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Written Question
Devonport Dockyard: Repairs and Maintenance
Tuesday 28th November 2023

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) projected in-service date for each of the new build projects in the Devonport Royal Dockyard site development plan.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Devonport Submarine Infrastructure Programme will involve the investment of approximately £2.5 billion to provide new and refurbished facilities at HM Naval Base Devonport. The Department expects to gain beneficial use of the facilities currently under construction in 2024 (9, 14 and 15 Docks) and 2027 (10 Dock). The estimated costs for each project are commercially sensitive but they fall within the overall estimate of £2.5 billion.


Written Question
Devonport Dockyard: Repairs and Maintenance
Tuesday 28th November 2023

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the parent project for each of the new build projects in the Devonport Royal Dockyard site plan; and what recent estimate he has made of the cost of each parent project.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Devonport Submarine Infrastructure Programme will involve the investment of approximately £2.5 billion to provide new and refurbished facilities at HM Naval Base Devonport. The Department expects to gain beneficial use of the facilities currently under construction in 2024 (9, 14 and 15 Docks) and 2027 (10 Dock). The estimated costs for each project are commercially sensitive but they fall within the overall estimate of £2.5 billion.


Written Question
HMS Vanguard: Repairs and Maintenance
Tuesday 28th November 2023

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of the Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) for HMS Vanguard.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I am withholding the estimated cost of HMS Vanguard's Deep Maintenance Project (Refuel) as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.


Written Question
Nuclear Weapons
Wednesday 30th June 2021

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 25 February 2020, HCWS125 on Nuclear Deterrent, when final approval was given to build a new replacement warhead; and who approved that decision.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

To ensure we can continue to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, the Government, led by the Prime Minister, made the decision to replace the nuclear warhead. Details were announced in the Written Ministerial Statement laid in Parliament by the Secretary of State for Defence on 25 February 2020.

As the right hon. Member will recall, in July 2016 Parliament debated and voted in support of maintaining Continuous At Sea Deterrence and renewing the nuclear deterrent by a significant majority of 355 votes (472 Ayes, 117 Noes).


Written Question
Nuclear Weapons: Expenditure
Wednesday 30th June 2021

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on plans for a new replacement warhead (a) prior to his written statement of 25 February 2020 and (b) to date.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

As the replacement warhead is in its early preliminary phases it is too early at this stage to provide a cost estimate. I am however able to provide information relating to completed financial years. The Ministry of Defence spent £116 million up to the end of the financial year (2018-19). A total of £98 million was spent on the Replacement Warhead readiness phase over the subsequent two financial years (2019-20 and 2020-21).


Written Question
Nuclear Weapons: Costs
Wednesday 30th June 2021

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of building a new replacement warhead.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

As the replacement warhead is in its early preliminary phases it is too early at this stage to provide a cost estimate. I am however able to provide information relating to completed financial years. The Ministry of Defence spent £116 million up to the end of the financial year (2018-19). A total of £98 million was spent on the Replacement Warhead readiness phase over the subsequent two financial years (2019-20 and 2020-21).


Written Question
Chinook Helicopters: Mali
Tuesday 21st July 2020

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the hourly cost is of an RAF Chinook flying on Operation Newcombe; and what the cost of repairing those aircraft has been since July 2018.

Answered by James Heappey

The cost of flying hours and repairs for Operation Newcombe are not held separately from overall RAF Chinook costs. Equipment repair costs in theatre are about £2.5 million per annum. Fuel and other related flying costs (e.g. consumables and stock used in theatre) for the hours flown are about £10.8 million per annum.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Mali
Tuesday 21st July 2020

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British personnel on Operation Newcombe sustained injuries from (a) enemy and (b) friendly action.

Answered by James Heappey

No injuries have been sustained by UK Service personnel on Operation Newcombe from either enemy or friendly action.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Mali
Tuesday 21st July 2020

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) RAF Weapon Systems Operators Rotary Wing personnel and (b) RAF Regiment Gunners are deployed in Mali on Operation Newcombe; and what their rules of engagement are.

Answered by James Heappey

There are currently eight RAF Weapon Systems Operators Rotary Wing personnel deployed in Mali on Operation Newcombe. There are no RAF Regiment Gunners deployed in Mali on Operation Newcombe.

It is a long standing convention for the Department to not publish Rules of Engagement in detail. I can reassure the right hon. Member that the Rules of Engagement issued for Op Newcombe, that have been authorised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary State for Defence, are proportionate and appropriate for the role that our forces are undertaking in Mali and that at all times deployed forces in Mali and elsewhere in the world retain their inherent right to self-defence.


Written Question
Chinook Helicopters: Mali
Tuesday 21st July 2020

Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF Chinook aircraft deployed on Operation Newcombe have been hit by ground fire.

Answered by James Heappey

No RAF Chinook aircraft deployed on Operation Newcombe have been hit by ground fire.