29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether it is his policy to inform Parliament of deferments to planned expenditures on major programmes within the financial year where they occur.
ReplyThe Government, across all Departments, is currently undertaking a Spending Review and will set out its approach to the House in due course.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the accuracy of Sea Venom’s certification forecast for 2026.
ReplySea Venom remains on schedule to be delivered in 2026.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2024 to Question 163 on Defence: Expenditure, whether the future fiscal event will cover the potential impact of the Department’s timetable for reaching expenditure of 2.5% of GDP on defence on upgrades to the existing fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.
ReplyThe pathway to 2.5% will set the overall envelope for Defence spending. Funding for specific programmes is considered as part of the Department’s annual budget setting process.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2024 to Question 165 on Defence: Expenditure, whether the future fiscal event will cover the potential impact of the Department’s timetable for reaching expenditure of 2.5% of GDP on defence on the development of the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank.
ReplyThe pathway to 2.5% will set the overall envelope for Defence spending. Funding for specific programmes is considered as part of the Department’s annual budget setting process.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2024 to Question 168 on Defence: Expenditure, whether the future fiscal event will cover the potential impact of the Department’s timetable for reaching expenditure of 2.5% of GDP on defence on the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems programme.
ReplyThe pathway to 2.5% will set the overall envelope for Defence spending. Funding for specific programmes is considered as part of the Department’s annual budget setting process.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2024 to Question 164 on Defence: Expenditure, whether the future fiscal event will cover the potential impact of the Department’s timetable for reaching on the Astute Class submarine programme.
ReplyThe pathway to 2.5% will set the overall envelope for Defence spending. Funding for specific programmes is considered as part of the Department’s annual budget setting process.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat plans he has to provide funding for FCASW.
ReplyInvestment in the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship weapon programme is continuing under an on-going assessment phase contract with MBDA, forming a key part of the recently agreed complex weapons Portfolio Management Agreement 2.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow much spending on the (a) Future Combat Air System and (b) Global Combat Air Programme he plans to defer from the current financial year.
ReplyThe UK expects to invest over £1.3 billion in the Future Combat Air System/Global Combat Air Programme and the associated Team Tempest R&D programme, in the current financial year.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow much his Department expects to spend on the (a) Future Combat Air System and (b) Global Combat Air Programme in the current financial year.
ReplyThe UK expects to invest over £1.3 billion in the Future Combat Air System/Global Combat Air Programme and the associated Team Tempest R&D programme, in the current financial year.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedIf he will publish the non-commercially sensitive details of his Department’s Portfolio Management Agreement with MBDA.
ReplyNon-commercially sensitive details of the Ministry of Defence’s Portfolio Management Agreement with MBDA have been announced. There are no plans to publish further details.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat plans he has to provide funding for Sea Viper’s enhancement.
ReplyThe enhancement of Sea Viper is named Sea Viper Evolution, which includes upgrades to the Type 45 Destroyer's Multi-Function Radar, Combat Management System (CMS), Weapon Command and Control (C2), and the Aster 30 missile. The first stage, called Capability 1, is in Demonstration and Manufacture Phase as of March 2023. The next stage, called Capability 2, is in Assessment Phase as of June 2023, completing in 2025.Departmental spending plans will be set out in the usual way.
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat plans he has to provide funding for SPEAR Cap 3.
ReplyThe SPEAR 3 programme is currently in the demonstration phase. The next significant milestone is the first Guided Firing, scheduled to take place later this year. Total investment in the SPEAR 3 programme comprises approximately £1.4 billion.
26 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether he plans to (a) implement and (b) cancel efficiency savings budgeted for by the previous Government for (i) his Department and (ii) departmental arm's length bodies; and what plans she has for further such efficiency savings.
ReplyPlans for future efficiency savings across the Department will be considered as part of the Spending Review.
26 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedIf he will list the underspends within (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies in (i) this financial year and (ii) across the Spending Review period.
ReplyThe Department’s financial outturn is set out in the published Annual Report and Accounts. Figures for 2024-25 will be made available in next year’s Annual Report and Accounts following the end of the financial year. For individual Arms Length Bodies (ALB) underspends, ALBs are responsible for producing their own Annual Report and Accounts and these are available in the public domain. The ALBs within the boundary of Ministry of Defence are listed in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts.
25 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether he is taking steps to ensure that the volume of his Department's munitions orders from the UK armaments industry delivers a level of output that sustains warfighting levels of production over the Parliament.
ReplyMunitions stockpile levels and requirements are kept under constant review, balancing current holdings against threats, availability, industrial capacity and evolving technology. The Ministry of Defence is engaging closely with industry partners and developing a new Defence Industrial Strategy to ensure we have the industrial base we need to support our, and our allies’, requirements. The Government is committed to a long-term partnership with our domestic defence industry to support innovation and resilience. The Strategic Defence Review will determine the capabilities and reforms required by UK defence to meet the threats of the 21st century. The Government is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible.
25 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the adequacy of munitions stockpiles for each of the Front Line Commands.
ReplyMunitions stockpile levels and requirements are kept under constant review, balancing current holdings against threats, availability, industrial capacity and evolving technology. The Ministry of Defence is engaging closely with industry partners and developing a new Defence Industrial Strategy to ensure we have the industrial base we need to support our, and our allies’, requirements. The Government is committed to a long-term partnership with our domestic defence industry to support innovation and resilience. The Strategic Defence Review will determine the capabilities and reforms required by UK defence to meet the threats of the 21st century. The Government is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible.
25 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedIf he plans to provide an additional £10bn of funding for munitions replenishment over the next ten years.
ReplyMunitions stockpile levels and requirements are kept under constant review, balancing current holdings against threats, availability, industrial capacity and evolving technology. The Ministry of Defence is engaging closely with industry partners and developing a new Defence Industrial Strategy to ensure we have the industrial base we need to support our, and our allies’, requirements. The Government is committed to a long-term partnership with our domestic defence industry to support innovation and resilience. The Strategic Defence Review will determine the capabilities and reforms required by UK defence to meet the threats of the 21st century. The Government is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible.
25 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow he plans to assess the performance of service chiefs two years after their appointment.
ReplyThe Secretary of State for Defence, supported by the Permanent Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Staff, regularly takes stock of the performance of the Service Chiefs.
25 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat the remuneration package of the National Armaments Director will be.
ReplyTo align with the Government's vision for reform in Defence, and the Secretary of State's priority to strengthen leadership through the Defence Operating Model, we are developing options for establishing a Military Strategic Headquarters, a stronger Department of State, and the role of the National Armaments Director (NAD). Advice and recommendations on potential changes to the NAD role are being scoped for consideration. Further detail will be made available in due course.The current NAD's salary is routinely published in the Defence Equipment and Support Annual Report and Accounts.
25 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the potential effect of changes to the timing of defence spending being 2.5 per cent of GDP on the UK’s stock of MBDA-manufactured missile systems.
ReplyThe Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the capabilities we need to counter the growing, and diversifying, threats Britain is facing in the 21st century.