Tag: Kevan Jones

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.57 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, in which month of 2016 his Department plans to (a) complete its study of the physiological impacts of combat roles in the armed forces on women and (b) announce a final decision on women undertaking the full range of combat roles.

Penny Mordaunt

A final decision is expected to be made before the summer recess. The physiological research programme will inform this decision and its report will be published shortly after.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which government departments and agencies plan to participate in Exercise Joint Venture later this year.

Penny Mordaunt

Defence Exercises such as Joint Venture 16 require the assistance of Partners Across Government to replicate the interoperability and inputs which a deployed Joint Task Force would face on operations. The following Government Departments and agencies have been invited to participate in Exercise Joint Venture: the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, the Stabilisation Unit, Dstl and various Intelligence Agencies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which projects in Kosovo have received funds from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Mr David Lidington

There are 39 projects worth £4,236,948 in Kosovo, funded under the Western Balkans Programme of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) in Financial Year 2015-16. These projects are listed in the attached table. CSSF programme activity in Kosovo has focused on promoting political, economic and security sector reform – including in the areas of rule of law, reconciliation, addressing corruption and increasing cross-border cooperation with Serbia – in order to address the causes of instability and to help support Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic accession path.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the value was of the salvage expenses deducted by Odyssey Marine Exploration from the Government’s share of the silver recovered from SS Gairsoppa.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Odyssey Marine Exploration deducted 29,228,972 US Dollars as salvage expenses from the total value of silver bullion recovered from the SS Gairsoppa.

The question as to whether or not Odyssey Marine Exploration deducted excessive salvage expenses under the contract, which was awarded in January 2010, is disputed between the parties, and would accordingly need to be the subject of legal proceedings in the United Kingdom and possibly also in the United States of America to resolve. This issue is being kept under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps is he taking to ensure that the General Purpose Frigate programme leverages the wider supply chain built up for the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier programme and takes advantage of skills in design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, and assurance resident outside BAE Systems.

Harriett Baldwin

We have begun the initial pre-concept work to take forward the new General Purpose Frigate (GPFF) programme outlined in the White Paper ‘National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015’. The work is in the very early stages and it is too early to say what either the build strategy or the detailed supply chain arrangements may be.

In addition, as part of his work leading the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Sir John Parker will be considering how to balance the GPFF requirement against export opportunities and industrial capacity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has of the out-of-service dates for each of the Vanguard-class submarines.

Harriett Baldwin

The UK’s Vanguard Class submarines will begin to leave service by the early 2030s as the Successor submarines are introduced into service. I am withholding their respective planned out-of-service and in-service dates for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on Rapid Deployment Teams in each year since 2010.

James Duddridge

The running costs, including recruiting, training and exercising the four global Rapid Deployment Team cadres were £633,735 in FY 2011/12, £626,466 in FY 2012/13, £720,731 in FY 2013/14 and £578,832 in FY 2014/15. We have spent £397,913 in FY 2015/16 to date. Due to the introduction of a new financial accounting system in 2010, figures for 2010/11 are not readily available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions his Department has had with Rolls-Royce on the future direction of its nuclear submarine power plant business; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

Ministry of Defence officials regularly meet with suppliers, including Rolls-Royce. Discussions naturally cover both existing contracts and the future landscape of Rolls-Royce’s business interests.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2014.

Anna Soubry

There are no plans to make any amendments to the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what work was undertaken to modify Warthog vehicles for post-Afghan use after the 2013 decision to keep the platform; and what the cost of that work was to the public purse.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Warthog vehicle entered service in 2010 as an urgent operational requirement for use in Afghanistan. Since the end of operations in Afghanistan a range of armoured vehicles purchased specifically for operations in that theatre have been brought into the MOD’s core inventory; the Warthog vehicle was not one of these. The options for disposing of the Warthog are now being considered, including the possiblity of an export route, but no decisions have been taken at this time.

5 and 32 Regiments Royal Artillery will receive the Bulldog armoured vehicle as a replacement for Warthog. 47 Regiment Royal Artillery will continue to use the Coyote armoured vehicle.