Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Philip Dunne and Jason McCartney

Monday 12th May 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dunne]

I can assure my hon. Friend that the Type 26’s flexible mission bay is just that: it will accommodate a broad range of manned and unmanned surface, air and underwater vehicles, and be adapted on a tailored mission basis to the changing needs of its deployment. The use of both the hangar and the large flight deck will enable the platform to operate the Wildcat, Merlin or Chinook helicopter, in addition to the ship’s permanently embarked helicopter.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

9. What steps he is taking to ensure effective incentives are in place to support recruitment to the reserves.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Philip Dunne and Jason McCartney

Monday 17th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dunne]

The hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to learn that I keep an eye on press cuttings relating to all defence procurement matters. The in-service support solution for the Queen Elizabeth class carriers is still in development and will not be decided until next year, but much support will be delivered at the base port and on deployment at sea. I think, however, that the hon. Gentleman was referring to depth maintenance and refit, and the security implications of that work being undertaken in a non-sovereign dock outside the UK would need to be carefully considered. Several dry docks in the UK are physically capable of accommodating such ships outside Scotland.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

10. What discussions he has had with his counterparts in NATO member states in preparation for the NATO summit in September 2014.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Philip Dunne and Jason McCartney

Monday 3rd February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

T3. With one of my local engineering businesses having been awarded the design contract for the Type 26 global combat ship, please can my right hon. Friend update me on the progress of this project?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Dunne)]

I thank my hon. Friend for giving me this opportunity to confirm that the current contest for the design for the Type 26 has been won by BAE Systems but it is in its assessment phase and all contracts that have been placed thus far are to enable BAE Systems as prime contractor to refine its pricing so that when the entire design is mature we will be able to place a main-gate contract, which we hope to be able to do by the end of this year.