Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the costs of the Government's planned nuclear infrastructure projects at Faslane and Coulport.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The costs of the nuclear infrastructure projects are:
Faslane Nuclear Infrastructure Continuous Availability Project - £507 million
Coulport Infrastructure Continuous Availability Project - £289 million
Faslane Nuclear Support Hub Project - £76 million
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the safety of the Trident nuclear weapons system; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. Nuclear safety has not been compromised.
The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator Annual Assurance Reports for the periods 2015-16 and 2016-17 will not be published as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This does not prevent the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme, nor prevent its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether expenditure for planned nuclear infrastructure projects at Faslane and Coulport will come out of the existing budget for Trident.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Planned nuclear infrastructure projects at Faslane and Coulport are funded separately from the budget for the Dreadnought programme.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether additional funds will be allocated to the Trident replacement programme in the 2017-18 financial year which have not already been budgeted for.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 November 2017 to Question 111415 to the hon. Member for Inverclyde (Ronnie Cowan).
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what specific projects and programmes are scheduled to take place to expand nuclear infrastructure at Faslane and Coulport.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Three current projects to improve infrastructure are currently taking place: Faslane Nuclear Infrastructure Continuous Availability Project, Coulport Infrastructure Continuous Availability Project and the Nuclear Support Hub Project.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the latest reports of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator will be made available for Parliamentary scrutiny.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. Nuclear safety has not been compromised.
The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator Annual Assurance Reports for the periods 2015-16 and 2016-17 will not be published as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This does not prevent the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme, nor prevent its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department is not planning to publish the annual reports of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the Department's priority. Overall, the Defence Nuclear Programme achieves the required standards of nuclear and radiological safety. Nuclear safety has not been compromised.
The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator Annual Assurance Reports for the periods 2015-16 and 2016-17 will not be published as it has been assessed to do so would impact national security. This does not prevent the effective management and independent assessment of the Defence Nuclear Programme, nor prevent its duty holders being held to account, but we cannot accept any compromise of our capabilities in the current security climate.
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 to activate RAF Fairford for use by US visiting forces; and whether he (a) has had or (b) intends to have discussions with the US authorities about the future of RAF Fairford.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The UK and US have routine discussions on all aspects of US Visiting Forces in the UK. RAF Fairford is a US Visiting Forces base which is held in readiness to receive US and NATO forces as required, and proposed deployments to the base are subject to a process of notification and consultation with the Ministry of Defence. In 2015, as part of the US European Basing Review, the US reiterated that RAF Fairford has a viable long-term future supporting US and NATO requirements.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when any member of the Intelligence and Security Committee last visited NSA/NRO Menwith Hill in their capacity as a member of that committee.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The Intelligence and Security Committee does not comment on the details of its work programme. Where appropriate it publishes information on visits it has undertaken in its Annual Reports.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any member of the Intelligence and Security Committee visited the US military bases at Mildenhall, USAF Croughton, USAF Lakenheath, USAF Fairford, USAF Molesworth and USAF Feltwell in the last five years.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The Intelligence and Security Committee does not comment on the details of its work programme. Where appropriate it publishes information on visits it has undertaken in its Annual Reports.