Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 2017 Defence Equipment Plan Report, published by his Department on 31 January 2018, how much of the planned £44 billion spending on submarines over the next decade will be spent on (a) support for Trafalgar and Astute Class submarines, (b) support for Vanguard Class submarines, (c) the delivery of Astute class submarines and associated activities and (d) building the Dreadnought class submarines and associated activities including the nuclear warhead capability sustainment programme.
Answered by Guto Bebb
The National Audit Office published a landscape review on the Defence Nuclear Enterprise on 22 May 2018. This includes more recent forecasts of expenditure across the enterprise broken down into submarine build, in-service support, and warhead programmes.
The details can be found in figures 3 and 12 of the report which is available at the following link:
https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Defence-Nuclear-Enterprise-a-landscape-review.pdf
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans for the Modernising Defence Programme to assess the (a) safety, (b) affordability and (c) strategic relevance of the Trident nuclear weapons system.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
On 18 July 2016, Parliament decisively supported our commitment to maintain the UK's independent nuclear deterrent. That decision has been taken and that commitment is not under consideration as part of the Modernising Defence Programme.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans for the Modernising Defence Programme to assess the global threat of nuclear proliferation and its effect on UK security.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The Modernising Defence Programme will be informed by the current global security situation and will take into account a comprehensive range of threats, building on the National Security Risk Assessment 2015 and the work conducted across Government for the National Security Capability Review.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans for the Modernising Defence Programme to consider defence diversification and its relevance for the UK defence industry.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The Modernising Defence Programme includes a workstream to modernise the Ministry of Defence's relationship with industry by improving on commercial capability and strategic supplier management.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans for the Modernising Defence Programme to specify how the Dreadnought Programme is to be funded.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The aim of the Modernising Defence Programme is to deliver better military capability and value for money, so that Defence is configured to address the more complex threats we face as well as achieve enduring affordability.
The ultimate defensive and protective capability, our nuclear capabilities, including Dreadnought programme continue to be funded from the Defence budget.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to implement a defence review before 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The Ministry of Defence continues to implement the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. The work conducted through the National Security Capability Review and now, the Modernising Defence Programme will build on this. There are currently no plans to conduct a Defence Review before the next Strategic Defence and Security Review.