We protect the security, independence and interests of our country at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget.
In 2021, the Defence Sub-Committee, chaired by Sarah Atherton MP, conducted an inquiry into Women in the Armed Forces and …
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Ministry of Defence does not have Bills currently before Parliament
A Bill to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006; to amend that Act and other enactments relating to the armed forces; to make provision about service in the reserve forces; to make provision about pardons for certain abolished service offences; to make provision about war pensions; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th December 2021 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to Make provision about legal proceedings and consideration of derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with operations of the armed forces outside the British Islands.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and was enacted into law.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
We are demanding that the government treats Gurkhas fairly and pays them the same pension as other British veterans of the same rank and service. Many Gurkhas joined the Queen’s Gurkha Army believing their pension would sustain them and their families but sadly this has not been the case.
Replace the real bearskins used for the Queen’s Guard’s caps with faux fur
Gov Responded - 11 Feb 2022 Debated on - 11 Jul 2022There is no excuse for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to continue to effectively fund the slaughter of bears for ceremonial headgear since an indistinguishable alternative has been produced, which is waterproof, and mimics real bear fur in appearance and performance.
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Approximately 10% of the Senior Responsible Officer’s (SRO) programmed meeting time was spent on the Recruiting Partnering Project in the last 12 months, alongside their other duties. This is the only programme for which they are the SRO. The SRO is supported by a team who focus on the Recruiting Partnering Project full time.
Approximately 10% of the Senior Responsible Officer’s (SRO) programmed meeting time was spent on the Recruiting Partnering Project in the last 12 months, alongside their other duties. This is the only programme for which they are the SRO. The SRO is supported by a team who focus on the Recruiting Partnering Project full time.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The number of personal data incidents that have been correctly reported to the Army Warning Advice and Reporting Point (WARP) that have affected Defence Children Services schools and settings since 2010 and the number of affected individuals that have been affected by personal data incidents related to Defence Children Services schools and settings in each year since 2010 is as below:
Incidents | Affected Individuals | |
2010 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | 1 | 61 |
2017 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | 2 | 270 |
2020 | 1 | 1 |
2021 | 3 | 4184 |
2022 | 6 | 21 |
2023 | 9 | 459 |
2024 | 2 | 29 |
Totals | 24 | 5025 |
This data has been taken from Blackthorn Defence Incident Management Database (BT DIMDb) (which is directly fed by the Security Incident Reporting Forms (SIRFs) used across Defence) and the Army WARP Security Incident Database (SID).
It is not possible to split the affected individuals down into the categories stipulated in this question as that distinction is not made during reporting or investigation. It should also be noted that the number of people impacted is determined during the course of the investigation.
The 2021 figures include a major investigation into a cyber incident at a single school, which resulted in the potential compromise of 1110 internal (Ministry of Defence) email addresses and 3070 external (personal) email addresses.
The number of personal data incidents that have been correctly reported to the Army Warning Advice and Reporting Point (WARP) that have affected Defence Children Services schools and settings since 2010 and the number of affected individuals that have been affected by personal data incidents related to Defence Children Services schools and settings in each year since 2010 is as below:
Incidents | Affected Individuals | |
2010 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | 1 | 61 |
2017 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | 2 | 270 |
2020 | 1 | 1 |
2021 | 3 | 4184 |
2022 | 6 | 21 |
2023 | 9 | 459 |
2024 | 2 | 29 |
Totals | 24 | 5025 |
This data has been taken from Blackthorn Defence Incident Management Database (BT DIMDb) (which is directly fed by the Security Incident Reporting Forms (SIRFs) used across Defence) and the Army WARP Security Incident Database (SID).
It is not possible to split the affected individuals down into the categories stipulated in this question as that distinction is not made during reporting or investigation. It should also be noted that the number of people impacted is determined during the course of the investigation.
The 2021 figures include a major investigation into a cyber incident at a single school, which resulted in the potential compromise of 1110 internal (Ministry of Defence) email addresses and 3070 external (personal) email addresses.
The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In relation to the Soldier Conditioning Review, personnel are marked on the system as ‘red’ when they have areas of physical fitness they need to improve. If they are marked as ‘green’ it means they do not have any specific areas of physical fitness development / improvement and are at an adequate baseline. Personnel are marked as ‘Amber’ on the system if the individual needs to take another assessment in the next two months.
The table below shows the number and proportion of Regular and Reserve soldiers that took the Soldier Conditioning Review who were graded as ‘Green’ or ‘Amber’ and ‘All other grades’.
Year | Number of Pers | Status | Proportion |
01 Apr – 31 Dec 2022 | 74,336 | Green or Amber | 63.98% |
41,849 | All other grades | 36.02% | |
01 Jan – 31 Dec 2023 | 71,945 | Green or Amber | 67.86% |
34,081 | All other grades | 32.14% |
Notes/Caveats:
It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
I responded to the right hon. Member on 24 May 2024.
I responded to the right hon. Member on 24 May 2024.
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 2024 to Question 21289 to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Mr Pollard).
I am unable to answer due to commercial sensitivities.
I am unable to answer due to commercial sensitivities.
As announced by the Secretary of State, it is intended that the Multi Role Support Ships will be built in the UK.
The Secretary of State confirmed in his speech to the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference on 14 May 2024 that up to six Multi Role Support Ships will replace our current amphibious fleet, including the Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliaries) and RFA Argus. The Multi Role Support Ship will come into service from the early 2030s.
To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific in-service dates for naval vessels to avoid revealing elements of the fleet's long-term schedule.
The Secretary of State confirmed in his speech to the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference on 14 May 2024 that up to six Multi Role Support Ships will replace our current amphibious fleet, including the Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliaries) and RFA Argus. The Multi Role Support Ship will come into service from the early 2030s.
