Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the role of the new Type 31e frigates to be supplied to the Royal Navy.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster), in the House of Commons on 4 March 2019 to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, (Stephen Morgan) in response to Question number 226207.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many River-class minesweepers, if any, remain in service with the Royal Navy or the Royal Naval Reserve.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No River Class Minesweepers remain in service with the Royal Navy (RN) or the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR).
Twelve River Class Minesweepers were built in the 1980s. Eleven were assigned to the RNR units around the UK, and a twelfth ship was operated by the RN's Fishery Protection Squadron. All 12 ships were decommissioned and sold during the 1990s.
Today, the RN operates a fleet of 13 Mine Counter Measure Vessels (six Hunt Class and seven Sandown Class).
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their General Aviation Strategy, published in March 2015, what steps they have taken to achieve general aviation use of military airfields; and whether they consider their commitments to general aviation in this regard to have been met.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The commitments set out in the 2015 General Aviation Strategy have been met. Ministry of Defence policy remains to encourage General Aviation to have access to military airfields wherever possible. In addition, the RAF Flying Clubs Association provide General Aviation training and scholarships for RAF personnel at fourteen flying clubs based on RAF Stations.
In the Strategy we undertook to update the guidance and increase publicity around General Aviation access to military airfields. Consequently, the RAF website has been updated and now contains consistency of published contact details and Defence Aerodrome Manuals for each Station.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the numerical strength of (1) the Royal Air Force, and (2) the Royal Air Force Reserve.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The following table contains the numerical strength of the Regular and Reserve Forces at July 2018.
| Full Time Trained and Trade Trained Strength | Trained Future Reserves 2020 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 29,154 | 2,774 |
Army | 76,877 | 26,789 |
RAF | 30,276 | 2,557 |
Full Time Trained and Trade Trained includes UK Regulars, Gurkhas and elements of Full Time Reserve Service Personnel.
The figures are published in the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics at the following link:
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the numerical strength of (1) the British Army, and (2) the Army Reserve.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The following table contains the numerical strength of the Regular and Reserve Forces at July 2018.
| Full Time Trained and Trade Trained Strength | Trained Future Reserves 2020 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 29,154 | 2,774 |
Army | 76,877 | 26,789 |
RAF | 30,276 | 2,557 |
Full Time Trained and Trade Trained includes UK Regulars, Gurkhas and elements of Full Time Reserve Service Personnel.
The figures are published in the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics at the following link:
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the numerical strength of (1) the Royal Navy, (2) the Royal Naval Reserve, and (3) the Royal Marines.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The following table contains the numerical strength of the Regular and Reserve Forces at July 2018.
| Full Time Trained and Trade Trained Strength | Trained Future Reserves 2020 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 29,154 | 2,774 |
Army | 76,877 | 26,789 |
RAF | 30,276 | 2,557 |
Full Time Trained and Trade Trained includes UK Regulars, Gurkhas and elements of Full Time Reserve Service Personnel.
The figures are published in the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics at the following link:
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the future of RAF Northolt following the recent announcement concerning a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
RAF Northolt remains a core Station with over 1,800 personnel based across 33 diverse units, from all three of the Armed Forces and wider Government. Alongside 32 (The Royal) Squadron undertaking VIP and operational command support flying, there are many other major units at the station in ground roles including an operational and ceremonial RAF regiment unit, an Army bomb disposal squadron and the British Forces Post Office.
Air Traffic at RAF Northolt already operates in very close co-operation with Heathrow with procedures aligned to ensure that mutual operations can take place safely. The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with Heathrow and National Air Traffic Services on the implications of the third runway to ensure that these mutually safe operations continue. Further work is focused on requirements to revise procedures and enhance co-ordination in future.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the first Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine to enter service.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The first Dreadnought Class nuclear-armed submarine will enter service in the early 2030s.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government whether the Trident replacement programme is on schedule; and if so, when they expect that the first Dreadnought submarine, together with its missiles and systems, will enter service.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Dreadnought programme to replace the four Vanguard Class nuclear-armed submarines is on schedule; HMS Dreadnought, the first of her Class, will enter service in the early 2030s.
Asked by: Lord Trefgarne (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long the central heating and hot water systems at Wellington Barracks have been out of order; and when they expect them to be restored to working order.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The fault with the gas boosters to the boiler supplying central heating and hot water at Wellington Barracks was identified on Monday 23 January 2017 and restored to working order on Thursday 26 January 2017. Electric heaters and mobile hand washing stations were provided in the intervening period.