Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Typhoon and b) F-35 aircraft are operational.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. member to the answer I gave to the right hon. member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) on 22 March 2024 to Question 7163 which was deposited in the Library of the House with Paper reference DEP2024-0348.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he (a) has had or (b) plans to have discussions with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on selling land designated for employment use as storage land.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 local authorities have the power to dispose of surplus land in any manner they wish. The only requirement is for them to obtain Secretary of State consent should they wish to dispose of the land (otherwise than by a short tenancy) at lower than market price and guidance on this is set out in Disposal of land for less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained: circular 06/2003.
The Secretary of State has not had, and does not plan to have, discussions with the Council on this matter.
The department does not produce guidance on the utilisation of land sold as storage land.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance is available to local authorities on valuations when selling (a) land and (b) property.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 local authorities have the power to dispose of surplus land in any manner they wish. The only requirement is for them to obtain Secretary of State consent should they wish to dispose of the land (otherwise than by a short tenancy) at lower than market price and guidance on this is set out in Disposal of land for less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained: circular 06/2003.
The Secretary of State has not had, and does not plan to have, discussions with the Council on this matter.
The department does not produce guidance on the utilisation of land sold as storage land.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance is available to local authorities on the utilisation of land sold as storage land.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 local authorities have the power to dispose of surplus land in any manner they wish. The only requirement is for them to obtain Secretary of State consent should they wish to dispose of the land (otherwise than by a short tenancy) at lower than market price and guidance on this is set out in Disposal of land for less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained: circular 06/2003.
The Secretary of State has not had, and does not plan to have, discussions with the Council on this matter.
The department does not produce guidance on the utilisation of land sold as storage land.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what maritime assets are being sent to the Middle East following Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
As of 22 April 2024, there are no plans to reposition additional maritime assets to the Middle East. However, the UK remains ready to respond to the evolving situation as required. The Ministry of Defence has bolstered its contribution to maritime security in the region with the deployment of HMS Diamond, in support of Op PROSPERITY GUARDIAN, joining HMS Lancaster deployed in support of the long standing Op KIPION.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been provided to BCP council to fix potholes.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In 2023/24 the Government provided Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council with £6.24 million of capital funding for local highway maintenance. This was an increase of around 30% compared to the previous year, made possible in part by reallocating £604,000 of funding that would otherwise have been spent on the HS2 programme. In total, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council will receive an uplift of over £18 million over the next decade as a result of the decision to reallocate HS2 funding.
It is up to Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council to determine how best to use this funding based on local needs, priorities and circumstances. Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council has published on its website details of how it intends to spend the additional funding the Government has provided (https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/projects-plans-and-consultations/highway-maintenance)
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds his Department has allocated to help improve local traffic movements in the last five years.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has a number of funding streams which can help improve local traffic movements. These include the Integrated Transport Block, which can support small-scale local improvements, and the Highway Maintenance Block which helps deliver smoother roads. Details of the funding provided under each are available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/roads-funding-information-pack/roads-funding-information-pack.
In addition, there are a number of wider Government funds such as the Levelling Up Fund, Active Travel Fund and Future High Streets all of which have supported improvements to local roads.
As announced in the Plan for Drivers, the Department has provided £50 million to local authorities to upgrade traffic signals to help improve traffic flow. This includes £30 million to replace outdated equipment, and £20 million to reduce poor traffic light sequencing through innovative technology that responds to live traffic conditions. Details of the funding allocations are available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signal-obsolescence-grant-and-green-light-fund-allocations”
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much levelling up funding his Department has allocated to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
BCP Council have received a variety of levelling up support since 2019, including through some specific awards such as:
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what air defence systems are in use in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF as of 17 April 2024.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As of 17 April 2024, the following air defence systems are in use:
Royal Navy:
Army:
Royal Air Force:
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans for councils to set their own charges for parking on single and double yellow lines.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has no such plans.