Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a competition for the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence conducted a comprehensive market analysis of the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle options before announcing its intent to re-join the BOXER programme, via OCCAR. Although securing a better deal via competition is considered highly unlikely, this remains the fall back option.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department expects to receive Artec’s proposal for the purchase of the Boxer vehicle; and what the planned timetable is for his Department’s assessment of that proposal.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The assessment phase, concluding in 2019, will consider the benefits of manufacturing locations and different supply chains for Boxer, as well as value for money. Any deal will be subject to commercial negotiation and assessment.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the procurement of new land platforms (a) MRVP and (b) MIV; and if he will make a statement
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Multi-Role Vehicle - Protected programme is being delivered in two packages. For Package 1, Command, Liaison and Logistic vehicle, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, manufactured by Oshkosh, has been identified as the preferred option. No final decision has yet been made. For Package 2, Troop Carrying Vehicle and Future Protected Battlefield Ambulances, a competition is on-going and a decision is anticipated in 2019.
The Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme is in the assessment phase, concluding in 2019, with the Ministry of Defence taking forward negotiations via the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) to look at options to purchase the vehicles.
Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) his Department plans to procure; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The number of vehicles we intend to buy under the Multi-Role Vehicle Protected programme will be confirmed when the main investment decision is taken.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2017 to Question 118755, whether his Department is considering both competition and a sole source option for the Prime Contract in the assessment phase for the procurement of the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
No decisions have been taken on the acquisition strategy for the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on (a) long-term investment in the UK Armoured Fighting Vehicle industry and (b) value for money for UK taxpayers of decisions to acquire such vehicles, without competition, under the Foreign Military Sales procedure; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Ministry of Defence has committed to spending over £178 billion on equipment and equipment support for the Armed Forces between 2016 and 2026, which will provide our Armed Forces with the equipment they need to deliver the levels of military capability set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. This includes military vehicles, and as our approach remains competitive procurement within the supply chain where possible, UK companies can secure business at the prime and sub-contractor level, unless the value for money case proves that other routes such as Foreign Military Sales provide a better deal for UK taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans for upgrading British Army infantry fighting vehicles.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme will ensure the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle continues to provide the infantry with battle-winning capability for the future.
Furthermore we are building an adaptive force to meet the range of future threats. Vehicle projects including Ajax (to support both the armoured infantry and new strike brigades), and the Challenger 2 life extension project, will be delivered in support of the new war fighting division as part of Joint Force 2025.
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement (Harriett Baldwin) on 18 January 2017 to Question 59929.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax fighting vehicles for the armed forces are planned to be manufactured outside the UK.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State for Defence in the House of Lords, Earl Howe, to the noble Lord, Baron Moonie of Bennochy on 27 April 2016 to Question HL7778.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the planned cost of the Ajax fighting vehicles for the armed forces will be paid to overseas contractors and suppliers.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
This information is not held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), as it is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor, General Dynamics Land Systems UK Ltd, to appoint subcontractors.
The MOD assessment is that the programme is expected to support approximately 2,800 jobs across more than 160 UK suppliers. Of the total number of suppliers, 64% are UK based.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from what country the steel for the manufacture of Ajax fighting vehicles for the armed forces will be sourced.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The steel requirement for the manufacture of Ajax has been sourced to date from Europe (the majority from Sweden). There remains a small amount of steel to be procured and UK companies will have the opportunity to bid for this.