Tag: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) UK embassies, and (2) UK consular offices, have been closed since 6 May 2010, and where those closures took place.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), has not closed any Embassies over this period. Operations were suspended in Tehran, Damascus, Tripoli and Sana’a for security reasons. Tehran re-opened in August 2015.

The FCO currently has 268 posts (Embassies, Consulates-General, Consulates, Multilateral Missions and Trade and Investment Offices – Consular Offices are not classed as posts) worldwide. Since 2010 we have opened nine posts: in Juba (South Sudan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), San Salvador (El Salvador), Seattle (USA), Vientiane (Laos), Mogadishu (Somalia), Port au Prince (Haiti), Asuncion (Paraguay) and Wuhan (China). We have also upgraded eight posts: in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Calgary (Canada), Monrovia (Liberia), Recife (Brazil), Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad (India).

Since 2010, we have closed the following Consulates and Consular Offices in Europe and elsewhere:

2010: One: Consulate-General Geneva, Switzerland

2011: Three: Consulate-General Lille, France; Consulate-General Venice, Italy; Consulate Florence, Italy

2012: Three: Consulate-General Basra, Iraq; Consulate Funchal, Portugal; Consular Office Oporto, Portugal

2013: Four: Consulate Pattaya, Thailand; Consular Office, Thessaloniki, Greece; Consular Office, Andorra; Consular Office Willemstad, Curaçao

2014: Two: Consular Offices in Cali and Cartagena, Colombia. The FCO also withdrew its Provincial Reconstruction Team from Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan

2015: Two: Consulate Chiang Mai, Thailand; Consular Office Bodrum, Turkey.

The FCO downgraded the following Consulates-General and Consulates to Trade and Investment Offices since 2010:

2012: Two: Consulate-General Lyon, France; Consulate Naples, Italy

2014: One: Consulate Bilbao, Spain.

Since 2010, we have developed new technology and new ways of working that has enabled us to deliver services differently in some areas. We now have three Consular Contact Centres that take calls from all consular customers, and are able to support around 80 per cent of those calling without further escalation to post, helping to ensure that Consular staff in-country are able to focus their time on those most in need of help. Some services have also been centralised, with customers able to access them by post, and increasingly through digital channels.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have (1) commissioned, or (2) undertaken, an impact assessment on the local economy of the departure of RAF personnel from Leuchars.

Earl Howe

There has not been an impact assessment commissioned or undertaken by the Ministry of Defence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to operate from the UK Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft belonging to (1) the US Navy, or (2) other allied nations, with British crews prior to the first UK P-8s entering service.

Earl Howe

Although a number of options are under consideration to deliver early capability, there are no current plans to operate US Navy P-8A, or those of other Allied nations, from the UK with British crews.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what amount of investment (1) has been made to date, and (2) is estimated to be made, at Leuchars to equip the base for use by army units and associated personnel.

Earl Howe

To date approx £900,000 has been spent on enabling works.

Overall, the plan is to spend £8.5 million at Leuchars as part of the Army Basing Programme.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK service personnel embedded with allied nations maritime patrol capabilities under the Seedcorn Initiative are flying the Boeing P-8 Poseidon; and what are the relevant allied nations in each instance.

Earl Howe

There are currently 20 RAF personnel in the Seedcorn programme operating P-8A, three pilots and 17 mission crew. All are based in the United States.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions since Typhoon aircraft were deployed to RAF Lossiemouth such aircraft were required to use Leuchars as a diversionary airfield; how many such aircraft were involved on each occasion; and what the reasons were for those diversions.

Earl Howe

I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr Francois) on 5 January 2015 to Question number 219126. There have been no further occasions of Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth being required to divert to Leuchars.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions in the last 12 months and from which airfields aircraft of the Quick Reaction Alert have been scrambled, and for what purpose on every occasion.

Earl Howe

Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby launched to intercept aircraft on 12 days in 2015.

I am withholding further details as deterrence is a principal function of QRA and QRA is in turn an integral part of the air defence of the UK. The disclosure of information that might compromise the QRA deterrent capability would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the cost has been to date of all Typhoon Force-related works at RAF Lossiemouth; and what is the most recent estimate of the total cost of facilitating the future operation of the Typhoon Force and the Northern Quick Reaction Alert facility at that base.

Earl Howe

£80.6 million has been committed and will be spent on Typhoon-related works at RAF Lossiemouth. The total cost of facilitating the future operation of the Typhoon Force and the Northern Quick Reaction Alert facility at that base is still being reviewed following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 announcements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with the Scottish Government about the future electrification of the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Lord Dunlop

UK and Scottish Government officials have regular discussions regarding transport policy, and the rail industry is undertaking studies to identify the best value cases for further route electrification in Scotland, England and Wales. The introduction of bi-mode intercity express trains on East Coast Scottish services from 2018 is expected to help the business case for electrification between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Base Optimisation Programme in Scotland has been completed.

Earl Howe

The Basing Optimisation Programme considered the tri-service basing and infrastructure requirements from the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010. In terms of detailed planning and implementation the programme is being delivered through separate projects which are expected to continue until 2021.

As part of the comprehensive Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 the Ministry of Defence committed to reducing our estate by 30%. The plan for this is due to be announced later this year but so far my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mark Lancaster) has already announced this year the disposal of 22 sites.