Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the long-term importance of Team Tempest to the British economy after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
An assessment of the long-term importance of Team Tempest to the British economy is part of the existing and ongoing work in the Combat Air Acquisition Programme Concept Phase. This will inform the Programme Outline Business Case, due in December 2020 to allow the Government to make informed decisions.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the UK's sovereign ability to manufacture complete military jets in the event that the manufacture of Hawk aircraft in the UK ceases.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The 2018 UK Combat Air Strategy along with the £1.9 billion Ministry of Defence investment in the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative will help support the skills, capability and capacity that provides combat air freedom of action and operational advantage as well as sustaining choice as to how a next generation combat air system is delivered.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the RAF's (a) training resources and (b) number of training aircraft.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
RAF flying training is provided through a combination of contractor and internal Ministry of Defence training resources including light aircraft and helicopters, simulators, multi engine aircraft, through to Hawk T2 fast jets. The resource required for all training needs is constantly reviewed in light of changing frontline demands. However, it remains the case, that the flying training pipeline continues to offer sufficient trained aircrew for our current frontline commitments.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2019 to Question 231436 on Weeton Barracks, what assessment he has made of the effect the recently announced delay to the closure of Fulwood Barracks on that timescale.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Work is ongoing to establish what impact the delayed closure of Fulwood Barracks may have on the timescales of relocating of HQ North West to Weeton Barracks. We will provide further updates as plans develop.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for developing Weeton Barracks into HQ North West as part of the 2016 Strategic Defence Estate Review.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24 May 2018 to Question 146209.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the Typhoon and F-35 to deliver the full spectrum of weapons capabilities currently provided by Tornado; and what plans he has to fill the capability gap in the meantime.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
There will be no capability gap when Tornado retires from service in March 2019. The timetable to deliver the full spectrum of weapons capabilities currently provided by Tornado to other platforms was completed on time and on budget in 2018.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the findings of the IHS Markit report published on 6 February, that the UK will become a net defence importer by 2024 and the fifth largest global market for defence imports.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We are committed to creating the right conditions for a thriving UK defence industry and our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy outlines steps to help UK industry grow and compete, while affirming the UK's commitment to open competition and free, fair and responsible trade.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with industry to identify new opportunities to export and support both national capability and the UK Prosperity Agenda. Open competition remains our default procurement approach as we seek to source the best capability for our Armed Forces. Nonetheless, even where MOD does acquire defence equipment from overseas at significant value for money to the taxpayer, this often provides important benefit in terms of domestic partnership to UK industry.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve recruitment in the Armed Forces.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
We are committed to maintaining the overall size of the Armed Forces. The Services are meeting all their current commitments. To help address Armed Forces manning challenges the Ministry of Defence has introduced its Armed Forces People Programme to modernise the employment offer including scope for flexible working and a new Forces' Accommodation Model. The individual Services have also implemented a wide range of programmes including:
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultations his Department has held with local residents on the upcoming expansion to Weeton barracks.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced its intention to expand Weeton Barracks in the estate optimisation strategy "A Better Defence Estate" in November 2016. Defence is delivering this work through the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme (DEOP), with timescales looking out to 2040. Given the scale of the DEOP, and the fact that it will be delivered over 25 years, plans continue to be refined to best support operational capability. The MOD's intent remains the delivery of a regional light infantry centre in Blackpool, which will include the future relocation of HQ North West from Fulwood Barracks to Weeton Barracks. As part of this work, Defence will engage fully with Local Authorities and wider community from an early stage and will follow the normal statutory planning process regarding its redevelopment. Parliament will continue to be updated regularly on our plans.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government has taken to improve infrastructure in the local area for the upcoming expansion of Weeton barracks.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced its intention to expand Weeton Barracks in the estate optimisation strategy "A Better Defence Estate" in November 2016. Defence is delivering this work through the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme (DEOP), with timescales looking out to 2040. Given the scale of the DEOP, and the fact that it will be delivered over 25 years, plans continue to be refined to best support operational capability. The MOD's intent remains the delivery of a regional light infantry centre in Blackpool, which will include the future relocation of HQ North West from Fulwood Barracks to Weeton Barracks. As part of this work, Defence will engage fully with Local Authorities and wider community from an early stage and will follow the normal statutory planning process regarding its redevelopment. Parliament will continue to be updated regularly on our plans.