Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of engineers recruited by (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force in each year since 2017; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The requested information is provided in the attached document.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to award contracts for the Power Improvement Project for the Type 45 destroyer class.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
On current plans, we anticipate that the Ministry of Defence will be able to award the contract for the Power Improvement Project for the Type 45 Destroyer class in early 2018.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) current deployment and (b) planned out-of-service date is for RFA Fort Austin.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) FORT AUSTIN is not currently deployed and is alongside in the Liverpool area. On current plans, she will retire from service in 2024.
It is standard practice for Royal Navy and RFA ships to cycle through different readiness states in response to our operational needs. The RFA remains integral to the Royal Navy's deployments and global presence.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.9 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 - First Annual Report 2016, published in December 2016, and his oral evidence to the Defence Select Committee of 31 January 2017, for what reason the expected start date of sea trials by HMS Queen Elizabeth has changed.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH is currently undertaking harbour trials as part of her test and integration phase. This phase will demonstrate the readiness for sea of the ship's on board systems and address any technical issues, which are expected in a programme of this scale and complexity.
Sea trials will begin to emerge on successful completion of this phase followed by her acceptance into service with the Royal Navy later in the year, as planned. It is too early at this stage to be specific about dates, which are also dependent on tides and weather conditions.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, during which month he expects HMS Queen Elizabeth to depart Rosyth for her first sea trials.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH is currently undertaking harbour trials as part of her test and integration phase. This phase will demonstrate the readiness for sea of the ship's on board systems and address any technical issues, which are expected in a programme of this scale and complexity.
Sea trials will begin to emerge on successful completion of this phase followed by her acceptance into service with the Royal Navy later in the year, as planned. It is too early at this stage to be specific about dates, which are also dependent on tides and weather conditions.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to replace the capability of the Harpoon missile after it leaves service in 2018.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Royal Navy (RN) continuously reviews the capabilities required to deliver their tasking. As part of this process the RN is working alongside other areas of the Ministry of Defence to consider options for Harpoon replacement.
I am withholding further detail as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with what anti-ship armament the Class 26 frigate will be equipped.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Vertical Launch Silo that will be fitted to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) will have the flexibility to utilise a variety of missiles depending on the threat, mission and future Defence decisions.
In addition, my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon) announced on 4 November 2016 that a £100 million contract has been placed to deliver the Sea Ceptor self-defence missile system for the Type 26 GCS. The Type 26 will be fitted with the Sea Ceptor missile system and a 5" Medium Calibre Gun, both of which can contribute to the anti-ship capability of the maritime task group.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to renew the capabilities provided by the former RFA Diligence for repair and maintenance of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Forward Repair Ship, RFA DILIGENCE, is one part of a system providing support facilities to deployed ships and submarines. This support is regularly supplemented by commercial arrangements and international agreements and, when bespoke afloat capabilities are required, these are contracted on the open commercial market.
We continue to consider all our capability requirements depending on the operational task.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Type 26 frigate will be able to operate across the full range of climatic conditions in which the Royal Navy operates.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Type 26 Global Combat Ship will be designed for joint and multinational operations from the tropics and Arabian Gulf in the summer to the sub-Arctic. The ship's design will accommodate a broad range of environmental conditions to deliver a globally deployable ship throughout its planned life.
I am withholding further detail as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to extend the operational life of the Type 23 frigate.
Answered by Philip Dunne
There are currently no plans to extend further the out of service dates for the Type 23 Frigates.