Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost is of the Spearfish heavy weight torpedo programme.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The total funds allocated for the Spearfish torpedo programme are approximately £1154 million which incorporates the cost of the through life management of the programme.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to launch the Global Combat Air Programme development phase of the next generation fighter aircraft.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Work is ongoing with our GCAP Partners Japan and Italy to establish the core platform concept and set up the structures needed, ready to launch the Development Phase in 2025.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the reasons for recent drone activity near (a) RAF Lakenheath, (b) RAF Mildenhall and (c) RAF Feltwell.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We take these matters seriously and the Ministry of Defence is working in partnership with our allies and the appropriate civilian authorities as they investigate this matter.
The use of uncrewed aerial systems around protected areas in the UK causes a risk to life and is illegal. We will work with civil authorities to prosecute those responsible.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the projected number of army cadets for each year of the remainder of this Parliament.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are currently c. 75,000 cadets and c. 11,000 cadet force adult volunteers involved in the Army Cadets.
Work is currently underway to understand opportunities for expansion across Ministry of Defence Cadets. Although it is too early to make an accurate assessment on projected numbers, the work aims to reflect the important contribution cadets make to society.
Research has for example shown that participation in Cadets increases social mobility and improves the health and wellbeing of young people, producing an annual return on investment in the region of £95 million. We are committed to sustaining the Cadet Forces across the UK.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he expects all F-35 aircraft to be delivered by the end of 2025.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Prime Contractor of the F35, Lockheed Martin, has confirmed its intention to deliver the 48 UK aircraft ordered so far (Tranche 1) by the end of 2025.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards have been issued in Northern Ireland since January 2024.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As of 24 October, 4,687 Veteran Cards have been issued to recipients in Northern Ireland since January 2024.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to create a welfare services governance board for veterans' issues in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government is committed to ensuring that veterans are able to access the appropriate support they require wherever they live in the UK and will be seeking to more effectively coordinate and cohere the support that is available.
This will build on the successful expansion of the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland to all veterans and their families across Northern Ireland, the work of the 11 Veterans’ Champions in Northern Ireland and of the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Committee, and the forthcoming enhancement of the Office for Veterans Affairs’ presence in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of Chinook CH-47 aircraft that will be delivered during this Parliament.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
14 new build Chinook H-47(ER) aircraft are estimated to be delivered between July 2024 and July 2029.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement, signed on 11 January 2023, whether he plans to deploy armed forces to the South China Sea in proximity to Taiwan.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement enables UK and Japanese military personnel to operate and exercise together in each other’s countries. There are no plans to utilise the RAA in the South China Sea.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the environmental impact of the UK's nuclear test programmes in Kiritimati in the last 10 years.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 November 2023 to Question 2731 to the hon. Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy).