Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will outline the UK's defence budget for (a) this and (b) the next two financial years expressed as a (i) total cash amount and (ii) percentage of gross domestic product, excluding expenditure related to Ukraine.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Total Defence spending, in line with NATO definitions, is expected to be £64.4 billion in 2024-25 and £67.7 billion in 2025-26. This equates to 2.29% of GDP in 2024-25 and 2.30% in 2025-26.
Excluding expenditure on support to Ukraine, Defence spending in line with NATO definitions would be £61.4 billion in 2024-25 and £64.7 billion in 2025-26. This equates to 2.18% of GDP in 2024-25 and 2.19% in 2025-26.
Future financial years’ figures are subject to the outcome of the second phase of the Spending Review.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent of the damage caused by the fire at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness on 30 October 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the written statement I laid in the House on 30 October 2024, HCWS176.
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 minimum deployable capability date is for the Boxer (a) 120mm self-propelled mortar system and (b) 155mm self-propelled artillery system.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Mechanised Infantry (BOXER) programme uses the terms Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and Full Operating Capability. The Armoured Mortar Vehicle is a project within this programme and therefore uses those terms. The Mobile Fires Platform project is a part of the Close Support Fires Programme, which uses the term Minimum Deployable Capability instead.
Whilst the Mechanised Infantry (BOXER) programme has an IOC, the definition of the IOC for the Armoured Mortar Vehicle project within the programme is yet to be confirmed. The Mobile Fires Platform project does not have a confirmed definition for Minimum Deployable Capability (MDC). Therefore, an estimated IOC or MDC for either variant cannot be projected at this time.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assumed increase in the UK's defence budget his Department is using for the purposes of estimating its 10-year Equipment Plan, calculated (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On 30 October His Majesty's Treasury published the Autumn Budget which confirmed the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limit for financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The longer-term budget will be confirmed through phase two of the Spending Review which is planned for late Spring 2025.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the keynote recording of the Chief of the General Staff at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2024, published on 23 June 2024, whether his Department has taken recent steps to double the lethality of the British Army by 2027 and treble it by 2030.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Chief of the General Staff is working hard to fulfil the ambition outlined at the RUSI Land Warfare conference. The British Army continues to work to these goals, in tandem with the ongoing Strategic Defence Review.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the (a) sixth and (b) seventh of the Astute Class submarines are due to enter operational service with the Royal Navy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The planned in-service and out-of-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Five of seven Astute Class submarines have been delivered to the Royal Navy, with boat six, HMS AGAMEMNON, launching from the BAE Systems Shipyard on 3 October 2024. The final Astute Class submarine is at an advanced stage of build.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Lancaster is due to retire from the active surface fleet.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
On current plans, the last Type 23 frigate will transition out of service in 2035.
To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific in-service dates for warships to avoid revealing elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he expects the Initial Operating Capability date for the new SSNR class of attack submarines in Royal Navy service to be.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy’s submersible ship nuclear AUKUS submarines will be operational from the late 2030s, replacing the current Astute Class.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Vehicles have been lost during (a) trials and (b) initial service with (i) DE&S and (ii) the Army.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army have lost three Watchkeeper Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) during trials, and five Watchkeeper UAS in service. DE&S do not operate Watchkeeper UAS.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the repair to the submarine lift at HMNB Clyde is due for completion; and what the estimated cost was of that repair.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The shiplift at HMNB Clyde is undergoing scheduled routine maintenance and upgrade work.
Costs for key assets in the naval base are included in the routine maintenance contract with Babcock. It would not be appropriate to provide detailed availability of critical infrastructure assets due to operational sensitivities.