Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to The Government's Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Human Rights Guidance, if he will publish the record of assessments made of human rights risks and military engagement in Sri Lanka.
Answered by James Heappey
We regularly review and update our Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) guidance to ensure that UK assistance and defence engagement is in line with our values and is consistent with our domestic and international human rights obligations.
OSJAs are sensitive documents and disclosure could prejudice the UK's relations with foreign states. If OSJA assessments were to be put in the public domain we would lose the freedom to be completely candid in the assessment, undermining its purpose. OSJA assessments may also draw on material not publicly available that has been provided to the UK "in confidence" and disclosure could affect provision of such information in the future.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans for UK armed forces to participate in joint exercises with the armed forces of The Republic of Korea, Japan and the US in the next two years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Yes.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK troops are currently deployed in the UN Command in the Republic of Korea; and what commitments have been made to increase that commitment in the event of increased tensions or military conflict.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There are currently two employed in United Nations Command Korea staff branches and one in a United States Forces Korea staff branch.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to seek (a) formal participation in the European Defence Agency and (b) attendance at meetings of the Steering Board of that Agency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is leaving the EU but remains committed to European defence and security.
The European Defence Agency (EDA) has a central coordinating role between EU Member States, the European Commission, and countries outside the EU (which must have an Administrative Arrangement with the EDA agreed by all participating Member States) in the development of defence capabilities. The level of future UK cooperation with the EDA forms part of the wider EU withdrawal negotiations.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to establish working relations and formal cooperation with the European Union Satellite Centre after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Decisions on the UK's preferred relationship with the EU Satellite Centre after the UK leaves the EU have yet to be reached. The Ministry of Defence is in discussion with other Government Departments and will not make a decision in isolation.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on lifting the public sector pay cap for members of the armed forces.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Secretary of State for Defence has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on lifting the public sector pay cap for members of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its prime contractors adhere to the Government's procurement practices and guidelines set out for the procurement of UK steel.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Following implementation of the Government's updated policy guidance on steel procurement, the Ministry of Defence has engaged with its prime defence contractors to ensure their support in adhering to the practices and guidelines set out in the policy.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with UK industry on the capability of British suppliers and producers to meet procurement needs for Type 26 frigates.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Responsibility for sourcing steel for the Type 26 Frigates rests with BAE Systems as the contractor. In accordance with Government guidelines on the procurement of steel, the company has run a competition to select a supplier of steel for the programme, and an announcement is expected shortly.
UK steel suppliers have been strongly encouraged to bid in line with the Government's Procurement Policy Notice concerning the procurement of steel for major Government projects. This pipeline is published on GOV.UK. The MOD will continue to carry out early market engagement and forecast our steel requirements for shipbuilding through the UK Government Steel Pipeline.
We expect that around 35 per cent of the steel required to build each Type 26 Frigate will be sourced from UK suppliers in Scotland and Scunthorpe; approximately 1,400 tonnes per ship. For some grades of plate steel needed for the Type 26 Frigates the combination of thickness, size and flatness specifications means that the steel cannot be sourced in its entirety in the UK.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Type 26 frigates announced on 2 July 2017 will be constructed with British steel.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Responsibility for sourcing steel for the Type 26 Frigates rests with BAE Systems as the contractor. In accordance with Government guidelines on the procurement of steel, the company has run a competition to select a supplier of steel for the programme, and an announcement is expected shortly.
UK steel suppliers have been strongly encouraged to bid in line with the Government's Procurement Policy Notice concerning the procurement of steel for major Government projects. This pipeline is published on GOV.UK. The MOD will continue to carry out early market engagement and forecast our steel requirements for shipbuilding through the UK Government Steel Pipeline.
We expect that around 35 per cent of the steel required to build each Type 26 Frigate will be sourced from UK suppliers in Scotland and Scunthorpe; approximately 1,400 tonnes per ship. For some grades of plate steel needed for the Type 26 Frigates the combination of thickness, size and flatness specifications means that the steel cannot be sourced in its entirety in the UK.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether pipeline data has been made available to UK steel producers to ensure that UK defence steel requirements can be met by British steel producers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
This Government is committed to creating the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry. In December 2016 the Government published its future pipeline for steel requirements, indicating the quantities of steel expected to be required for major projects, including defence. This will enable UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts.
Updated policy guidance on Government steel procurement was also published, which the Ministry of Defence has adopted, which encourages the public sector to take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting procurement activities.
The pipeline, together with the updated procurement policy, is published on gov.uk at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-1116-procuring-steel-in-major-projects-revised-guidance.