Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Japan, and whether they will publicise those plans in good time before the events.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government announced the VE and VJ Day 80 programme with a statement to both Houses on 13 March. Debates were held on the same topic on 6 May in the House of Commons and on 9 May in the House of Lords.
On Friday 15 August, the Royal British Legion, supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will lead a service at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, honouring those who served in the War in the Far East.
DCMS is also supporting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to run more than 250 mobile exhibitions across the UK and at key global commemorative sites to the Pacific, highlighting the stories of those who fought in the Second World War.
To recognise the war’s continuation beyond VE Day and the sacrifices made in the Far East, the Government’s National Engagement Programme runs throughout this 80th anniversary year to include both VE and VJ Day. More information is available at ve-vjday80.gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they support the recovery of all of Ukraine’s pre-2014 territory including Crimea; and, if not, what they are seeking to achieve through its assistance to Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes to defend itself and secure a just and lasting peace. The clearest path to peace is for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine tomorrow. It is for Ukraine to determine its position on its long-term future. A strong, sovereign, and secure Ukraine that is able to defend against and deter future aggression is in the UK's interest.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term future of the UK’s amphibious capability following the announcement that HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark will be retired from service by the end of March 2025; when they intend to make a further announcement about their replacement; and whether the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review will take account of this decision.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Marines will continue to be supported by three Bay Class landing ships and RFA Argus until the introduction of up-to-six Multi Role Support Ships. The first of these will enter service in 2033.
The Secretary of State has confirmed that the future for our Royal Marines will be reinforced in the Strategic Defence Review.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what variants of CV12 power packs are fitted to (1) the Challenger 2 tank, (2) the Challenger Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (CHARRV), and (3) the Trojan armoured engineer tank.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The variants of the CV12 powerpacks fitted to the Challenger base vehicle family are:
| Powerpack |
Challenger 2 | CV12-6A |
Challenger 3 | CV12-9A |
Challenger Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (CRARRV) | CV12-5C/6C |
TITAN/TROJAN | CV12-8A |
A small number of CRARRV vehicles are currently fitted with CV12-5C powerpacks that will be replaced with CV12-6C powerpacks on failure or when the vehicle is attending base workshop, whichever comes first.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the power pack fitted to the new Challenger 3 is (1) a contemporary CV12 engine similar to a 5A, or (2) a CV12 with common rail fuel injection and new engine management system, or (3) something else; and if it is something else, what is its specification.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The variants of the CV12 powerpacks fitted to the Challenger base vehicle family are:
| Powerpack |
Challenger 2 | CV12-6A |
Challenger 3 | CV12-9A |
Challenger Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (CRARRV) | CV12-5C/6C |
TITAN/TROJAN | CV12-8A |
A small number of CRARRV vehicles are currently fitted with CV12-5C powerpacks that will be replaced with CV12-6C powerpacks on failure or when the vehicle is attending base workshop, whichever comes first.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in rationalising the variants of the CV12 power packs fitted to the various marks and variants of the Challenger 2 tank, including the armoured engineer vehicles.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Overall powerpack commonality can be only achieved between Challenger 2, Challenger 3 and the Challenger Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle following the identification of a replacement refrigerant to fill the crew temperature control system to comply with the Montreal protocol. A post-design services task has been placed on contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land for this work.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Challenger 3 tank has been trialled by (1) the Armoured Trials and Development Unit at Bovington, or (2) an equivalent establishment; and if so, (a) what track mileage has been covered so far, and (b) with what type of power pack.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Challenger 3 programme remains in the early stages of Demonstration and Manufacture, with detailed design work ongoing prior to Critical Design Review. The assembly of initial prototypes will follow along with a detailed trials programme.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect international underwater telecommunication cables; and what would be the consequences of a failure to do so.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
Sub-sea cables are a critical part of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure connecting the UK to the rest of the world. Working with operators, DCMS ensures their security and resilience. We support industry efforts to enhance the cable networks’ resilience to loss or damage and provide advice and guidance to mitigate the risks posed by physical and cyber threats.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to The Integrated Review 2021, published on 16 March, what will be the level of readiness of the 3rd (UK) Division; and how many days would it take for at least one manoeuvre brigade to be deployed in an operational theatre outside of the European mainland.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Army is always ready to fulfil the task of protecting the nation and holds various people and units at different readiness, along with the equipment and stocks required to support them, to enable us to compete against our adversaries, tackle threats at source and reassure allies.
I am unable to disclose further details of the level of readiness of the 3rd (UK) Division, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces.
Asked by: Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it will be possible for a fully formed and equipped 3 Commando Brigade to be embarked on shipping that (1) is owned by, or is under the control of, Her Majesty's Government, or (2) that can be made available to Her Majesty's Government (a) whatever the intentional circumstances, and (b) without significant recourse to the United States assets.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
As set out in the Integrated Review, the Royal Marines are now in transition to the Future Commando Force (FCF). The FCF re-designs how Commando Forces operate and fight.
Through one element of this, they will form two Littoral Response Groups (LRG) with associated enablers, including shipping. One LRG will be persistently deployed East of Suez, with an Initial Operating Capability in 2023.