Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government has taken to improve infrastructure in the local area for the upcoming expansion of Weeton barracks.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced its intention to expand Weeton Barracks in the estate optimisation strategy "A Better Defence Estate" in November 2016. Defence is delivering this work through the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme (DEOP), with timescales looking out to 2040. Given the scale of the DEOP, and the fact that it will be delivered over 25 years, plans continue to be refined to best support operational capability. The MOD's intent remains the delivery of a regional light infantry centre in Blackpool, which will include the future relocation of HQ North West from Fulwood Barracks to Weeton Barracks. As part of this work, Defence will engage fully with Local Authorities and wider community from an early stage and will follow the normal statutory planning process regarding its redevelopment. Parliament will continue to be updated regularly on our plans.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support exports in the aerospace industry.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments continue to work closely with the UK aerospace industry to champion our world leading industrial base overseas and to identify new opportunities for export and long-term capability collaboration.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support ex-services personnel to find employment.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 October 2018 to Question 176179 to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the future fighter programme.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Since the announcement of the Combat Air Strategy at the Farnborough Airshow in July, the Ministry of Defence has established a team, based in Head Office to lead the acquisition of next generation Combat Air capability. This team has achieved the first major milestone laid out in Strategy - delivery of the Strategic Outline (Business) Case by the end of 2018. In parallel, the team has established new fora to explore and understand opportunities for collaboration on next generation Combat Air capability with international partners.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department is making on plans to redevelop Weeton Barracks into HQ North West by 2022 as part of the 2016 Strategic Defence Estate Review; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence's plan for Weeton Barracks remains as stated in the "A Better Defence Estate" announcement of November 2016. The Defence Estate Optimisation Programme has been mobilised to deliver this strategy. We will provide further updates as plans develop.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress is being made on plans to redevelop Weeton Barracks into HQ North West by 2022 as part of the 2016 Strategic Defence Estate Review; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The timetable for works at Weeton Barracks will be determined following completion of the assessment study in line with the reprovision for the units by 2022 as per the ‘A Better Defence Estate’ announcement of November 2016.
The Defence Estate Optimisation Programme is on track with assessing the best options for the relocation of HQ North West in Weeton Barracks for 2022.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for works to commence at Weeton Barracks as part of its transformation into HQ North West.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The timetable for works at Weeton Barracks will be determined following completion of the assessment study in line with the reprovision for the units by 2022 as per the ‘A Better Defence Estate’ announcement of November 2016.
The Defence Estate Optimisation Programme is on track with assessing the best options for the relocation of HQ North West in Weeton Barracks for 2022.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to improve internet connectivity for the personal use of serving UK military personnel in the Falkland Islands.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department is working with the Falkland Islands Government and their Internet Service Provider, SURE, to improve connectivity and bandwidth in the Falkland Islands. Additionally, a number of steps have been taken to maximise the existing capability and to deliver improvements over the short and medium terms. These include delivering Wi-Fi coverage across the domestic accommodation and improving access to and functionality of video call capability.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to upgrade and improve the accommodation for service personnel and their families at Weeton Army Camp.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
There are no significant improvement works required for the service families accommodation (SFA) at Weeton Barracks.
All of the SFA occupied by Service personnel and their families meet or are above the Department for Communities and Local Government's Decent Homes standard.