Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the findings of the recent Review of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association; and if he will publish the terms of reference for that review.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Ministry of Defence intends to publish the review of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations in February 2020.
The terms of reference for the review can be found at the following address:
http://qna.files.parliament.uk/qna-attachments/1140326/original/RFCA%20Review%20TORs%20(PQ).docx
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's policy is on the acquisition of major UK-based defence companies by overseas investors; what assessment he has made of the prospect of such companies being willing to (a) enter into, and (b) deliver long-term defence contracts after they have been taken over by private equity firms structured so as to make long-term ownership improbable; and whether undertakings in respect of the (i) pursuit and (ii) fulfilment of long-term defence contracts have or will be sought from Advent International its proposed acquisition of Cobham plc.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Changes of control within the defence sector are largely a matter for the companies concerned. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public interest grounds including for reasons of national security with each merger considered on a case by case basis. We can take action through private undertakings in the form of security deeds, or via statutory means under the Enterprise Act 2002.
The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised. This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any decision on whether to intervene.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of the principal (a) defence services and (b) items of defence equipment supplied by Cobham plc to the UK armed forces either directly or as component parts of services and goods supplied by other defence companies for (i) threat simulation services and equipment, (ii) air-to-air refuelling systems, (iii) weapons-release equipment and (iv) other categories of services and equipment; what steps he will take to ensure that future generations of those services and equipment will continue to be available to the UK armed forces in the event that Cobham plc ceases to bid for the long-term contracts required to develop and deliver them; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While the proposed transaction for Cobham plc by Advent International is primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned, we are closely monitoring the situation.
Ministry Of Defence (MOD) officials have met both parties to understand their plans in relation to the proposed acquisition. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public interest grounds covering national security, financial stability or media plurality, with each merger considered on a case by case basis.
The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised. This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any decision on whether to intervene.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on calling-in the proposed takeover of Cobham plc to protect UK defence interests.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While the proposed transaction for Cobham plc by Advent International is primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned, we are closely monitoring the situation.
Ministry Of Defence (MOD) officials have met both parties to understand their plans in relation to the proposed acquisition. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public interest grounds covering national security, financial stability or media plurality, with each merger considered on a case by case basis.
The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised. This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any decision on whether to intervene.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what preliminary assessment his Department has made of the implications for the UK's defence industrial strategy of the proposed acquisition of Cobham plc by a US-based private equity firm; what impact such a takeover will have on the availability to other countries of sensitive defence technology; what guarantees the Government will seek from the potential new proprietors in respect of such technologies remaining (a) based in, and (b) available to the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While the proposed transaction for Cobham plc by Advent International is primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned, we are closely monitoring the situation.
Ministry Of Defence (MOD) officials have met both parties to understand their plans in relation to the proposed acquisition. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public interest grounds covering national security, financial stability or media plurality, with each merger considered on a case by case basis.
The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised. This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any decision on whether to intervene.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the proposed takeover of Cobham plc by Advent International on the continuation and future of the major UK defence programmes (a) Air Tanker and (b) Tempest; and what alternatives will be available to those programmes in the event that Cobham plc ceases to contribute to them.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While the proposed transaction for Cobham plc by Advent International is primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned, we are closely monitoring the situation.
Ministry Of Defence (MOD) officials have met both parties to understand their plans in relation to the proposed acquisition. Ministers can intervene in mergers on public interest grounds covering national security, financial stability or media plurality, with each merger considered on a case by case basis.
The MOD provides advice in this process to the relevant Secretary of State, who has a quasi-judicial role in deciding whether to intervene in mergers. The Secretary of State must consider only the evidence relevant to the public interest grounds raised. This also means that it is not appropriate for the Government to provide commentary on whether public interest concerns arise in relation to a merger ahead of any decision on whether to intervene.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether army personnel have been issued with (a) mobile handsets and (b) other devices (i) manufactured by Huawei and (ii) manufactured by Huawei but provided by and badged with the names of other companies; and what her Department's policy is towards the use of telecommunications equipment manufactured by Chinese companies.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes the security of its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems and services very seriously. However, for security reasons, the MOD does not comment publicly on the specifics of its ICT systems and services.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in how many countries the UK military is conducting counterterrorism operations; and in how many of those countries the UK is (a) conducting air and drone strikes, (b) deploying combat troops, (c) constructing or retaining military bases and (d) building the capacity of partners to conduct counterterrorism and other actions.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Air and Unmanned Aerial Systems strikes are being conducted in Iraq and Syria. The UK is conducting military counterterrorism operations or capacity building in 17 countries. Military personnel have been deployed on the ground but none of those personnel are employed in combat roles. The Ministry of Defence has not constructed nor is it retaining any military bases for the sole purpose of counterterrorism operations; UK forces use shared military establishments at the invitation of host governments or allies at a number of locations globally.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in how many countries the UK is conducting military counterterrorism operations, and in how many of those countries the UK is (a) conducting air and drone strikes, (b) deploying combat troops, (c) constructing or retaining military bases and (d) building the capacity of partners to conduct counterterrorism and other operations.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The information required to answer this question is taking time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to publish the Maximising Competition in Defence Procurement Strategy.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence plans to publish the strategy for Maximising Competition in Defence Procurement in 2019, on completion of the acquisition review elements of the Modernising Defence Programme.