Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with military and civilian personnel on the proposed MoD site closures; and what assistance his Department plans to give to people required to relocate.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
"A Better Defence Estate" is a military-led review. All military and civilian personnel at sites identified for closure were informed at the time of the announcement through their chain of command. Staff will continue to be kept up to date, through the chain of command, on plans and developments for their sites.
Military personnel currently based at sites identified for closure will be relocated with their unit or re-assigned in accordance with existing career management procedures. As much notice as possible will be provided.
Civilian staff will be expected to honour the mobility obligations if their post is being relocated. Where an individual's post is being relocated outside the scope of their personal mobility obligation they will be managed in accordance with normal Departmental policy and processes.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the procurement of type 31E general purpose frigates; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Ministry of Defence continues to progress the Type 31e General Purpose Frigate requirement. The programme is in its pre-concept phase.
This work is considering the capability the ships will need based on their role, operating environment and the threats they will need to counter.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether training has been provided by British service personnel in Ukraine to any members of (a) Azov special operations regiment and (b) the Aidar territorial defence battalion; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mike Penning
British Service personnel in Ukraine have not provided any training to members of the Azov special operations regiment or the Aidar territorial defence battalion.
Our training mission in Ukraine, Operation ORBITAL, delivers defensive, non-escalatory training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reducing fatalities and casualties and building their capacity and resilience. Additionally, through our Defence Attaché and Special Defence Advisor in Kyiv, we provide training and support to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of our defence engagement programme.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to procure general purpose frigates, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 set out the Ministry of Defence plans to replace the eight Type 23 frigates that are optimised for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) on a one for one basis with eight Type 26 Global Combat Ships, fitted with the full range of equipment required to fulfil the ASW role.
The Review also concluded that the remainder of the Royal Navy's future frigate requirement would be better met by a new class of lighter, flexible, general purpose frigates (GPFF) than by the five general purpose Type 26 ships previously planned.The GPFF programme is currently in its pre-concept phase.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the effect of changes to the timetable in the procurement of Type 26 Frigates on (a) jobs, (b) apprenticeships and (c) skills in the affected shipyards in the next six months.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor (Philip Dunne) gave on 27 June 2016 to Question 905474 to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Margaret Ferrier).
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what functions his Department carries out centrally which he plans to add to the functions of Defence Business Services; and what the timescale for any such transfer of functions is.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. Decisions concerning whether more work is transferred into DBS may be made where this makes sense for DBS and MOD in terms of efficient and effective delivery of supporting services and, ultimately, value for money. But, at this stage, no final decisions have been made and there are no firm plans or timescales for any such transfers.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any future corporate services integration and innovation provider for Defence Business Services will be permitted to bid for contracts for direct service delivery within the future Defence Business Services contract.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS' current operations will be outsourced. Decisions on whether any future Corporate Services Integration and Innovation Service supplier could bid for service delivery contracts in DBS would be made in line with the procurement legislation and regulations that applied at the time.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what footprint and locations within Defence Business Services his Department is planning for inclusion in the corporate services integration and innovation provider contract.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS' current operations will be outsourced and therefore which locations might be affected.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current timetable is for the completion and publication of the national shipbuilding strategy headed by Sir John Parker.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Sir John Parker will report on the national shipbuilding strategy by the Autumn Statement 2016, as stated in the Budget Report 16 March 2016, HC 901, paragraph 2.284.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence given by Duncan McPhee to the Defence Committee on 7 June 2016, HC221, at Question 120, what discussions his Department has had with other public bodies on increasing the number of apprenticeships in the shipbuilding industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The number of apprenticeships in the shipbuilding industry is primarily a matter for the contractors concerned. However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of apprenticeships in developing the essential skills needed by industry to deliver defence outputs. As one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in the UK, the MOD plays an important role in helping the Government meet its commitment to reaching three million apprenticeship starts in England by 2020. We also work closely with colleagues across Government and industry to ensure that necessary defence skills are maintained. For example, as part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 'Trailblazer' programme, the Royal Navy is working with industry partners to develop new world-class apprenticeship standards for engineers working on shipbuilding and maintenance.