To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific in-service dates for naval vessels to avoid revealing elements of the fleet's long-term schedule.
As I advised on 15 January 2024 when I answered Question 8349 to the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), in the financial year 2023-24, £100 million has been allocated for Type 23 refits and of this sum about £50 million has been expended. Of this, £8 million was spent on upkeep and maintenance of HMS Westminster.
Data on the number of Notices to Quit (NTQs) issued to Service personnel and their families in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties in the UK is available from April 2022; the implementation date of the current service contract:
Year | No of NTQs issued to Service Personnel |
April 2022 – end December 2022 | Nil |
January 2023 – December 2023 | 159 |
January 2024 – March 2024 | 5 |
A monthly breakdown of issued NTQs since January 2023 is provided below:
Month | Number of NTQs Issued to Service Personnel |
Jan 23 | 2 |
Feb 23 | 0 |
Mar 23 | 0 |
Apr 23 | 0 |
May 23 | 0 |
Jun 23 | 0 |
Jul 23 | 0 |
Aug 23 | 72 |
Sep 23 | 23 |
Oct 23 | 33 |
Nov 23 | 27 |
Dec 23 | 2 |
Jan 24 | 3 |
Feb 24 | 2 |
Mar 24 | 0 |
The Civilian Sublet Tenancy Scheme began in 2016 and no NTQs were issued until 2019. An annual breakdown of the number of NTQs that have been issued to Civilian Sublet tenants living in SFA properties in the UK is provided in the table below:
Time Period | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 (to April 16th) |
No of NTQs issued to Civilian Sublet Tenants | 14 | 3 | 459 | 95 | 92 | 98 |
A monthly breakdown of issued NTQs since January 2023 is provided below:
Month | Number of NTQ’s Issued |
Jan 23 | 11 |
Feb 23 | 1 |
Mar 23 | 5 |
Apr 23 | 9 |
May 23 | 8 |
Jun 23 | 0 |
Jul 23 | 1 |
Aug 23 | 1 |
Sep 23 | 14 |
Oct 23 | 16 |
Nov 23 | 17 |
Dec 23 | 9 |
Jan 24 | 17 |
Feb 24 | 3 |
Mar 24 | 63 |
Apr 24 (up to 16th of the month) | 15 |
Data on the number of Notices to Quit (NTQs) issued to Service personnel and their families in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties in the UK is available from April 2022; the implementation date of the current service contract:
Year | No of NTQs issued to Service Personnel |
April 2022 – end December 2022 | Nil |
January 2023 – December 2023 | 159 |
January 2024 – March 2024 | 5 |
A monthly breakdown of issued NTQs since January 2023 is provided below:
Month | Number of NTQs Issued to Service Personnel |
Jan 23 | 2 |
Feb 23 | 0 |
Mar 23 | 0 |
Apr 23 | 0 |
May 23 | 0 |
Jun 23 | 0 |
Jul 23 | 0 |
Aug 23 | 72 |
Sep 23 | 23 |
Oct 23 | 33 |
Nov 23 | 27 |
Dec 23 | 2 |
Jan 24 | 3 |
Feb 24 | 2 |
Mar 24 | 0 |
The Civilian Sublet Tenancy Scheme began in 2016 and no NTQs were issued until 2019. An annual breakdown of the number of NTQs that have been issued to Civilian Sublet tenants living in SFA properties in the UK is provided in the table below:
Time Period | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 (to April 16th) |
No of NTQs issued to Civilian Sublet Tenants | 14 | 3 | 459 | 95 | 92 | 98 |
A monthly breakdown of issued NTQs since January 2023 is provided below:
Month | Number of NTQ’s Issued |
Jan 23 | 11 |
Feb 23 | 1 |
Mar 23 | 5 |
Apr 23 | 9 |
May 23 | 8 |
Jun 23 | 0 |
Jul 23 | 1 |
Aug 23 | 1 |
Sep 23 | 14 |
Oct 23 | 16 |
Nov 23 | 17 |
Dec 23 | 9 |
Jan 24 | 17 |
Feb 24 | 3 |
Mar 24 | 63 |
Apr 24 (up to 16th of the month) | 15 |
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
Funding for the concept phase of Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) has been approved by HM Treasury. I can confirm that the platform will be procured through the new Integrated Procurement Model (IPM), which I recently announced. As such, the next step in the programme will be for me to receive and review the Independent Advice Note (IAN) on MRSS which will inform the concept and design phases of the programme. As I said in my Oral Statement of 28th February, announcing the IPM, the aim of this note is “to provide a credible second opinion for Ministers to weigh alongside the military’s proposed requirement” (Hansard ref).
The IAN will provide advice on key policy choices, to ensure we set the programme up for success from the off. In particular, this is to core policy issues are transparently considered at the earliest stage, and then locked down as far as possible, so that the remaining procurement stages can proceed at pace, and in a context of underlying policy certainty. Policy areas to be informed by the IAN will include:
Advice would draw on expertise from across the Defence Enterprise, including, but not restricted to: DSTL; DE&S; DSE/DBT.
The total programme budget will be allocated on completion of the concept phase. It is too early in that process to have committed expenditure or actual spend.
MRSS will enter service in the early 2030s, providing highly flexible warships, able to deploy on a wider variety of operations. They will be lean-crewed, with the precise crew requirement being confirmed during the concept phase.
I can confirm that this visit was funded only through HMG, there was no funding or sponsorship from Bahrain.
Owing to a combination of diary constraints and scheduled calls being cancelled due to urgent business on both sides, I have not had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police.