Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of defence support for the Falkland Islands.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of the requirements for Defence support to the Falkland Islands. I am satisfied that the military presence in the South Atlantic is at the appropriate level to ensure the defence of the Islands.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has taken steps to replenish the UK's uncrewed aerial system capacity in the context of such equipment having been sent in support of Ukraine.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has procured a large amount of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) for Ukraine, including a limited number directly from the UK’s existing inventory, and orders have already bene placed for replenishment of certain gifted-in-kind systems. Due to operational security, we are unable to provide additional detail about specific UAS systems gifted or replenished. We remain committed to providing further UAS to Ukraine and the Prime Minister recently confirmed that, as part of the UK’s £2.5 billion funding to Ukraine for the coming year, £200 million would be earmarked for UAS.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to help ensure that recruitment targets for the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force are met.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 17 January 2023 to Question 8675 to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey).
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of transferring two minehunter ships to Ukraine on the Royal Navy’s minehunter capabilities.
Answered by James Heappey
The Royal Navy continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to meet its operational outputs.
Looking forward, the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme aims to provide a transition from conventional ship-based Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving, to the exploitation of innovative and technically advanced maritime autonomous off-board systems, making the disposal of sea mines safer, more efficient and effective.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the National Audit Office’s report entitled The Equipment Plan 2023 to 2033, published on 4 December 2023.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Whilst the National Audit Office (NAO) report recognises the significant impact global headwinds and extraordinary inflation has had on UK defence, it does not and could not accurately reflect the current or future state of the Armed Forces Equipment Plan as it represents a snapshot in time which predates the Defence Command Plan 2023.
We are working hard to deliver the equipment our Service people need to keep the UK safe. We have therefore increased the budget for the Equipment Plan to £288.6 billion over the next decade.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page eight of the National Audit Office's report entitled The Equipment Plan 2023-2033, published on 4th December 2023, what steps he is taking to increase funding for the Type 32 frigate fleet.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Type 32 programme has not yet reached the level of maturity for full budget allocation. To date, approximately £4 million of concept funding has been spent. This is consistent with a programme of this size and complexity at this stage in its development.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support maritime security in the Red Sea.
Answered by James Heappey
As stated by the Secretary of State for Defence in his Written Ministerial Statement of 19 December; the MOD has bolstered its contribution to maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. HMS DIAMOND is in the region in support of Op PROSPERITY GUARDIAN, a US led international operation established to protect freedom of navigation throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
On 16 December HMS DIAMOND shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle in the Red Sea, the first surface-to-air engagement by a Royal Navy vessel since 1991.
On 3 January the UK and 11 other countries issued a statement condemning the unjustified attacks on maritime shipping through the Red Sea.
On 10 January 2023, the UK and US successfully repelled the largest and most complex attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date. HMS DIAMOND and US warships destroyed multiple attack drones deployed by the Houthis with HMS DIAMOND using Sea Viper missiles and guns.
The UK and allies remain committed to the international rules-based order and are determined to hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks. The UK has condemned the attacks and is willing to take the action needed to protect innocent lives and freedom of navigation.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of Britain's naval presence in the Gulf of Aden; and whether he has plans to deploy more vessels to the region in the context of the security situation in Yemen.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has deployed HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy's most advanced vessels, which will bolster international efforts to protect maritime security in the region. In response to recent developments, the Secretary of State is assessing the UK's regional presence and will take any action deemed appropriate.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to visit the Joint Logistics Support Base in Oman in the next 12 months.
Answered by James Heappey
Oman remains a priority for Defence as one of the UK’s Global Strategic Hubs. The Defence Secretary hopes to visit Oman in the next twelve months, including to see the Joint Support Facility (previously known as the ‘Joint Logistic Support Base’) to further strengthen the UK-Oman defence relationship.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to visit the sovereign base areas in (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia in the next six months.
Answered by James Heappey
The Secretary of State for Defence routinely visits UK Overseas Territories, including the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.