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Written Question
Aircraft Carriers: Procurement
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the acquisition cost is of (a) a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier, (b) an air group of 24 F-35Bs with merlin helicopters, (c) two type 45 destroyers, (d) two type 23 frigates, (e) one Astute class submarine and (f) other support ships for a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier Battle Group.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The acquisition cost of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers was c. £6 billion.

The build cost of a Type 45 destroyer was calculated in 2013 to be £633 million (Official Report 2 December 2016 Question 55378).

Build costs of the Type 23 frigates varied between £92 and £120 million per ship over the period November 1992 to September 2002. (Official Report 2 July 2013, col. 610w).

For the acquisition costs of Astute Class submarines, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 September 2023 to Question 197698.

The support ships assigned to a Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier battle group and the composition of the embarked air group are dependent upon the nature of the tasking of the battle group and it is not therefore possible to provide a singular acquisition cost for such supporting shipping or for the air group.

F-35B aircraft are procured in batches and the unit price per batch has varied as production has proceeded. There is therefore no single acquisition cost for a group of 24 aircraft as the overall cost will depend on the batch from which each individual aircraft was procured.

There is no fixed ratio of F-35B aircraft to Merlin helicopters in a Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier embarked air group. Moreover, two different marks of Merlin helicopter may be embarked dependent on operational requirements. It is not therefore possible to provide a single acquisition cost for the Merlin helicopters that may be embarked with 24 F-35B aircraft.

As illustrated by the information provided in respect of Type 23 frigates it is not, for any class of ship or submarine, usually the case that the overall acquisition cost is shared equally across the class. First of Class vessels will incur a range of non-recurring costs that later vessels do not. Variations in price per vessel may also arise from increasing industry efficiency as construction progresses and from detailed changes in specification between vessels of the same class.


Written Question
Aircraft Carriers: Procurement
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the acquisition cost was of each of (a) the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and (b) their respective air groups.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The acquisition cost of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers was c. £6 billion.

The build cost of a Type 45 destroyer was calculated in 2013 to be £633 million (Official Report 2 December 2016 Question 55378).

Build costs of the Type 23 frigates varied between £92 and £120 million per ship over the period November 1992 to September 2002. (Official Report 2 July 2013, col. 610w).

For the acquisition costs of Astute Class submarines, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 September 2023 to Question 197698.

The support ships assigned to a Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier battle group and the composition of the embarked air group are dependent upon the nature of the tasking of the battle group and it is not therefore possible to provide a singular acquisition cost for such supporting shipping or for the air group.

F-35B aircraft are procured in batches and the unit price per batch has varied as production has proceeded. There is therefore no single acquisition cost for a group of 24 aircraft as the overall cost will depend on the batch from which each individual aircraft was procured.

There is no fixed ratio of F-35B aircraft to Merlin helicopters in a Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier embarked air group. Moreover, two different marks of Merlin helicopter may be embarked dependent on operational requirements. It is not therefore possible to provide a single acquisition cost for the Merlin helicopters that may be embarked with 24 F-35B aircraft.

As illustrated by the information provided in respect of Type 23 frigates it is not, for any class of ship or submarine, usually the case that the overall acquisition cost is shared equally across the class. First of Class vessels will incur a range of non-recurring costs that later vessels do not. Variations in price per vessel may also arise from increasing industry efficiency as construction progresses and from detailed changes in specification between vessels of the same class.


Written Question
RFA Fort Victoria
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated out of service date is for RFA Fort Victoria.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer that was given on 5 July 2023 to Question 191509 to the hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (Mr John Healey).


Written Question
RFA Fort Victoria
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the crew complement is of the RFA Fort Victoria.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

RFA FORT VICTORIA normally operates with 101 RFA personnel. However, this will vary according to operational requirements and tasking.


Written Question
RFA Fort Victoria
Monday 19th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RFA Fort Victoria is (a) awaiting a refit, (b) working up after a refit and (c) operationally available.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

RFA Fort Victoria is currently ready to commence a planned maintenance period.


Written Question
NHS Supply Chain: Staff
Friday 16th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) full and (b) part time NHS Supply Chain employees were of what (i) grade and (ii) salary band in the last financial year.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Supply Chain is managed by Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL) and was established in 2018 under the Department of Health and Social Care Procurement Transformation Programme. NHS Supply Chain includes both employees of SCCL and services providers including those undertaking Procurement Services, Logistics Services and IT Services. For the purposes of this response we have included SCCL employees rather than those of the wider supply chain.

The basic salary costs for the financial year 2022/23 for SCCL employees was £25,643,751.68. The headcount for the years 2020/21 to 2022/23 is as follows:

- 2020/21: 394;

- 2021/22: 449; and

- 2022/23: 682

During the period from 2021 to 2024, several organisational changes led to subsequent changes in responsibility within NHS Supply Chain and growth in those employed directly by SCCL. The increase in headcount in 2022/23 is due to the transfer of colleagues from former services providers of procurement services. These were phased across the financial year, in July, October and February, and therefore the reported total headcount for 2022/23 relates to the outturn number of staff. Previous increases were due to the replacement of day rate contractors with full time employees and investment in roles to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain, in response to the findings of the Boardman Review. SCCL staff are not part of Agenda for Change and, as such, our grading does not match those in other parts of the National Health Service. The following table shows the employees of SCCL in 2022/23, of which 645 were full time and 37 were part time, broken down by salary band:

Salary band

Number of employees

£0.00 - £25,000

38

£25,001 - £50,000

362

£50,001 - £75,000

180

£75,001 - £100,000

43

£100,001 - £125,000

18

£125,001 - £150,000

6

£150,001 - £175,000

1

£175,001 - £200,000

2

As of March 2023, prior to the transfer of procurement teams into SCCL, the total headcount in SCCL plus external procurement service providers was 1272. As of the end of March 2024 this will be 1149 on a like for like basis.


