Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect international underwater telecommunication cables; and what would be the consequences of a failure to do so.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Sub-sea cables are a critical part of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure connecting the UK to the rest of the world. Working with operators, DCMS ensures their security and resilience. We support industry efforts to enhance the cable networks’ resilience to loss or damage and provide advice and guidance to mitigate the risks posed by physical and cyber threats.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to The Integrated Review 2021, published on 16 March, what will be the level of readiness of the 3rd (UK) Division; and how many days would it take for at least one manoeuvre brigade to be deployed in an operational theatre outside of the European mainland.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

The Army is always ready to fulfil the task of protecting the nation and holds various people and units at different readiness, along with the equipment and stocks required to support them, to enable us to compete against our adversaries, tackle threats at source and reassure allies.

I am unable to disclose further details of the level of readiness of the 3rd (UK) Division, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it will be possible for a fully formed and equipped 3 Commando Brigade to be embarked on shipping that (1) is owned by, or is under the control of, Her Majesty's Government, or (2) that can be made available to Her Majesty's Government (a) whatever the intentional circumstances, and (b) without significant recourse to the United States assets.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

As set out in the Integrated Review, the Royal Marines are now in transition to the Future Commando Force (FCF). The FCF re-designs how Commando Forces operate and fight.

Through one element of this, they will form two Littoral Response Groups (LRG) with associated enablers, including shipping. One LRG will be persistently deployed East of Suez, with an Initial Operating Capability in 2023.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether both of the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers are fully operational and can be deployed simultaneously; and in the event of such deployments, how many aircraft would each ship carry.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES are capable of deploying to protect and enhance the Nation's interests around the globe. The number of aircraft onboard each carrier will be tailored appropriately dependent upon the nature of the tasking. Both aircraft carriers are fully capable of operating a spectrum of Rotary Wing aircraft and Lightning F-35Bs.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what variants of CV12 power packs are fitted to (1) the Challenger 2 tank, (2) the Challenger Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (CHARRV), and (3) the Trojan armoured engineer tank.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

The variants of the CV12 powerpacks fitted to the Challenger base vehicle family are:

A small number of CRARRV vehicles are currently fitted with CV12-5C powerpacks that will be replaced with CV12-6C powerpacks on failure or when the vehicle is attending base workshop, whichever comes first.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the power pack fitted to the new Challenger 3 is (1) a contemporary CV12 engine similar to a 5A, or (2) a CV12 with common rail fuel injection and new engine management system, or (3) something else; and if it is something else, what is its specification.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

The variants of the CV12 powerpacks fitted to the Challenger base vehicle family are:

A small number of CRARRV vehicles are currently fitted with CV12-5C powerpacks that will be replaced with CV12-6C powerpacks on failure or when the vehicle is attending base workshop, whichever comes first.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in rationalising the variants of the CV12 power packs fitted to the various marks and variants of the Challenger 2 tank, including the armoured engineer vehicles.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

Overall powerpack commonality can be only achieved between Challenger 2, Challenger 3 and the Challenger Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle following the identification of a replacement refrigerant to fill the crew temperature control system to comply with the Montreal protocol. A post-design services task has been placed on contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land for this work.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Challenger 3 tank has been trialled by (1) the Armoured Trials and Development Unit at Bovington, or (2) an equivalent establishment; and if so, (a) what track mileage has been covered so far, and (b) with what type of power pack.

Answered by Baroness Goldie

The Challenger 3 programme remains in the early stages of Demonstration and Manufacture, with detailed design work ongoing prior to Critical Design Review. The assembly of initial prototypes will follow along with a detailed trials programme.

Found: ˚e witnesses to this inquiry were: Ł Tuesday 23 March 2021 , Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO

Found: 23 November 2021 Rt Hon Rory Stewart , Former Secretary of State for International Development; The Lord

Found: Rory Stewart, former Secretary of State for International Development, and Lord Richards of Herstmonceux

Found: Rory Stewart, and Lord Richards of Herstmonceux Rory Stewart (Former Secretary of State for International

Found: Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Defence Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Chief of Defence Staff (2010

Found: Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach GBE KCB DL (bearing Curtana, the Sword of Mercy) and General the Lord

Found: Procession) • Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach ( the Sword of Mercy or the Curtana) • General the Lord

? Our session with @RoryStewartUK, Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, @Rudra_81 and @KoriSchake has started. ? Watch live: https://t.co/HfrEmx7T2P

? On Tuesday 23 November from 2.30pm we'll be taking evidence from @RoryStewartUK , Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, @Rudra_81 and @KoriSchake for our inquiry into Government policy on #Afghanishtan ? Watch live: https://t.co/HfrEmx7T2P ? Learn more: https://t.co/CIT6M22Mzp

Found: ” - General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, Former Chief of Defence Staff, UK _________________

Found: ” - General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, Former Chief of Defence Staff, UK _________________