Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 291002 and to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 290324, if he will introduce the same policy as the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and switch to an electricity provider that supplies electricity solely from renewable resources within the next 12 months; and for what reason his Department has not already ensured its electricity is supplied solely from renewable resources.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to supporting and playing its part in the UK Government intent to tackle climate change by transitioning to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The MOD uses the mandated Crown Commercial Services energy framework to procure the supply of electricity. The framework is designed to achieve the best value for money for the public sector. The current three-year rolling contract is due to expire on 31 March 2022. This contract does not specify a percentage of electricity that should come from renewable sources however, the future contract specification will be reviewed as part of the ongoing planning for delivering net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Procuring and generating renewable and low carbon electricity is part of a suite of measures the Department is pursuing to reduce its emissions. For example, at RAF Marham a new Generating Plant built by Future Biogas now supplies power to the site. Further opportunities to directly source renewable electricity through long term power purchase agreements and on-site generation are also being pursued.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on (a) the US withdrawal from Northern Syria, (b) the actions of the Turkish Government in that area and (c) the security and military implications of these decisions for (i) Syria, (ii) the UK and (iii) the NATO alliance.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary spoke with US Defence Secretary, Mark Esper on 14 October 2019 and they discussed the ongoing situation in Northeast Syria. We cannot comment on the movement and actions of US troops as this is a matter for the US Government.
My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary has also spoken with the Turkish Defence Minister, Hulisi Akar on 10 and 16 October 2019. Whilst we accept that Turkey has legitimate security concerns, unilateral military action is undermining the stability and security of the region and could derail the Coalition's fight against Daesh.
For decades, Turkey has been a staunch ally in NATO and one of the largest contributors of military personnel. However, we are in full agreement with our EU counterparts in condemning Turkey's unilateral military action where it impacts on civilians and the counter-Daesh effort.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which provider supplies energy to his Department; how much CO2 was emitted through his Department’s energy consumption in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria his Department uses to select an energy supplier includes how environmentally friendly the supplier is; and what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce CO2 emissions from its energy use.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
A list of the providers who supply energy to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) can be found in the table below.
Type of Energy | Name of Supplier/s |
Electricity (metered non-half hourly) | British Gas Business |
Electricity (metered half hourly) | EDF |
Gas | Corona |
LPG | Flogas and Calor |
Biomass | Forest Fuels |
Gas in Northern Ireland | Firmus |
Electricity in Northern Ireland | Veridian trading as Energia |
Oil | Certas Energy UK Ltd |
Oil | Certas Energy UK Ltd trading as Scottish Fuels |
Oil | Highland Fuels Ltd |
Oil | Oil NRG |
Oil | WFL UK Limited - a World Fuel Services company |
Oil | Standard Fuel Oils Ltd |
Oil | LCC Group |
The latest published Greening Government Commitment figures for MOD CO2 emissions are for 2018/19 and cover the UK estate. 827,829 tonnes of CO2 were emitted in that year. This represented a 42% reduction against a 2009/10 baseline, compared to a 2020 target of 40%.
The criteria used to select energy suppliers, is set by Crown Commercial Services.
The MOD has taken a number of steps to reduce CO2 emissions including:
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether her Department has had discussions with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the UK Steel charter.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been involved in discussions at desk level regarding our approach to the UK Steel charter.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if she will sign her Department up to the UK Steel charter.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 2019, to Question 266721 to the hon. Member for Newport East (Jessica Morden).
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to undertake an assessment of the potential effect on the capabilities of the armed forces of sensitive military technologies in use by those forces being sold at auction to hostile agents; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes the safety and security of military equipment extremely seriously. Contractors who process, store and dispose of such equipment are subject to a strict ongoing security assurance programme, which includes regular reviews and assessments against Government policy. The MOD will not hesitate to take appropriate action in order to protect Armed Forces capability, including retrieving equipment where there is a suspected breach.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that sensitive military technologies in use by the armed forces cannot be purchased on the open market from UK-based auctioneers; and whether he plans to undertake a review to prevent such situations occurring again.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes the safety and security of military equipment extremely seriously. Contractors who process, store and dispose of such equipment are subject to a strict ongoing security assurance programme, which includes regular reviews and assessments against Government policy. The MOD will not hesitate to take appropriate action in order to protect Armed Forces capability, including retrieving equipment where there is a suspected breach.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9980, on iron and steel: procurement, what progress his Department has made on delivering greater UK steel content in line with the public procurement guidelines published by the Government in April 2016.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is fully supportive of wider Government efforts to support the UK steel industry. Following the implementation of the Government's updated policy guidance on steel procurement, the MOD has remained engaged with its prime defence contractors to ensure their support in adhering to the practices and guidelines set out in the policy. This includes forecasting our future steel requirements through the Government's Steel Pipeline, which is published on gov.uk, and requiring our prime contractors to carry out early market engagement in relation to the supply of steel.
The MOD continues to discuss defence steel procurement with our prime contractors and UK Steel. I recently attended a roundtable meeting with UK Steel, during which we discussed how to maximise opportunities for the UK Steel industry. Following this meeting I have personally ensured that we take steps to engage with the UK Steel industry in the pre-procurement phase of the Type 31e programme.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to report on the proportion of UK steel being procured through contracts as set out in government policy.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has recently published updated policy guidance on steel procurement in major Government projects. This aims to ensure that the public sector, including defence, takes full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting procurement activities. BEIS is working closely with Departments to monitor its impact and ensure delivery. There are no plans to share this data publicly, due to its provisional nature.
The Government has also now published its future pipeline for steel requirements, which will enable UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts. The pipeline, together with the updated procurement policy, is published on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-1116-procuring-steel-in-major-projects-revised-guidance.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will report on the proportion of UK steel that has been procured through contracts in the last 12 months.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Defence requirements for steel are in the main sourced by our prime contractors taking into account cost, time and quality. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not therefore hold a complete central record of the origin of steel used in defence projects over the past 12 months. UK suppliers have, however, made a significant contribution to the supply of steel for defence, including some 88% of the structural steel for the new Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers.
Moving forward, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will collate data about Government steel use and compliance with the updated procurement policy, including defence. The MOD has submitted an initial return for the period February to July 2016, which has been passed to the Steel Council. This will be updated regularly.
The Government has also now published its future pipeline for steel requirements, which will enable UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts. The pipeline, together with the updated procurement policy, is published on gov.uk at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-1116-procuring-steel-in-major-projects-revised-guidance.