The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the embarked carrier air wing of Sea Lightnings, Merlins, Crowsnest aircraft, and Wildcats will be under Maritime Task Force command.
Earl Howe
Command of embarked aircraft 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 2016-01-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 5 January (HL4757), at what range from an airbase could UK land-based fighter aircraft provide constant air cover for one of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
Earl Howe
The range would be variable and dependent on a number of factors, such as: the geographical location of the theatre of operation; basing options available; the threat level being faced; the specific task in question, and types and numbers of assets available. Precise ranges and specific capabilities cannot be disclosed for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when repairs to the main generating capability of the six Daring Class destroyers will be completed.
Earl Howe
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 8 February 2016 to Question number HL5630 to Lord Campbell of Pittenweem.
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 (HL6982), how much extra money has been added to the budgets of (1) the First Sea Lord, (2) the Chief of the General Staff, and (3) the Chief of the Air Staff, in (a) 2016–17 and (b) 2017–18.
Earl Howe
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 23 March 2016 to Question HL6982.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-07-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are investigating the use of University Royal Naval Unit craft and the Maritime Volunteer Service to increase the number of platforms available for security of UK territorial seas.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Border Force and its partner organisations are well prepared to counter attempts by migrants to use small boats to circumvent border security and enter the UK illegally. A number of counter-measures have been put in place to detect and deter this activity, including the coordination of maritime security assets, so that maximum coverage at sea is delivered that ensures assets are in the right place at the right time.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 September (HL1532) stating that HMS Ocean had an expected in service life of 20 years and would be paid off at the end of 20 years’ service, what was the expected in service life of HMS Vanguard and HMS St Albans when designed, and at what age they are expected to be paid off.
Earl Howe
The Type 23 frigates entered service with an anticipated service life of 18 years for each ship. A Type 23 sustainment programme, comprising a series of long-term planned upgrades, aligned with routine maintenance, has permitted the service life of the class to be extended so that HMS St Albans, which entered service in 2001 has a current Out of Service Date of 2035.
For HMS Vanguard, I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to him on 7 December 2015 (Question HL4046). HMS Vanguard entered service in 1993 and is planned to remain in-service until the Successor submarines are introduced into service in the 2030s. I am withholding their respective planned Out of Service and In Service Dates as their disclosure would be prejudicial to national security.
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.