Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to ensure that UK defence exports continue to be supported after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Defence exports will continue to be supported, not just by Defence, but by other Government Departments including the Department for International Trade, after the UK leaves the EU. Work is ongoing to explore how to strengthen the competitiveness of UK industry and support exports, both to the EU and globally.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent research her Department has commissioned on the threat environment.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence, as part of wider Government, keeps threats and potential threats under constant review using a wide range of information sources including research.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the annual (a) maintenance, (b) spares, (c) fuel, (d) provision and (e) other running costs of a (i) Type 45 Destroyer, (ii) Type 26 Destroyer, (iii) Landing Platform Helicopter, (iv) Landing Platform Dock, (v) Hunt Class Minehunter and (vi) Astute Class Submarine.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of fast jets are able to be deployed into immediate action.
Answered by Mike Penning
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given in the House of Lords by the Minister of State for Defence in the Lords (Earl Howe) on 6 January 2017 to Questions HL4278 and HL4282.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the provision of helicopter-borne anti-ship missiles for the Royal Navy after the withdrawal from service of Sea Skua missiles.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapons programme will provide the Royal Navy with Sea Venom and Martlet missiles, both of which can be launched from helicopters.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the in-service date for the GWS 60 Harpoon beyond 2018.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Harpoon system currently carried by the Royal Navy will reach its out of service date in 2018.
As part of a process of continuously reviewing the capabilities required to deliver their tasking, the Royal Navy is working alongside other areas of the Ministry of Defence to consider options for a Harpoon replacement.
I am withholding further detail as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect the armed forces from persistent legal claims.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
As we promised in our manifesto, I am examining with colleagues across Government a range of measures which will reduce litigation against our Armed Forces. This litigation makes it harder for them to do their jobs, causes them great stress and undermines international humanitarian law. The Prime Minister has already set in hand work to discourage opportunistic legal action. I will announce my proposals in the near future.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that mortgage lenders are aware of the Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme.
Answered by Philip Dunne
As announced by the Secretary of State for Defence in September 2013, the Forces Help to Buy scheme was launched on 1 April 2014. The Department has worked closely with the Council of Mortgage Lenders throughout the development and roll-out of the scheme. There have also been consultations with a range of other bodies, such as the Building Societies Association, the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries and the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as with individual mortgage lenders.