Type 31 Frigate

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Spicer

Monday 3rd April 2017 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, all the latter points made by the noble Lord are well made and I agree with him. The steady drumbeat was a point emphasised by Sir John Parker in his advice to the Government. I hope the noble Lord will not have long to wait for the national shipbuilding strategy. It will provide further detail on how and when the Type 31 will be procured and how this will align with the Type 23 frigate replacement programme and the Type 26 build programme.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

My Lords, how many Type 31s will be able to dock in Gibraltar at any one time?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, as we do not have a Type 31 and do not know yet what tonnage it will be, I cannot answer my noble friend’s question. However, I do not anticipate any problems with docking in Gibraltar.

HMS “Queen Elizabeth”

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Spicer

Thursday 2nd March 2017 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, perhaps I can clarify the timetable a little bit. “The summer” means “a little later than shortly”. To address the substance of his question, this is about the need to test systems. The Queen Elizabeth class carriers are the largest and most complex warships ever built in this country. It is essential that we thoroughly test the ship’s many complex systems before she begins sea trials. None of the issues now being tested will affect acceptance of contract of HMS “Queen Elizabeth” later this year. The work is within the tolerance that we had anticipated in the contract schedule.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

When the carriers have been sorted out, can we have a Spithead review so that we can see for ourselves the size and might of the new British Navy?

[Earl Howe]

I am sure that the First Sea Lord will be very interested in that suggestion.

Defence Estate

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Spicer

Monday 7th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

I shall need to write to the noble Lord on that.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

My Lords, anything which improves the morale and efficiency of the Armed Forces is to be welcomed in the face of the rising Russian menace. In that context, and relevant to it, can my noble friend say at some time, if not now, what number of hostile probes there have been in NATO by Russian naval ships and by the Russian air force?

RAF Red Arrows

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Spicer

Tuesday 13th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I would not wish to give the House the impression that the decision taken in relation to Farnborough will apply to every other air show because each event is assessed on a case-by-case basis. There will be many shows and other events where the Red Arrows will continue to perform with an acceptable degree of risk, but that risk always exists and safety must remain the paramount consideration at all times. I am afraid that I cannot agree with the noble and gallant Lord about the Red Arrows remaining at Farnborough and performing a flypast. I think that the flypast was appreciated, as was the static display on the ground.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Earl Howe]

I thought I detected in that question some scepticism as to the value of the Red Arrows. Frankly, I am surprised by that because they are fantastic global ambassadors for the United Kingdom. They promote the best of Britain and represent the speed, agility and precision of the Royal Air Force. They showcase the professionalism of our Armed Forces very well. I will write to the noble Lord with the figure that he seeks. It is not as easy for me to quote a figure as perhaps some might think.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

If we continue to delay decisions at Gatwick and Heathrow, will we not be forced to make more use of Farnborough anyway?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, that will emerge when the decision on their runway capacity is announced.

Royal Navy

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Spicer

Thursday 5th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the noble Lord, with his experience of the Royal Marines, makes an extremely good point. No doubt that issue will be at the forefront of the planners’ minds at present.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

My Lords, is it not true that a Royal Navy ship shot down a missile yesterday? If so, should we not have more ships than admirals perhaps?

Tax Credits (Income Thresholds and Determination of Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

Debate between Earl Howe and Lord Spicer

Monday 26th October 2015 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

Look, I cannot take those comments in any sort of context, having not read them. Of course, I accept what the noble Lord has reported about the leader of the Conservative Party in Scotland, but I am not aware of the general context in which she was speaking and I hope he will understand that.

[Lord Spicer (Con)]

Will the noble Earl say how these figures compare with the budget for the nation’s entire defence spending, which he deals with in his day job?

[Earl Howe]

The regulations before us account for £4.4 billion of public expenditure in the next financial year. That is a large slice of the defence budget, but it is not the total defence budget. It will however mean that the Chancellor has more money at his disposal to spend on schools, hospitals and those with disabilities. Incidentally, I say to the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of York that the national living wage is possible only because the economy of this country is strengthening, and it is strengthening because there is a high degree of confidence in the Government’s economic programme and their ability to deliver economic stability by, among other things, reducing the deficit. One has to look at the totality of what the Chancellor’s programme consists of.