Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) spent on the Global Combat Air Programme Tempest programme as of 6 February 2024.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The March 2021 Defence Command Paper reaffirmed that that we will invest more than £2 billion in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) out to 2025, and we have spent over £1.8 billion so far. This is part of a budget of over £12 billion over the next 10 years. The amount that we ultimately invest will be determined at future decision points.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence has invested over £1.1 billion in R&D through the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI), with a further £600 million from our Team Tempest industry partners to date.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned delivery dates are for (a) HMS Sheffield, (b) HMS Newcastle, (c) HMS Edinburgh and (d) HMS London.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The Initial Operating Capability for the Type 26 Class is forecast to be October 2028. All ships are expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035.
To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific delivery or in-service dates for warships to avoid revealing elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule. However, the Royal Navy continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to deliver operational outputs.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether children will be detained at Derwentside immigration removal centre.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
Derwentside immigration removal centre, currently a female only centre, will be converted into a facility for men in due course. There is no intention for children to be detained at Derwentside.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when was ministerial approval granted to UK Export Finance to advance negotiations with Harland & Wolff in relation to a proposed £200 million guaranteed loan facility under the Export Development Guarantee Scheme.
Answered by Greg Hands
Ministerial agreement for UK Export Finance to advance negotiations with Harland & Wolff was granted on 22 December 2023
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the subcontractors involved in fabrication work on the Type 26 programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to question 12598 on the 6 February 2024.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2024 to Question 9179 on HMS Prince of Wales, whether the Government of Malaysia has asked for technical support in the assessment and identification of potential human remains recovered from the wreck of HMS Prince of Wales through unauthorised salvage operations.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
Investigations into the illegal salvage of HMS Prince of Wales are still ongoing, it would not be appropriate to provide a response regarding human remains and the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre's involvement until these have concluded.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2024 to Question 9179 on HMS Prince of Wales, whether the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre is involved in the assessment and identification of potential human remains recovered from the wreck of HMS Prince of Wales through unauthorised salvage operations.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
Investigations into the illegal salvage of HMS Prince of Wales are still ongoing, it would not be appropriate to provide a response regarding human remains and the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre's involvement until these have concluded.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with BAE Systems on subcontractor work on the Type 26 programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
BAE Systems are responsible for managing their subcontractors on the Type 26 programme, which the Ministry of Defence oversees. The Department has regular reviews with BAE Systems where overall performance, including that of subcontractors, is discussed. At the present time, sub-contracted fabrication work is undertaken by Cammell Laird, A&P Tyne and Ferguson Marine.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take legislative steps to exempt members of the Local Government Pension Scheme from the proposed increase to the national minimum pension age in April 2028.
Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The normal minimum pension age is the lowest age at which the majority of members can take benefits from a registered pension scheme without incurring tax charges, except in cases of ill-health. It will increase from age 55 to age 57 in April 2028.
This change will not apply to members of the police, firefighters or armed forces public service schemes, nor to those whose scheme rules provide an unqualified right to take benefits before age 57. Members with these rights will have a protected pension age. Whether an individual has a protected pension age will depend on their pension scheme rules.
Although the Government keeps all tax rules under review, there are no plans to make any changes to this increase in the normal minimum pension age.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of clearances were processed by United Kingdom Security Vetting within 95 days in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General
In December 2023, United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) processed 91.22% of routine initial Developed Vetting cases in 95 days and 8.62% of Developed Vetting review cases. For routine Security Check (SC)/Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearances UKSV completed 95.1% of routine cases within 25 days.
In 2023, UKSV implemented a stabilisation programme which included an increase in headcount. Under Ministerial direction, UKSV prioritised the recovery of initial Developed Vetting turnaround times, followed by Security Check and Counter Terrorist Check turnaround times. These first two targets were met on time. UKSV is currently focussing efforts to maintain the performance of these and is making good progress to meet the third target to recover the turnaround times of Developed Vetting review cases by the end of March 2024.
In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.