Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2020 to Question 10395 on Nuclear Weapons: Military Bases, whether funding for defence projects (a) has and (b) will be reduced to fund the additional £1.35 billion required for projects set out in the NAO's report entitled, Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear-regulated sites, published on 10 January 2020.
Answered by James Heappey
The costs have been managed through business as usual budgetary processes within the Nuclear Enterprise, alongside changes in forecast costs elsewhere in the wider defence equipment programme, against overall funding available. Consequently, identifying specific funding decisions for individual projects is not possible.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January to Question 3807 and with reference to the key findings on page 7 of the NAO's report entitled Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear-regulated sites, published on 10 January 2020, which projects managed by his Department funding will be re-allocated from to fund the £1.35 billion combined cost increase in respect of the three projects examined by the NAO.
Answered by James Heappey
The £1.35 billion cost increase reported in the NAO publication 'Managing Infrastructure on Nuclear-Regulated sites', represent the difference between initial cost estimates and the latest position for the projects reviewed. These costs have been absorbed and accounted for through business as usual budgetary processes within the Enterprise.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of (a) HMS Queen Elizabeth and (b) HMS Price of Wales.
Answered by James Heappey
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 7177 from the hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith) on 28 January 2020.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to review its safety procedures for transporting nuclear weapons and radioactive materials.
Answered by James Heappey
The transportation of Defence Nuclear Material, which includes nuclear weapons, is carried out to the highest standard in accordance with stringent safety regulations. These procedures are continuously reviewed to ensure all operations are carried out safely and securely.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the key performance findings on page 7 of the National Audit Office report, Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear-regulated sites, published on 10 January 2020, whether funding will be reallocated from other defence projects to cover the additional £1.35 billion cost increase associated with the three projects examined and reviewed by the National Audit Office.
Answered by James Heappey
Like any large organisation we allocate funds to those activities that are the highest priority.
We are committed to strengthening the management of nuclear programmes, including investing significantly in infrastructure and working closely with regulators and industry partners.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review his Department's policy on training military officers from countries with a record of human rights abuses.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
All training offered to foreign military personnel is provided in accordance with an Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessment, which will evaluate the risk of the training being used in a way that is not in line with human rights and British values. Participation in UK training exposes personnel from other countries to UK values and standards and helps to promote concepts of accountability, transparency and human rights protection. OSJA assessments are reviewed annually and also if there is a change of circumstances which might significantly alter the risks relating to any existing Defence training programmes.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to public purse is of the delay to the delivery of HMS Audacious and other Astute-class nuclear submarines; and whether funding will be (a) reduced or (b) withheld from other defence projects to fund additional costs.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Any additional costs related to the delay to the delivery of Audacious have been contained within the current Astute Equipment Programme budget.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to her oral contribution of 8 July 2019, Official Report, column 19, when she plans to announce the change of policy in relation to guidance on sharing and receiving intelligence.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made today (HCWS1746).
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to her oral contribution of 8 July 2019, Official Report, column 19, if she will publish the review by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner on guidance on sharing and receiving intelligence.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr David Lidington) on 15 July 2019 (Official Report, column 595).
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the tapered annual allowance on the number of Defence Medical Service doctors leaving the armed forces.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Secretary of State for Defence and Chancellor of the Exchequer have not yet discussed this particular issue. However, given concerns expressed by Defence Medical Services personnel and the well-publicised discussions in the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Defence has consulted internally on pension taxation, including the issue of tapering.
We recognise the current situation with pension taxation (including tapered annual allowance) is a risk to retention and are monitoring any associated increase in the outflow of personnel. To date, monitoring suggests no apparent increase in the voluntary outflow of Medical Officers, but we accept this might change in the future.