Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of the P-8 Poseidon programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In regard to the cost of the P-8 Poseidon programme, I refer to the answer given on 23 October 2023 to Question 200750.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many airframes his Department plans to purchase for the New Medium Helicopter programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There has been no change to the advertised requirement of a range of up to 44 platforms in the New Medium Helicopter Contract Notice that was published in May 2022. The results of the contract competition will inform the number of airframes to be delivered.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost is of the Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The total cost of the three RC-135 Rivet Joint (RAF Airseeker) aircraft is an estimated £576 million..
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Air Force flights have travelled to Israel (a) since October 7 2023 and (b) between October 2022 and October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There have been 59 Royal Air Force aircraft that have travelled to Israel from 7 October 2023 to 9 May 2024. There were 15 Royal Air Force flights to Israel from October 2022 to October 2023.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that any evidence of war crimes being committed in Gaza witnessed by UK armed forces surveillance is (a) documented and (b) investigated.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The unarmed UK reconnaissance aircraft are employed solely for the purpose of increasing our chances of locating the hostages.
The UK remains committed to holding perpetrators of war crimes to account, including through our support to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UK would consider any formal request from the ICC for information and act in accordance with its international obligations under the Rome Statute and through the framework in the ICC Act 2001.
As signatories to the Rome Statute, the Genocide Convention and the Convention on Torture, the UK has a responsibility to investigate and prosecute those who have committed core international crimes.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Typhoon aircraft are based in the Falkland Islands; and what tranche of Typhoon aircraft these are.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are four RAF Typhoon aircraft permanently stationed in the Falkland Islands. The details on Tranche are held at a higher classification.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from his Department have been transported to Israel on RAF operated planes since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Ministers, officials and UK Armed Forces personnel have travelled to Israel using RAF aircraft. This information is not held centrally within the Ministry of Defence, we are unable to give a specific number.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what threat assessment he has made of Houthi military capabilities; and whether he has plans for further strikes in Yemen.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK and our allies have responded decisively to the attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea from the Houthis’ dangerous and illegal attacks with limited, necessary and proportionate strike action on Houthi targets in self-defence. Every mission carried out by RAF aircraft is analysed carefully and informed by robust intelligence. We will not comment on operational activity.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many planes operated by the Royal Air Force have taken off from Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There have been 59 Royal Air Force aircraft that have taken off from Israel from 7 October 2023 to 9 May 2024.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using low-carbon aircraft to support regional airports.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Airlines determine the routes they operate based on their own assessment of whether routes are commercially viable.
The Budget confirmed that the Government’s support for the development of new low and zero carbon emission aircraft in the UK will continue with an additional £975m of funding between 2025 and 2030.
In addition, the Government is supporting the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by introducing a SAF Mandate from 1 January 2025 and the consultation on revenue certainty options to support investment in a UK SAF production industry.