Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the defensive performance of the Ukrainian armed forces, what plans they have to review the doctrines of the UK military.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
We keep our doctrine under regular review to ensure it remains relevant to the challenges of today. Analysis of current events, such as the illegal and unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia, is a key tenet of that review process.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in light of the conflict in Ukraine, what plans they have to increase the quantity of UK defensive war stocks.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps weapons stockpile levels and requirements under constant review, balancing current holdings against threats, availability, industrial capacity and evolving technology. This is especially true in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, and these considerations have also informed the numbers of munitions granted in kind to the armed forces of Ukraine. The Department is fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure that all munitions stocks granted in kind to the armed forces of Ukraine are replaced as expeditiously as possible. For reasons of safeguarding operational security, it would be inappropriate to discuss timelines or numbers at this stage in relation to any orders placed with industry. The MOD continuously reviews the capability required to counter threats and monitors the global security situation, including in Ukraine, to ensure appropriate levels of operational readiness.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to place orders with (1) UK, and (2) any other, manufacturers to replace war stocks (a) supplied, and (b) promised to Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps weapons stockpile levels and requirements under constant review, balancing current holdings against threats, availability, industrial capacity and evolving technology. This is especially true in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, and these considerations have also informed the numbers of munitions granted in kind to the armed forces of Ukraine. The Department is fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure that all munitions stocks granted in kind to the armed forces of Ukraine are replaced as expeditiously as possible. For reasons of safeguarding operational security, it would be inappropriate to discuss timelines or numbers at this stage in relation to any orders placed with industry. The MOD continuously reviews the capability required to counter threats and monitors the global security situation, including in Ukraine, to ensure appropriate levels of operational readiness.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which nations participated in the Royal Navy’s "Thursday Wars" during 2020.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Royal Navy's 'Thursday Wars' are weekly war-fighting and damage control exercises held during Fleet Operational Sea Training.
Norway, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark participated during 2020.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence’s single-source 20-year support contract for E-7 Wedgetail AWACS system meets the revised conditions on wider public value as set out in HM Treasury's Green Book 2020, last updated on 3 December; and if so, how.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not yet entered into a support contract for the RAF E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. On 3 December 2020 the MOD published a Voluntary Transparency Notice outlining its intention to place such a contract in the future, and promoting potential sub-contracting opportunities. Before entering any contract, proposals are subject to rigorous scrutiny and approvals processes to ensure that they represent value for money for the UK taxpayer and are compliant with Departmental and Government policy, including the Green Book.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many E-7 Wedgetail AWACS systems they plan to procure; and what is the anticipated delivery timescale of each such system.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
In March 2019, HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence approved the procurement of five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, however, discussions regarding the final E-7 Wedgetail fleet size are on-going with a decision expected in the first half of this year. The first UK E-7 Wedgetail is expected to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2023.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what cost savings they have achieved to date through the TyTAN Typhoon aircraft programme; and where any such savings have been reallocated.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The 10-year £2.14 billion Typhoon Total Availability Enterprise support contract was awarded to BAE Systems in July 2016 and represents a saving of 38% compared to previous arrangements. To date, more than £500 million of savings have been realised and recycled to fund Typhoon capability upgrades over the next ten years.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what NATO and EU exercises the Ministry of Defence intends to participate in during 2021.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The following list represents planned UK involvement in NATO exercises for 2021:
DYNAMIC GUARD 21/1
DYNAMIC MOVE 21/1
DYNAMIC MANTA 21
RAMSTEIN AMBITION 21
DYNAMIC MASTER 21 (postponed from 2020)
FORMIDABLE SHIELD 21
STEADFAST DEFENDER 21
DYNAMIC MOVE 21/2
DYNAMIC MASTERMIND 21
DEFENDER EUROPE 21
NOBLE JUMP
DRAGON READY
DYNAMIC MARINER 21
STEADFAST JACKAL 21
CYBER COALITION 21
NOBLE PARTNER
TIMBER EXPRESS
JOINT COOPERATION
IRON THUNDER
Attendance at all these exercises will be COVID restriction dependent.
The UK will not be participating in any EU exercises during 2021.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they next intend to participate in the Baltic air-policing mission.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK remains committed to the security of the Baltic region including in the Air domain. We cannot comment on future operational deployments.
Asked by: Lord Moonie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many advance payments have been made to defence contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic by (1) total value, and (2) number of recipients.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been working closely with its suppliers during the Covid-19 pandemic to support them at this difficult time. In accordance with Government procurement guidance, the MOD has to date approved interim payments of £124 million to ensure that critical defence outputs can continue uninterrupted. £86 million of this was to 31 UK suppliers. The remainder have been made under Foreign Military Sales arrangements.
The MOD has also engaged directly with more than 600 of its critical suppliers to enhance our understanding of supply chain resilience.