Tag: Sir Nicholas Soames

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on delivering reforms agreed at the NATO Summit in Wales in 2014.

Mr Julian Brazier

Good progress is being made towards delivery of the commitments made at the Wales Summit. The UK is taking a leading role in the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan with delivery of a capable and effective UK-led Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) Brigade in 2017 well on track. The Defence Investment Pledge to spend 2% of GDP on Defence, and 20% of that on equipment, has been met by the UK and some others. Enhanced partnership cooperation across many of NATO’s partnership frameworks and the Defence Capacity Building Initiative is steadily progressing. These commitments will be reviewed at the NATO summit in Warsaw in July, as part of NATO’s move to being "adaptable by design".

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what facilities are currently available to the Royal Navy in the Far East.

Penny Mordaunt

When deploying to the Far East Royal Naval vessels would normally have access to the port facility of the nation that they visit during the deployment.

In addition, the United Kingdom operates a jetty and fuel depot at Sembawang in Singapore as part of our commitment to the Five Powers Defence Arrangements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in NATO Transformation.

Mr Julian Brazier

Good progress is being made since Wales on transforming NATO’s ability to respond to the range of challenges the Alliance faces. NATO’s new political guidance gives the Alliance the flexibility to plan for and adapt to the threats that it may face, including from Cyber and Hybrid attacks. The Readiness Action Plan, agreed at the Wales Summit, established the NATO enhanced Response Force, which will enable NATO to respond quickly, efficiently and effectively to the evolving and emerging threats. In support of this, the UK will lead a multinational force that includes up to 3,000 UK personnel as Framework Nation for NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force in 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with which Commonwealth countries the UK has (a) defence arrangements and (b) training and co-operation agreements.

Mr Julian Brazier

Commonwealth countries with which the UK has formal defence arrangements are:

Australia

Bahamas

Botswana

Brunei

Canada

Cyprus

Guyana

India

Kenya

Malaysia

Malta

New Zealand

Nigeria

Pakistan

Seychelles

Singapore

South Africa

Tanzania

Commonwealth countries with which the Ministry of Defence has training and cooperation agreements are:

Australia

Belize

Botswana

Brunei

Canada

Cyprus

Ghana

India

Jamaica

Malaysia

Malawi

Mozambique

Namibia

New Zealand

Nigeria

Pakistan

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Singapore

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage more people to become practice nurses.

Ben Gummer

In October 2015 Health Education England (HEE) published the first ever General Practice Nursing Service Education and Career Framework and accompanying HEE Education Commissioning Specification. This framework is founded on the need to develop the capacity and capability of general practice nurses.

Health Careers, part of HEE, also actively promotes all healthcare careers, including practice nursing. Information about a career in practice nursing is available through its website, literature and helpline. This includes information about the benefits of being a practice nurse, the education and training needed and real-life stories from current practice nurses.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the structure is of NHS Property Services and to whom they report.

George Freeman

NHS Property Services is a limited company, registered at Companies House, and 100% owned by the Secretary of State for Health, to whom it is accountable.

It is governed by a company Board consisting of a Chair, Chief Executive and an appropriate mix of executive and non-executive directors, including a Departmental ‘shareholder representative’ director.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to build smaller warships.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 announced our intention to build two further Offshore Patrol Vessels, in addition to the three already under construction on the Clyde. In addition, work has already begun on the development of the lighter, flexible, General Purpose Frigates, but it is as yet too early to provide details of the timing, form and capability of these vessels. They will be designed to be capable, more attractive to a wider export market and will allow us to increase the number of frigates and destroyers. The means for achieving this will be outlined in the national Shipbuilding Strategy, which is due to report by the end of 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks are held in reserve in the UK.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Challenger 2 is a highly capable Main Battle Tank and sits at the heart of the Army’s war fighting Armoured Infantry Brigades and is a key part of the UK’s capability. The current Challenger 2 fleet consists of 227 main battle tanks all of which would be available for operational use if required.

The following Regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps are equipped with Challenger 2: The King’s Royal Hussars, Tidworth; The Queen’s Royal Hussars, Germany and The Royal Tank Regiment, Tidworth. We do not routinely comment on specific levels of readiness and locations for individual capabilities as to do so would compromise operational security, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

As at May 2016 the Challenger 2 fleet was assessed to meet 100% of the fleet size and deployability requirements as set out in the 2015-16 Army Readiness Order.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what will comprise a Carrier Escort Group in respect of (a) air-defence, (b) counter-mine and (c) anti-submarine escorts.

Penny Mordaunt

The Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Aircraft Carriers will operate as part of a Maritime Task Group, tailored to specific operational requirements, including any potential threats from land, air or sea.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Nicholas Soames on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps are equipped with the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank; and what the allocation is to each such regiment of such tanks.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Challenger 2 is a highly capable Main Battle Tank and sits at the heart of the Army’s war fighting Armoured Infantry Brigades and is a key part of the UK’s capability. The current Challenger 2 fleet consists of 227 main battle tanks all of which would be available for operational use if required.

The following Regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps are equipped with Challenger 2: The King’s Royal Hussars, Tidworth; The Queen’s Royal Hussars, Germany and The Royal Tank Regiment, Tidworth. We do not routinely comment on specific levels of readiness and locations for individual capabilities as to do so would compromise operational security, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

As at May 2016 the Challenger 2 fleet was assessed to meet 100% of the fleet size and deployability requirements as set out in the 2015-16 Army Readiness Order.