Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Institute of Social Innovation and Impact at the University of Northampton The impact and value of school-based cadet forces in the UK, published in March, and whether they plan to increase the number of state schools with a Combined Cadet Force.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We very much welcome the excellent research by the University of Northampton on the impact and value of school-based Cadet Forces in the UK, a study commissioned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The report makes compelling reading for anyone interested in the development of young people. There are many useful insights in the report for school leaders to help support their efforts to seek wider opportunities for all their pupils – and breaking down barriers to opportunity is a core Government mission.
The report illustrates the positive impact that school-based Cadet Forces can have on the young people who join and shows how the ‘cadet experience’ can help them develop self-confidence, teamwork, leadership and resilience.
Given these and many other benefits, we want more young people to be able to become cadets. To this end we are currently reviewing how we can increase both the size and the offer of the Cadet Forces. This work is closely aligned with the Strategic Defence Review, and we have been engaging widely to consider how best to deliver these aims.
The joint MOD and Department for Education Cadet Expansion Programme has already seen a significant rise in the number of state schools with Combined Cadet Forces and we continue to invest in this growth.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether The Equipment Plan 2023–2033, published on 4 December, includes comprehensive cost estimates for the Royal Marines' Future Commando modernisation programme.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Commando Force modernisation programme is delivering a transformational change to the UK's amphibious capability. The programme will be delivered in two investment increments, called OPERATE and FIGHT.
OPERATE will deliver a transformation of 3 Commando Brigade's operational capability on land. This element is fully funded with cost estimates being included in the Equipment Plan 2023-2033.
FIGHT will deliver the additional capabilities required to conduct ship-to-shore operations in a contested maritime environment. Estimates for this increment are not included in the Equipment Plan but will be considered within the 2025 Defence Review investment decisions.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government why The Equipment Plan 2023–2033, published on 4 December, includes full predicted costs for the Royal Navy and RAF but not British Army capabilities required to deliver (1) the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, published in March, and (2) the Defence Command Paper: Defence's response to a more contested and volatile world, published in July.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Equipment Plan 2023-33 is based on data from the close of financial year 2022-23 and does not reflect the policy intent set out in the Defence Command Paper Refresh published this July. The department's operating model, where responsibility for managing the equipment plan is delegated to Top Level Budgets, allows them to have different financial positions and to be at different stages of addressing their financial pressures.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether The Equipment Plan 2023–2033, published on 4 December, includes full predicted costs for their proposed development and acquisition of new ground-launched, long range, precision-guided weapons; and if not, why.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The development and acquisition of new ground-launched, long range, precision-guided weapons are included in the Equipment Plan 2023-2033.
All Land Deep Fires Programme costs have been included except for Land precision strike, for which funding has not yet been committed.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by recent developments in (1) Russian, and (2) Chinese, hypersonic missile technology.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Russia and China continue to progress in the development and deployment of hypersonic missiles and technologies and these weapons pose an increasing threat to international stability.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government by what date they plan to have equipped the Royal Navy surface fleet with adequate capabilities to defend itself from hypersonic missile attack.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Royal Navy is constantly reviewing and updating their offensive and defensive capabilities based upon intelligence and threat analysis.
Due to the sensitive nature of these assessments, it is inappropriate to discuss the specific nature of our capabilities and the operational analysis being conducted