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Written Question
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the threat posed to the UK by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Answered by James Heappey

The Government has long held concerns over the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp's destabilising activity throughout the region, both directly and through a number of militant and proscribed groups. Through our close defence partnerships across the Middle East and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, the Ministry of Defence keeps these potential threats under regular review.


Written Question
Shipbuilding: Public Expenditure
Friday 12th November 2021

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 on the National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Budget announced on 27 October 2021 included a number of measures which will support the Government's ambition to create a globally successful, innovative and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise, including the extension of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition to a multi-year programme as part of the Government’s commitment to a UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK-SHORE).

Further detail of our plans will be set out in the National Shipbuilding Refresh, which will be published later this year.


Written Question
Shipbuilding
Monday 8th November 2021

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 on the publication timeline for the National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

It remains our intent to publish the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh later this year.


Written Question
Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement
Friday 21st May 2021

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest timeline is for the Fleet Solid Support competition.

Answered by Ben Wallace

In keeping with the timescales I set out in the Autumn last year, the Contract Notice, signaling the start of the new competition for the Fleet Solid Support Ships was issued on 21 May. On current plans manufacture contract award is due within two years.


Written Question
Shipbuilding
Friday 4th December 2020

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the devolved Administrations on support for the UK shipbuilding industry.

Answered by Ben Wallace

In my role as Shipbuilding Tsar, I am acutely aware of the value of shipbuilding in the devolved nations. I am leading work across Government to deliver on my vision to create an innovative and competitive shipbuilding sector which supports jobs, skills and prosperity throughout the UK. The Ministry of Defence regularly holds discussions with the Devolved Administrations and with UK industry within each nation. Defence Ministers will continue to engage with Devolved Administrations and other stakeholders as we progress this Government's shipbuilding agenda.


Written Question
Shipbuilding
Thursday 3rd December 2020

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the competitiveness of the UK shipbuilding industry; and what steps he is taking to support that sector.

Answered by Ben Wallace

As demonstrated by my appointment as Shipbuilding Tsar, this Government recognises a need to re-energise some parts of the UK shipbuilding industry. A key objective of the National Shipbuilding Strategy is to improve the competitiveness of the UK shipbuilding industry.

I am working with the Maritime Enterprise Working Group to identify measures needed to improve competitiveness and productivity, enabling industry to step up and improve their chances of success when bidding for both UK and international shipbuilding contracts. This is a long-term programme of improvement, but I am firmly committed to delivering on the Government's vision for the sector.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Harrow East
Monday 4th November 2019

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department made of the effect on the local economy in Harrow East constituency of (a) spending and (b) investment by (i) his Department and (ii) the armed forces since 2015.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) over-riding priority is to provide national security for the UK as a whole and its extensive regional footprint exists to provide UK national security.

Spending or investment decisions are appraised on the basis of costs and benefits to UK society overall irrespective of the location of the expenditure, as required by HM Treasury Green Book.

The department does not routinely undertake assessments of the effect of national spending or investment decisions on local economies.

MOD Regional Expenditure with UK Industry and Commerce and Supported Employment is published at the Government Office Regional level as a National Statistic at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774871/Finance_and_economics_annual_statistical_bulletin_201718.pdf


Written Question
Nuclear Weapons: Employment
Monday 20th May 2019

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

What recent estimate she has made of the number of jobs supported by the nuclear defence sector.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We estimate, based on industry and Government statistics, that the Defence Nuclear Enterprise supports at least 30,000 jobs, supporting prosperity across the United Kingdom.


Written Question
Type 31 Frigates: Procurement
Monday 27th November 2017

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on implementing the National Shipbuilding Strategy and procuring the Type 31e frigate.

Answered by Harriett Baldwin

We launched the Type 31e programme on 7th September. It is in the pre-procurement phase and we have received expressions of interest from 22 companies against the requirement for an initial order of five ships at a maximum average price of £250 million per ship.


Written Question
Navy
Monday 10th July 2017

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to expand the Royal Navy.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The Royal Navy is growing for the first time in a generation. The first of two new aircraft carriers, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, is at sea conducting trials. There will be new submarines; frigates – we have placed the contract for the first three Type 26s; aircraft; patrol vessels; support ships and tankers. We will increase Naval personnel numbers by 400 to 30,600 by 2025.