Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the refreshed Defence Command Paper.
Answered by Ben Wallace
On 13 March 2023, the Government published the Integrated Review Refresh. Following publication of the IR Refresh, I have commissioned a refresh of the 2021 Defence Command Paper. It is expected to be published in June.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of the Crowsnest AEW helicopter programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Under current plans, CROWSNEST will achieve Initial Operating Capability by autumn 2023 and remain in service until December 2029.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is contractually obliged to pay for all five MESA radars originally ordered for the UK E-7 Wedgetail programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
At the time of the Integrated Review decision to reduce the scope of the UK E-7 Wedgetail programme from five to three aircraft, the MESA (Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array) radars for aircraft four and five were in production. It was decided that production and delivery of all five MESA radars would continue as planned, allowing a saving/offset of initial procurement and sustainment spares from the overall programme cost.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expenditure to date on the Crowsnest AEW helicopter programme is.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As at 31 March 2023, the Crowsnest programme has accrued £414 million. This is within the original approved whole life budget for the programme of £459 million.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Merlin helicopters owned by his Department are (a) in active service, (b) held in reserve and (c) undergoing conversion as part of the Crowsnest AEW helicopter programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has 30 Merlin Mark 2 helicopters operated by the Royal Navy and 25 Merlin Mark4/4A helicopters operated by the Commando Helicopter Force. A proportion of these airframes will be undergoing planned extended maintenance at any given time.
We do not comment on the number of aircraft active or in maintenance at any specific time, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. None are held in reserve.
Regarding the number undergoing CROWSNEST conversion, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor on 13 December 2022 to Question number 102826.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Crowsnest AEW helicopters are on order by his Department.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are no CROWSNEST AEW helicopters on order. Rather the CROWSNEST capability is designed to be fitted to each of the Royal Navy's existing Merlin Mark 2 helicopters.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the most recent estimated initial operating capability for the Crowsnest AEW helicopter programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On current plans, the Initial Operating Capability for CROWSNEST will be achieved by autumn 2023.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Puma helicopters (a) are in (i) active service and (ii) storage and (b) were sold for disposal in the last five years.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has a fleet of 23 Puma HC2 aircraft, of which 17 are in active service with six platforms in long term storage.
There have been no disposals in the last five years.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of Urgent Capability Requirements within his Department.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific Urgent Capability Requirements (UCRs) given their direct link with ongoing operations and the opportunity this information would present to an adversary as a result.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Lynx helicopters are in (a) active service and (b) storage.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence no longer has any Lynx helicopters in its fleet.