Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Maritime Information Centre shares all intelligence data with the government departments and agencies involved.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The National Maritime Information Centre (NMIC) is an integral part of the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) and not a separate entity. The JMSC is responsible for providing Maritime Domain Awareness and Understanding to all of government and UK law enforcement: this is underpinned by the Royal Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness Programme which provides the essential data layer to JMSC.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the new environmental, social and governance rules on (1) defence companies' costs and ability to access financial services, and (2) Ministry of Defence procurement costs.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Trade associations and individual companies have raised the issue of ESG in discussions with Ministers and officials from across government.
While we have so far seen no evidence that ESG criteria are leading to increased procurement costs, we are aware of instances where companies, particularly SMEs, have found obstacles to accessing financial services.
Officials across Government are working closely with trade associations and the financial sector to understand the nature and extent of the issue, and agree mitigating actions where appropriate. The Government is unequivocal that there is nothing unethical about investing in and providing financial services to the UK defence sector and the financial services sector should not be disadvantaging companies based on their association with defence. On the contrary, a strong national defence is a pre-requisite for the freedoms and rule of law that we often take for granted.
Industry and Government are also showing leadership on all aspects of the ESG agenda as illustrated by the recent launch of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy. We will continue this work with our industrial partners to explore and champion the wider environmental and social benefit of the defence sector.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 19 July (HL9306), what assessment they have made of whether the ships of the Russian Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research are responsible for surveys and operations involving seabed infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As a matter of long-standing policy, the Government does not comment on the specific detail of classified intelligence matters.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 10 July (HL8794), whether the National Maritime Information Centre records incursions into the UK's territorial seas and Exclusive Economic Zone by ships of the Russian Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research; and if so, how many have been made during the past two years.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The National Maritime Information Centre is a part of the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC). JMSC does not routinely record and archive the number of entries by foreign vessels into the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone. The number of instances JMSC utilises aviation assets to identify specific Vessels of Interest is, however, recorded. In the last two years, JMSC has flown 21 flights to identify 18 Russian vessels.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government when HMS Prince of Wales will start sea trials after defect rectification work.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
I refer the noble Lord to the answer that I gave to him on 3 April 2023 to Question HL6891.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many incursions into the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone have been made by ships of the Russian Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research during the past two years.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Defence does not routinely record and archive the number of entries by foreign vessels into the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone. The number of instances that the Royal Navy is employed to escort a foreign vessel is, however, recorded. In 2021 the Royal Navy escorted 66 Russian warships through UK waters; 41 such warships were escorted in 2022. During the same period the Royal Navy also located and tracked several Russian submarines in the UK's marine area to guard against intrusion into UK sensitive waters.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what Royal Navy (1) ships or boats, and (2) aircraft, are allocated for security and enforcement operations in the UK's Territorial Seas and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Royal Navy operates a flexible and responsive approach to the allocation of resource to address national security threats to the UK. In terms of vessel types, the Royal Navy allocates frigates, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels, and minehunters, as well as helicopters (Wildcat, Merlin, and Chinook) to UK security operations. Additionally, the Royal Air Force supports operations in the UK maritime area with P8 maritime patrol aircraft.
It would be misleading to provide a numerical answer on the numbers of vessels and aircraft available for maritime security purposes as allocations may change on a daily basis, affected by, amongst other things, operational readiness profiles, maintenance, training and exercise requirements, as well as the activity of other nations in and around the UK's Economic Exclusion Zone.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their current assessment of the number of fast jet pilots now coming out of training.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
We continue to have sufficient aircrew to meet our operational commitments. A range of measures have been introduced to address challenges in the aircrew training pipeline, including the continued impact of the Hawk T2 engine issues which have reduced UK Sovereign pilot training capacity. To mitigate this, a small number of UK students will be trained overseas in partnership with our allies and partners to ensure Front Line demands are met.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) ships or craft, and (2) aircraft, are allocated by each department for security and enforcement operations in the UK's Territorial Seas and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are more than 100 surface vessels and 10 crewed aircraft available in the HMG inventory to deliver maritime security. The Government does not confirm exact numbers for operational and security reasons. The number available on any given day is based on operational readiness profiles; for example, requirements for maintenance and training, and use for wider operational tasking. The Joint Maritime Security Centre maintains a record of the HMG inventory, which is regularly reviewed and updated.
In delivering maritime security in the UK Marine Area, the UK operates a layered approach to coastal and maritime defence, including on-shore resources, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, to detect those seeking either to smuggle illicit goods or to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.
Asked by: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Joint Maritime Security Centre and National Maritime Information Centre are up to complement; and who has operational command.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
JMSC is jointly sponsored by the Home Office and Department for Transport, with support in kind provided by the Ministry of Defence. It is led by the Head of JMSC, currently James Morgan, a Border Force officer. Border Force exercises management responsibility over the JMSC on behalf of the Sponsoring Departments. It is expected to reach full complement later this year.