Tag: Lord West of Spithead

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the date for first entry into Portsmouth of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been decided, and if so, what it is.

Earl Howe

Construction of both HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES is progressing in Rosyth. The date for first entry into Portsmouth of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH will be confirmed once the current testing and commissioning has been completed in Rosyth and once contractor-led sea trials have progressed. These trials are planned to complete in 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-06.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the refits of HMS Dauntless and HMS Lancaster will commence.

Earl Howe

On current plans, the refit for HMS LANCASTER will commence in mid 2017 and the refit for HMS DAUNTLESS is scheduled for the end of 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-10-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security implications of the various options for disposal of plutonium.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

We expect the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to submit a report to DECC to support us in our considerations on the policy options in due course. Informed by the advice from NDA, ministers will then make an assessment of the options, and decide on the appropriate next steps. Only when the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, in way that is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, will it be in a position to proceed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-11-30.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to building a further Astute-class submarine after HMS Anson to fill the gap in the building programme at Barrow.

Earl Howe

None. Strategic Defence and Security Review 10 established a coherent build programme through Astute hulls 1-7 (Anson is hull 5) into Successor hulls 1-4. That remains the plan. There is no gap in the build programme.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-12-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 18 December (HL4511), whether the Queen Elizabeth class will always deploy with its fully integrated defence capability.

Earl Howe

The defence capability employed to protect the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be dependent on a variety of factors such as, but not limited to, the specific task, whether it is a national or coalition commitment, threat levels and theatre of operations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-02-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Cabinet Secretary has given direction to the civil service on their involvement in the political debate over the referendum to leave or remain in the EU.

Lord Bridges of Headley

The Cabinet Secretary has provided guidance for the Civil Service on conduct between now and the start of the 28 day pre – referendum period

This letter has been published and is available in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on Gov.uk.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the new body to deliver procurement of the successor submarines will be stood up; whether it has been decided what form the new delivery body will take, and whether the government of the US has been consulted; and whether they will establish that body via primary legislation.

Earl Howe

Options for the new organisations continue to be developed and assessed. We expect to announce further details later this year, once the relevant decisions have been made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the fact that the new Royal Research Ship being built for the British Antarctic Survey is a ship and not a boat, what is their assessment of the suitability of the name Boaty McBoatface for that vessel.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

The feedback from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)’s call-for-ideas for the new Royal Research Ship is being considered by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and NERC. The final decision on the ship’s name will be taken by Government. The name will be submitted for registration to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in line with Regulation 30(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-06.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which five Type 23 frigates will be replaced by the new light frigate, and what are the planned out-of-service dates for each.

Earl Howe

The General Purpose Frigate programme is at a very early stage and the timetable for its entry into service has yet to be determined.

On current planning assumptions the out of service dates for the Type 23 frigates are:

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-10-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government  how many police Counter Terrorism Security Advisers were employed in England and Wales in (1) April 2010, and (2) April 2015.

Lord Bates

Advice and guidance on protective security and preparedness to terrorist threats is provided by specialist Counter-Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) who operate in every police region.

The number of CTSAs in post in England and Wales in April 2010 was 191. The number in post in England and Wales in April 2015 was 146 (this figure includes 4 Counter Terrorism Awareness Advisers dedicated towards the provision of CT awareness advice).

Government aims to have 171 staff in post by the end of 2016/17 (145 CTSAs and 26 CTAAs). These planned changes to resource are for the effective and efficient delivery of future advice and guidance, whilst ensuring they maintain their fundamental role as part of wider police capabilities to safeguard the security of the public.