The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-11-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the first UK-owned P8 Maritime Patrol aircraft will be flying operationally.
Earl Howe
Under current plans, we anticipate that the Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft will enter service in the UK in financial year 2019-20. Exact dates are yet to be agreed between the Department and the US Department of Defense.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether embarked carrier air squadrons will follow the all of one company” rule and operate under the same harmony rules.”
Earl Howe
When necessary to deliver the carrier strike programme, embarked jointly manned F-35B air squadrons will operate to the same harmony guidelines.
Deck qualifications will not be affected by harmony rules.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-01-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Fleet Air Arm pilots of F35B Sea Lightnings are currently fully trained; how many are undergoing training; and how many will be fully qualified when (1) HMS Queen Elizabeth, and (2) HMS Prince of Wales, commissions.
Earl Howe
There is currently one Fleet Air Arm pilot fully trained on the F-35B Lighting II aircraft, with two undergoing training, and this is exactly where we expected to be at this stage of the programme. Over the next 3-4 years, as jointly agreed by the Royal Navy and the RAF, the F-35B programme will train sufficient RAF and Fleet Air Arm Lightning II pilots to deliver a carrier strike initial operating capability in 2020.
The noble Lord will wish to be aware that ‘F-35B Lightning II’ is the designation jointly agreed by the First Sea Lord and the Chief of the Air Staff.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, how much extra money was made available for (1) the Royal Navy, (2) the army, and (3) the Royal Airforce, in 2016–17 and 2017–18.
Earl Howe
The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force operate as fully integrated joint organisations where elements work closely together sharing land, buildings and facilities, and sometimes equipment. The enhancements made in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) reflect their consequent integrated budgetary structure.
The Spending Review 2015 set out plans to fund the SDSR, and confirms the Ministry of Defence (MOD) budget settlement from 2016-17 to 2020-21. The Government has committed to increasing the MOD budget by 0.5 per cent above inflation over the course of this Parliament, and has ensured access to £2.1 billion from the new Joint Security Fund.
We will spend £178 billion on equipment and equipment support over the next decade, £12 billion more than previously planned. This money will be spent on priorities identified by the SDSR, including:
The precise costs of delivering these priorities will depend upon the associated contractual arrangements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 23 March (HL7168), whether they will now state whether there will be more or fewer Royal Navy ships in commission by 2025 than the 57 currently.
Earl Howe
On current planning assumptions there will be at least the same number of warships in service with the Royal Navy in 2025 as at present. However, the aggregate tonnage of the Royal Navy will have increased greatly due to the introduction of the aircraft carriers HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES. Due to the withdrawal from service of HMS GLEANER, an unarmed inshore survey vessel, the Royal Navy will have one fewer non-combat vessel that it does today.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-07-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Maritime Intelligence Centre has any command and control authority over assets available for security of UK territorial seas.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The National Maritime Information Centre (NMIC) facilitates information exchange between government departments and agencies. Command and control of assets is administered by the respective organisations that are represented in the NMIC.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-10-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the planned service life of the Offshore Patrol Vessels Tyne, Severn and Mersey when they were purchased for the Royal Navy in September 2012.
Earl Howe
When HMS TYNE, HMS SEVERN and HMS MERSEY were purchased in September 2012 they had a remaining service life of 11 years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the designed operational life of HMS Vanguard.
Earl Howe
In common with most Royal Navy ships and submarines, the initial operational life planning estimate for the Vanguard class submarines was 25 years. The planning estimates of in-service life for all defence platforms are routinely reviewed and amended when appropriate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of different elements of embarked carrier squadrons working to different harmony rules and whether it will affect deck qualifications such as that for night flying.
Earl Howe
When necessary to deliver the carrier strike programme, embarked jointly manned F-35B air squadrons will operate to the same harmony guidelines.
Deck qualifications will not be affected by harmony rules.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-02-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK personnel have been involved in military targeting planning meetings in Libya.
Earl Howe
We continue to engage with the Libyan authorities to support the UN political process and to counter the growth of extremist groups in Libya, including Daesh. The UK is considering, alongside our partners, how we can best support the new government.