Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to take (a) HMS Albion and b) HMS Bulwark out of extended readiness.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 2024 to Question 21289 to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Mr Luke Pollard). https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-04-12/21289
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his expected timetable is to retire HMS Westminster.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
HMS Westminster will be placed up for disposal, following the development of an associated timetable of works. It is not possible at this stage to confirm how long the disposal process itself will take.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many DragonFire systems are planned to enter service in the Royal Navy in (a) 2027, (b) 2028, (c) 2029 and (d) 2030.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The MOD has committed to accelerating DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) into operational capability by equipping multiple Royal Navy vessels with DragonFire systems from 2027 and all systems planned to be operational by 2030. DragonFire systems will be installed on Navy platforms around five years faster than previously planned service dates and will establish Laser DEW capability across multiple vessels.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it has been agreed how much BAE Systems will pay to purchase HMS Argyll.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The timetable and sale price of HMS Argyll are subject to negotiation with BAE systems.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his expected timetable is to sell HMS Argyll to BAE Systems.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The timetable and sale price of HMS Argyll are subject to negotiation with BAE systems.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release of 23 April 2024 entitled PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 23 April 2024, whether the £500 million for Ukraine in 2024 will be drawn from the Treasury reserves.
Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Prime Minister has committed to providing £3bn in military support to Ukraine in 2024-25. This is part of our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence in 2030, which is fully funded with no increase in borrowing or debt.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spring Budget 2024, whether the £2.5bn in military support for Ukraine in 2024 will be drawn from the Treasury reserves.
Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Prime Minister has committed to providing £3bn in military support to Ukraine in 2024-25. This is part of our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence in 2030, which is fully funded with no increase in borrowing or debt.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the civil war in Sudan.
Answered by Leo Docherty
Following the conclusion of the evacuation operation from Sudan in May 2023, officials have taken on ongoing coordination between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on Sudan. Officials at both senior and working levels meet regularly with their counterparts at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office to discuss Sudan.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in (a) the US and (b) France on the war in Sudan since the start of that conflict.
Answered by Leo Docherty
Following the conclusion of the evacuation operation from Sudan in May 2023, officials have taken on ongoing coordination on Sudan. Officials engage regularly with their American and French counterparts on a variety of issues across Africa, including the situation in Sudan.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Rawmarsh and Conisbrough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officials in his Department work on the Sudan desk as of 16 May 2024.
Answered by Leo Docherty
We have a strong Defence team working on Sudan to monitor the situation and support wider Government work towards a ceasefire. The department retains the option to adjust resource when necessary, to ensure the level of coverage remains appropriate.