Tag: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their most recent estimate of the unit cost of the UK’s F-35Bs has been revised (1) upwards, or (2) downwards, as a result of updated information provided by the US Joint Strike Fighter programme.

Earl Howe

We continue to see a reduction in aircraft unit costs which is in line with the estimates shown in the annual US Selected Acquisition Report. The UK’s F-35 programme remains within its cost approval limit as detailed in the National Audit Office Major Projects Report 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to acquire Zephyr high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, and if so, for what purpose.

Earl Howe

As part of our commitment to providing next-generation battlefield intelligence capabilities to the UK Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence has contracted for the demonstration of two Zephyr Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. This contract will allow the UK to understand whether Zephyr can fulfil the requirement for high-altitude persistent surveillance capability as announced in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-10-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are proposing to introduce a new towed artillery system; and if so, what that system will be.

Earl Howe

The Army is undertaking a scoping project known as ‘Medium Wheeled Gun System’ to examine 155mm calibre towed and wheeled self-propelled options to provide a medium weight fire support capability within the future Strike Brigades. At the concept stage it was previously known as Strike 155; no decisions regarding the choice of system have yet been taken.

Project Congreve was a study conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and initiated in 2014. Its objective was to determine options for all future surface-to-surface fire systems capability. The work on the Medium Wheeled Gun System has been informed by Project Congreve and the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most recent estimate of the in-service date for the F-35B aircraft.

Earl Howe

UK F-35B Lightning II Initial Operating Capability remains on schedule for 2018.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the contract with Affinity Flying Services Limited to provide fixed-wing flying training will be fully operational.

Earl Howe

Full course capability for the fixed-wing flying training service will be achieved by the end of 2019.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consequences for the proliferation of nuclear weapons of the underground test of a nuclear device by North Korea on 6 January.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK strongly condemns the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 6 January, in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and international norms. This provocation endangers regional and international security. We are currently working with other UN Security Council members on further measures in a new Resolution, while continuing to urge the rigorous implementation of sanctions by the international community.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-03-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish the results of the review of the UK’s National Security Through Technology strategy.

Earl Howe

The Government remains committed to the principles of the National Security Through Technology White Paper, which was reviewed as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. We will work to refresh our defence industrial policy and take further action to help the UK’s defence and security industries to grow and compete successfully. We are still considering the form and timing of a refreshed industrial policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-01-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions they have drawn from the document Future Operating Environment 2035 published by the Ministry of Defence on 14 December 2015.

Earl Howe

Whilst formally released outside the Department in December, the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC) published the "Future Operating Environment 2035" (FOE35) internally so that it was available throughout the SDSR period. FOE35 was a source of information on the threats and challenges that Defence would be asked to address in the future. Consequently, SDSR decisions were informed by the Future Operating Environment work and, in particular, the need to focus on being more agile and innovative. The Ministry of Defence continues to consider how the future operating environment will shape the business of Defence. DCDC will take this work forward as it develops the Defence Joint Operating Concept and the Joint and environmental future operating concepts in 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-03-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role they are considering for the use of off-board systems as part of the UK’s Mine Counter Measures capability.

Earl Howe

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 8 March 2016 to Question number HL6439, in which I noted that the Royal Navy recognises the operational benefits of unmanned off-board systems. The application of such systems to mine countermeasures capability (MCM) will be included in the Royal Navy’s considerations.

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the Thales Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle to come into full service.

Earl Howe

The Watchkeeper Tactical Remotely Piloted Aircraft System was brought into service with the Army in 2014 and subsequently deployed to support operations in Afghanistan. Full operating capability is forecast to be achieved in the second quarter of 2017.