/protocol-for-the-care-of-the-government-historic-estate/careofgovernmenthistoricestate-2009.pdf/.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 19049, if he will ensure that there will be no gaps in capability between the decommissioning of HMS Ocean and its role being taken over by other ships.

Mr Philip Dunne

We will ensure that other ships are available to provide support to amphibious operations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the value for money of the investment made by the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust from his Department’s reverse premium of £6 million on assets previously transferred; and what investment he expects the proposed further reverse premium of £13 million to attract.

Mark Lancaster

The Ministry of Defence has not made an assessment of the value of the investment made or proposed by the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust. This is a matter for the Trust.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to ensure that (a) the armed policing of civilian-staffed MOD establishments will continue to be undertaken by units which are subject to civil police regulations, accountability and obligations and (b) such units will continue to be responsible for dealing with demonstrators at nuclear establishments.

Michael Fallon

It is Defence policy to use the MOD Police (MDP) as part of security arrangements at establishments where there is an essential requirement for constabulary powers. An ability to deploy appropriate trained and equipped public order capability in response to spontaneous or pre-planned incidents or events remains a core task of the MDP.