Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF aircraft are conducting military operations against ISIS in Iraq.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
UK aircraft deployed in the fight against ISIL consists of eight Tornado, two C130 transport aircraft, one Voyager re-fueler, one Sentinel surveillance aircraft, one Airseeker surveillance aircraft and Reaper remotely piloted aircraft.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on steps to tackle ISIS in Iraq of UK involvement in military operations in Syria.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The fight against ISIL needs to be carried forward in both Syria and Iraq. We judge that increasing action against ISIL's command and control capacity, its military materiel and its cross-border communication and supply routes in Syria will assist the Counter-ISIL/Da'esh campaign in Iraq.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the replacement of radar capable of distinguishing between wind turbines and missiles at its Hebridean range.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Air space management and missile tracking activity at the Hebrides Test and Evaluation Range requires interaction between three local radar systems. A technical upgrade of one radar system was undertaken earlier this year including capability to potentially mitigate the detection of aircraft type targets from possible interference from wind turbines. In the next few years it is also planned to replace a second radar system, although on current plans this will not include capability to mitigate wind turbine interference. There are no plans to replace the third radar system which is not susceptible to interference from wind turbines.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often his Department has made use of its agreement with Storas Uibhist to turn off the turbines when the range has been used for training purposes or has been otherwise active.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
It has not been necessary for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to exercise its rights under the agreement with Storas Uibhist to turn off the turbines. However, the MOD retains its rights, under the agreement, to do so in the interests of air safety should this be deemed necessary.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the area of North Uist was last used for military exercise prior to the North Uist Development Company applying for planning permission in 2013.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence holds no records of a training area in North Uist in the past 10 years.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to arrange for buildings pertaining to Hebrides Range on St Kilda, which were damaged by recent high winds, to be repaired.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Detailed assessments are being undertaken to determine the extent of repair work required to buildings and equipment at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) tracking station on St Kilda following the recent severe storms. This work is planned to be completed very shortly.
It is intended that as much of this work as possible should be conducted in parallel with an existing programme to upgrade equipment at the MOD Hebrides Range, which is currently under way and is due to be completed by late spring 2015.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of recent storm damage to buildings and infrastructure relating to Hebrides Range on St Kilda.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Detailed assessments are being undertaken to determine the extent of repair work required to buildings and equipment at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) tracking station on St Kilda following the recent severe storms. This work is planned to be completed very shortly.
It is intended that as much of this work as possible should be conducted in parallel with an existing programme to upgrade equipment at the MOD Hebrides Range, which is currently under way and is due to be completed by late spring 2015.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what D-notices have been issued by the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee since April 2012; and if he will place copies of such notices in the Library.
Answered by Michael Fallon
Defence Advisory (DA) Notices are issued and managed by the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee (DPBAC), which is an advisory body and is not part of the Department.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which other (a) NATO and (b) non-NATO nations are investing in defence assets in the Hebrides.
Answered by Philip Dunne
International funding to broaden the capability of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Hebrides Range has been agreed, but I am withholding further details as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice relations between the UK and another State. Separate work to upgrade the Remote Radar Head at Benbecula (North Uist) is being funded entirely by the MOD with no investment from other NATO or non-NATO nations.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what area of (a) sea and (b) land in square miles is covered by the defence radars on Uist.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Radar ranges depend on many factors, for example target size, direction, height and atmosphere.