Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the economic effect on the UK of the (a) F-35 Programme including the UK’s Programme of Record and (b) Tempest initiative; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
UK industry provides approximately 15% by value of every F-35 aircraft built, generating significant revenue for the country, creating and sustaining high-skilled jobs in the aerospace sector.
The UK has already invested some £2 billion in the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative. The Prime Minister's Comprehensive Spending Review announcement highlighted Future Combat Air Strategy (FCAS) and our aerospace sector as a particular area for investment.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for UK industrial workshare of the continuation of the F-35 programme; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The UK remains a committed partner within the F-35 programme providing approximately 15% by value of every F-35 aircraft. Suppliers to the F-35 programme are determined by competition, for which the UK industry is well placed.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of (a) knowledge and technology transfer, (b) infrastructure investment, (c) skills initiatives and (d) other aspects of the F-35 Programme of Record on the viability of the UK’s combat air sector.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Participation in the F-35 Programme has brought significant revenue to the UK, creating and sustaining high-skilled jobs in the combat air sector which will benefit the sector in the long-term. Whilst knowledge and technology transfer is bounded by US International Traffic in Arms Regulations, significant investment has been made in the infrastructure to support the RAF F-35 Lightning fleet at RAF Marham and will continue to benefit the wider Combat Air sector through the retention of skills and facilities.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on air mobility interoperability with (a) the US, (b) NATO, (c) European and (d) other allies of an early retirement of the C-130J; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The A400M was manufactured and introduced into service by an international consortium (with a UK manufacturing share of around 18 per cent). Interoperability is a key tenet of MOD's Integrated Operating Concept. The C130J is widely used around the world, but the A400M is also operated by a number of important allies and partners, and has also successfully operated alongside US forces, on both exercises and operations.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the A400M's ability to perform all of the roles of the C-130J; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Capability performance is assessed against the contribution it will make to counter the threats we face, now and into the future. The A400M is a highly capable modern aircraft, offering many advantages over the current C130 capability, including a greater range and payload capacity. Its modern technologies also offer the opportunity to apprach those tasks employed by the C130 in a different way. These will continue to be considered as part of the A400M’s capability development.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the value to the UK economy of (a) current and (b) potential production contracts under the (i) Warrior Capability Sustainment, (ii) AJAX, (iii) Mechanised Infantry Vehicle and (iv) Challenger II Life Extension programmes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Full Business Cases for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme and Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme are currently being considered through our internal approvals process, and are subject to commercial negotiations. It would not therefore be appropriate to comment further at this time.
The manufacturing contract for AJAX was awarded in September 2014 for 589 vehicles. The AJAX programme represents a £6 billion investment that supports approximately 4,100 jobs across more than 230 UK suppliers. Some 65-70% of the AJAX Programme is UK-based. We continue to work with General Dynamics to generate and support export opportunities.
The Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme awarded a £2.8 billion contract in November 2019 for 508 Boxer vehicles and 15 training vehicles. Around 60% by value of the contract is planned to come from the UK and will sustain up to 1,000 jobs. Investment in the UK indigenous armoured vehicle manufacturing capability generated through the MIV programme, combined with the UK procuring an already-proven vehicle in use with other nations, opens up future export opportunities and also puts the UK in a good position to support the other user nations through the NATO Support Procurement Agency.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) cost per flying hour and (b) expected through-life costs of the (i) C-130J and (ii) A400M.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Through life support costs include various elements of in-service support and related infrastructrure costs and therefore may not be directly comparable. However, the through life support costs for (i) C-130J and (ii) A400M are £3.5 billion and £6.8 billion respectively. These figures are based on out of service dates of 2035 and 2050 respectively. There are currently 14 aircraft in the C-130J fleet, compared to 20 A400Ms, rising to 22 by 2023.
I am withholding details of cost per flying hour as its release would prejudice commercial interests.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on UK employment levels of an early retirement of the C-130J; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Integrated Review will modernise our Armed Forces to ensure they have the capabilities they need to counter the threats they face, now and into the future. That will mean making changes and making tough choices, but any decision on future capabilities will be firmly based on those principles and announced in due course.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to accelerate training for new Armed Forces recruits to increase capacity to support the response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has placed over 20,000 personnel on standby to support Government's efforts to tackle COVID-19. We are in the process of providing extra training to our Service personnel to enhance their capabilities to assist in specific circumstances, such as driving oxygen tankers to enhance resilience within the NHS.
Our training programmes across the MOD are as efficient as is currently possible. There is a danger and liability concerns around deploying military personnel who have not been through our rigorous training programme, which provides practical skills as well as developing emotional intelligence and command capability.
The MOD stands ready to provide vital support to the Government where required and we are fully staffed and equipped to deal with any such requests.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to introduce free wraparound childcare for armed forces families.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
To make life easier for Armed Forces families balancing the competing demands of Service with home life, the Government has committed to providing funding for wrap-around childcare. Wrap-around care includes breakfast and after school clubs; these facilities provide modern dual-working families with the flexibility they need to manage their careers alongside homelife. Discussions are underway to consider the most efficient means of providing funding to families of children between the ages of four and 11 and to confirm timescales for implementation. In parallel to these discussions I am setting up a dedicated childcare team with immediate effect, to help families by working with military establishments to demonstrate need and encourage local authorities to build capacity.