Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will revise the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy to reflect trends in the level of nuclear threats to the UK.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS) has reinforced the need to consider industry as a capability in its own right, and ensure closer and earlier dialogue with industry. DSIS set out in detail where there is a strategic imperative for industrial capabilities to reside in the UK, including those capabilities relating to nuclear warheads and submarines, and the Government has already committed to a once-in-two-generations programme to modernise our nuclear forces.
We will review the DSIS alongside the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper refresh and will decide as part of that process whether a new publication is warranted.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to publicise the continuing obligations of discharged service personnel under the Official Secrets Act.
Answered by James Heappey
Obligations to the Official Secret Acts is lifelong and Personnel are reminded of this upon their departure from Defence. Ministry of Defence (MOD) works with Defence Industry to ensure that these reminders continue for those personnel that seek future employment in the private sector.
In relation to the recent threat alert regarding the threat alert on RAF pilots being recruited to train Chinese fighter pilots, we have no evidence that anyone has breached the high threshold of the OSA, but if any evidence were to be forthcoming, we would not hesitate to bring criminal charges. The Department takes this matter extremely seriously and are actively taking measures to deter future recruitment. We are engaging with the individuals already involved to ensure they are fully aware of the risk of prosecution under the Officials Secrets Act.
In cases where the MOD has identified personnel who may be tempted by the offer, we have undertaken a range of measures to remind them of their obligations under the Official Secrets Act, as well as taking action to mitigate any potential damage. By going public, we want to encourage increased reporting of any approaches and to deter anyone who may be considering an offer. Current serving personnel are also being given unequivocal advice about the unacceptability of such activity.
Additionally, we have issued an alert to the UK Defence Industry to make them aware, requesting that they communicate the threat to their personnel, to ensure that the alert is as widely disseminated as possible to any potential recruitment targets.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will issue guidance to service personnel on discharge concerning their continuing obligations under the Official Secrets Act.
Answered by James Heappey
We have procedures that ensure staff are regularly reminded of their obligations while in Service. Personnel are then reminded of their ongoing obligations under the Official Secrets Act upon their departure from Defence. If there is any evidence that personnel breach the Official Secrets Act we would not hesitate to bring criminal charges.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help provide mental health support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Answered by James Heappey
We continue to tailor the training we are providing to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to meet their needs. Following a recent reassessment of critical AFU training requirements, UK-based training for Ukrainian soldiers has been expanded and increased in duration. To date, mental health programmes have not been formally or specifically requested by the AFU within their requirement for rehabilitation or military training.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with references to threats made by Russia to UK security, if he will enhance mobile and physical security checks at (a) military and (b) other government facilities.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on our security arrangements on national security grounds. We take the security of our people, assets and sites extremely seriously and have robust measures in place to ensure the integrity of the Defence Estate. These measures are kept under constant review and adjusted according to the threat. The security of other government facilities is the responsibility of their respective ministers and Permanent Secretaries.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the timetable for expanding RAF Cosford training facilities to develop the new Centre for Training Excellence.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The situation has not changed since the answer I provided the hon. Member on 28 April 2022 to Question 158902.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the replacement of the UK's nuclear warhead upgrade programme.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The programme to replace the UK's Sovereign Nuclear Warhead continues to progress and, following approval of the Strategic Outline Case in September 2021, has now entered its concept phase.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the Dreadnought programme as part of the UK's strategic nuclear defence.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
On 9 May 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced entry into the next and most significant phase of the Dreadnought programme, known as Delivery Phase 3 (DP3), and has committed over £2 billion in initial contracts with its Alliance Partners, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce.
DP3 will include commitments to see the First of Class, HMS Dreadnought, exit the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard for sea trials so that she will be ready for patrol in the early 2030s. DP3 will in addition lay the foundations and progress the work for the delivery of the remaining three Dreadnought boats.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish his plans for the expansion of RAF Cosford.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Ministry of Defence continues to develop its plans for expansion at RAF Cosford, which remains a core site for Defence. Final decisions are still to be taken, but we will confirm our plans in due course.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish his timetable for the introduction of the Challenger 3 tank into service with the British Army.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Challenger 3 is scheduled to enter service in 2027. The next major milestone is the Critical Design Review in late 2022.