Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to bring forward the delivery date for the F-35 fleet.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
UK F-35 aircraft are being procured in ‘Tranches’, in line with Defence need. Delivery of our Tranche 1 buy (48 aircraft) will complete by 2025. The Government has outlined plans to buy a further 27 aircraft as part of a second procurement phase, which we expect to complete in the early part of the next decade. We expect the production line to continue to run for many years. We will consider again in the mid-2020s the F-35 fleet size as part of the next Strategic Defence Review
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on Diego Garcia in the past three months.
Answered by James Heappey
We are in regular contact with the US administration on matters related to the British Indian Ocean Territory at both Ministerial and official levels.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) expanding RAF operations in addition to the Joint Helicopter Flying Station Aldergrove and (b) re-establishing RAF Aldergrove at Belfast International Airport.
Answered by James Heappey
The RAF continually assesses its basing footprint based on operational needs. The RAF is embarked upon a significant programme of investment across its Estate to ensure that it meets the demands of its future activity. Based on operational priorities, the increased use of Aldergrove Flying Station does not currently feature within the RAF's plans for future basing. Should operational demands change, the RAF will ensure all viable options are considered as part of any future review.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met with his (a) Australian and (b) US counterparts to discuss AUKUS since his appointment.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work well with his US and Australian counterparts on AUKUS. Last month, our Secretary of State met with the US Secretary for Defense, Lloyd Austin; while earlier this month he visited Rolls-Royce's nuclear reactor manufacturing site in Derby alongside the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to tackle drug smuggling in the Caribbean United Kingdom Overseas Territories.
Answered by James Heappey
A Royal Navy ship is persistently deployed to the Caribbean. In conjunction with the US, this ship conducts counter illicit trafficking operations to directly intercept drug smugglers. In addition, a Royal Naval officer provides UK liaison to the US Joint Inter Agency Task Force (South) in Florida to ensure that we collaborate to best effect with allies. The MOD also provides capacity building to the Overseas Territories, including their Defence Regiments, to build their resilience against a range of threats.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing air support to Israel from RAF Akrotiri in its war against Hamas.
Answered by James Heappey
RAF Akrotiri offers important basing options for the United Kingdom in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will not, however, offer comment further on operational matters.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to support Israel in its defence against Hamas terrorism.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK and Israel have a long-standing and deep defence relationship. The Prime Minister has offered support to the Israeli Defence Forces but no decisions have yet been taken on the shape of that support.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's projected spending on nuclear powered surface vessels for the Royal Navy is in the (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26 financial year; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy has never had any surface vessels that are nuclear powered and there is no programme or intention to convert the current fleet to be nuclear powered in future.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's timeline is for converting the remaining diesel-powered Royal Navy surface fleet to nuclear power.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy has never had any surface vessels that are nuclear powered and there is no programme or intention to convert the current fleet to be nuclear powered in future.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions his Department has recorded the presence of a Spanish naval vessel in Gibraltarian territorial waters in each of the past six months.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence has recorded the presence of 11 Spanish naval vessels in Gibraltarian territorial waters in the last six months. This is broken down by month as follows:
Month | Innocent Passage | Surface Incursion | Total |
Apr | 1 | 1 | 2 |
May | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Jun | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Jul | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Aug | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Sep | 0 | 1 | 1 |