Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) fiscal and (b) economic conditions have to be met for defence spending to be raised to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government’s aspiration is to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence, when the fiscal and economic circumstances allow. The Prime Minister has been clear that the target and path towards 2.5% will be set out at the next Spending Review.
The government has consistently prioritised defence spending. The Ministry of Defence was the first department to get certainty on its budgets in this Parliament. This settlement was the largest sustained spending increase in defence since the end of the Cold War, with a £24 billion uplift in cash terms over the four-year period. In March 2023, we also provided an extra £11 billion for defence and national security priorities over the next five years, with £4.95 billion over the next two years.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which Government Department is responsible for enforcing The Trading Schemes Act 1996.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The Trading Schemes Act 1996 amended Part XI (pyramid selling and similar trading schemes) of the Fair Trading Act 1973. The 1973 Act, as it now stands, does not confer an express enforcement duty on any particular body. The Department for Trade and Industry has previously led on enforcement of the 1973 Act, and its functions have now transferred to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Department for International Development:
What steps her Department is taking to encourage people to contribute to the Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I am committed to an inclusive Voluntary National Review that showcases activity across the UK. Almost 200 organisations and individuals have submitted case studies highlighting activity to support delivery of the Goals. We continue to welcome contributions which can be submitted via our gov.uk VNR website.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what fishing industry related projects her Department has (a) supported and (b) allocated funding to in (i) Federated States of Micronesia, (ii) Kiribati, (iii) Marshall Islands, (iv) Nauru, (v) Palau, (vi) Papua New Guinea, (vii) Solomon Islands and (viii) Tuvalu; and how much funding her Department allocated to each such project.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Since 2009, the Department for International Development has supported no fishing industry related projects in Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. In 2016 the UK spent £5.75 million of bilateral aid the Pacific region. The UK publishes all the statistics on UK aid spend from 2009 – 2016 (Statistics on International Development, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-2017).
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how his Department plans to supply the QEC Carrier Group at extended range with any critical items not held on board an accompanying solid support ship.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The supply chain solution for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will vary according to the nature of the demand. The Department is currently developing plans for Maritime Intra Theatre Lift (MITL) based upon in-service helicopters.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans for the Maritime Intra Theatre Lift Solution to be identified.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Department is currently developing plans for Maritime Intra Theatre Lift (MITL) based upon in-service helicopters. The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2020 process will consider the Defence requirement for a medium-to-long term MITL solution.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will examine options in SDSR 2020 to enable HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to extend the effective combat radius of the F-35B through the introduction of a shipborne air-to-air refuelling capability.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Department will continue to explore a variety of options to augment the capabilities of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers in future. Decisions on funding will be taken at the appropriate time within the Defence annual budget cycle.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will examine options in SDSR 2020 to enable HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to conduct long-range and rapid amphibious assault by air.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Department will continue to explore a variety of options to augment the capabilities of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers in future. Decisions on funding will be taken at the appropriate time within the Defence annual budget cycle.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.33 of the National Audit Office report, Delivering Carrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017, whether his Department plans to fund the Queen Elizabeth class carriers' logistic enablers in SDSR 2020.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Department will continue to explore a variety of options to augment the capabilities of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers in future. Decisions on funding will be taken at the appropriate time within the Defence annual budget cycle.
Asked by: James Heappey (Conservative - Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the indemnity provided by his Department to private land owners who make their land available for military training activities provides full cover to ensure the land area has no liability for claims arising from such training.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Where appropriate and when requested, indemnity is provided by the Ministry of Defence to all private land owners who make their land available for military training activities.
This covers the land owner to the full extent of the Department's liabilities against all claims, actions, proceedings, demands, costs or expenses which may be incurred by or made against the landowner or any other third party.
This Indemnity will not cover circumstances where there has been any act of negligence by the landowner.