Written Question
NHS Supply Chain: Staff
Friday 16th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full-time staff were employed by NHS Supply Chain in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Supply Chain is managed by Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL) and was established in 2018 under the Department of Health and Social Care Procurement Transformation Programme. NHS Supply Chain includes both employees of SCCL and services providers including those undertaking Procurement Services, Logistics Services and IT Services. For the purposes of this response we have included SCCL employees rather than those of the wider supply chain.

The basic salary costs for the financial year 2022/23 for SCCL employees was £25,643,751.68. The headcount for the years 2020/21 to 2022/23 is as follows:

- 2020/21: 394;

- 2021/22: 449; and

- 2022/23: 682

During the period from 2021 to 2024, several organisational changes led to subsequent changes in responsibility within NHS Supply Chain and growth in those employed directly by SCCL. The increase in headcount in 2022/23 is due to the transfer of colleagues from former services providers of procurement services. These were phased across the financial year, in July, October and February, and therefore the reported total headcount for 2022/23 relates to the outturn number of staff. Previous increases were due to the replacement of day rate contractors with full time employees and investment in roles to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain, in response to the findings of the Boardman Review. SCCL staff are not part of Agenda for Change and, as such, our grading does not match those in other parts of the National Health Service. The following table shows the employees of SCCL in 2022/23, of which 645 were full time and 37 were part time, broken down by salary band:

Salary band

Number of employees

£0.00 - £25,000

38

£25,001 - £50,000

362

£50,001 - £75,000

180

£75,001 - £100,000

43

£100,001 - £125,000

18

£125,001 - £150,000

6

£150,001 - £175,000

1

£175,001 - £200,000

2

As of March 2023, prior to the transfer of procurement teams into SCCL, the total headcount in SCCL plus external procurement service providers was 1272. As of the end of March 2024 this will be 1149 on a like for like basis.


Written Question
NHS Supply Chain: Staff
Friday 16th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total salary cost was of NHS Supply Chain employees in the 2022-23 financial year.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Supply Chain is managed by Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL) and was established in 2018 under the Department of Health and Social Care Procurement Transformation Programme. NHS Supply Chain includes both employees of SCCL and services providers including those undertaking Procurement Services, Logistics Services and IT Services. For the purposes of this response we have included SCCL employees rather than those of the wider supply chain.

The basic salary costs for the financial year 2022/23 for SCCL employees was £25,643,751.68. The headcount for the years 2020/21 to 2022/23 is as follows:

- 2020/21: 394;

- 2021/22: 449; and

- 2022/23: 682

During the period from 2021 to 2024, several organisational changes led to subsequent changes in responsibility within NHS Supply Chain and growth in those employed directly by SCCL. The increase in headcount in 2022/23 is due to the transfer of colleagues from former services providers of procurement services. These were phased across the financial year, in July, October and February, and therefore the reported total headcount for 2022/23 relates to the outturn number of staff. Previous increases were due to the replacement of day rate contractors with full time employees and investment in roles to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain, in response to the findings of the Boardman Review. SCCL staff are not part of Agenda for Change and, as such, our grading does not match those in other parts of the National Health Service. The following table shows the employees of SCCL in 2022/23, of which 645 were full time and 37 were part time, broken down by salary band:

Salary band

Number of employees

£0.00 - £25,000

38

£25,001 - £50,000

362

£50,001 - £75,000

180

£75,001 - £100,000

43

£100,001 - £125,000

18

£125,001 - £150,000

6

£150,001 - £175,000

1

£175,001 - £200,000

2

As of March 2023, prior to the transfer of procurement teams into SCCL, the total headcount in SCCL plus external procurement service providers was 1272. As of the end of March 2024 this will be 1149 on a like for like basis.


Written Question
NHS Supply Chain: ICT
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which IT supplier provides the principal IT system utilised by NHS Supply Chain.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Supply Chain uses technology currently maintained and supported by DXC Technology. DXC Technology were appointed in 2019 following a transition from the former service provider.


Written Question
Army: Recruitment
Wednesday 17th January 2024

Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's target was for recruitment of (a) officers and (b) other ranks into the British Army for each of the first three quarters in the 2023-24 financial year.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January to Question 7264 from the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (Mr Healey) which shows the Basic Training Starts (BTS) Targets for British Army Other Ranks for financial year 2022-23.

Demand targets for BTS are set annually. Quarterly targets are used for internal guidance and they can change in-year in order to meet the annual target.

The table below shows those internal targets for the first three quarters of 2023-24:

Financial Year

Other Ranks Basic Training Starts Targets

2023-24 Quarter 1

1,890

2023-24 Quarter 2

2,760

2023-24 Quarter 3

2,120

There are no targets for Officers BTS.

Notes/caveats:

  1. These figures are for the Regular Army Only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.
  2. Basic Training Start figures only include personnel who entered Phase 1 training.
  3. 2023-24 Quarter 1 includes figures from 01 April 2023 to 30 June 2023.
  4. 2023-24 Quarter 2 includes figures from 01 July 2023 to 30 September 2023.
  5. 2023-24 Quarter 3 includes figures from 01 October 2023 to 31 December 2023
  6. Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
  7. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.