| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Royal Navy Vessels
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Naval vessels under construction. [131471]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
25 Jul 2000 : Column: 543W
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 25 July 2000:
- I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of Royal Navy vessels under construction. this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- There are currently ten major Royal Navy vessels under construction. Three ASTUTE class submarines and two Landing Platform Docking (Replacement) vessels are being assembled at BAE SYSTEMS Marine yard at Barrow. The last two vessels of the Type 23 Class of Frigates are being fitted out at BAE SYSTEMS Marine yard at Scotstoun on the Clyde. Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd (VT) is finishing construction of one and fitting out a further two Single Role Minehunters at its yard in Southampton.
- As well as these Royal Navy vessels BAE SYSTEMS Marine at Barrow are also constructing the first Auxiliary Oiler for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary whilst the second of class is being built at BAE SYSTEMS Marine leased yard at Govan. The Allsa Troon yard in Ayrshire is currently involved in the build of the second prototype Landing Craft Utility as part of an order for ten such vessels to be carried on the Landing Platform Docking Replacement.
- There is also a variety of small boats such as rigid inflatables being constructed/procured for the Royal Navy and the other services.
- As well as the above, the Government has been able to announce recently details of orders for several new Royal Navy vessels. Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon will be constructing two new Survey Vessels under sub-contract from VT with fabrication starting later this year. On 11 July the Secretary of State for Defence announced that orders for three new Type 45 Destroyers would be placed later this year, the first and third being assembled by BAE SYSTEMS Marine and the second by VT. Further orders are expected later this year for two Alternative Landing Ship Logistics, to be manned by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Missiles
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many AIM-120 B/C AMRAAMS missiles his Department plans to procure from Raytheon; and if he will make a statement. [131490]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles (AMRAAM) 120B/C MoD intends to procure from Raytheon Systems Company (RSC) in the USA. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- Disclosure of the information you request would harm UK defence and, accordingly, I am withholding it under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason his Department is reducing its order for AMS Brimstone missiles; and if he will make a statement. [131498]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence keeps the mix of weapons we require under review to ensure that our forward equipment programme reflects the circumstances of the world today and those we expect in the future. Brimstone will be one of a number of anti-armour weapon systems that we will be able to deploy. While there is still a firm requirement for the Brimstone missile, we have
25 Jul 2000 : Column: 544W
concluded that we will require fewer missiles than envisaged when the Brimstone contract was placed in 1996.
Frigates
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to his Department of replacing 20 Type 22/23 frigates in the Royal Navy after 2010; and if he will make a statement. [131494]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost of replacing 20 Type 22123 frigates in the Royal Navy after 2010. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- Current plans envisage a new class of surface combatant which will enter service from around 2013 when the later Type 22 and Type 23 frigates pay off.
- We expect a contract for the Future Surface Combatant to be placed with a prime contractor in 2007 following competition. The FSC should benefit from the innovative ideas arising from the Type 45 and CVF procurements and it will also exploit emergent technical innovations and concurrent engineering practice to achieve SMART procurement objectives.
- It would, however, be premature to release details of the budgetary costs of these ships as this could prejudice the negotiations which are expected to take place with industry post initial Gate in mid 2002.
Defence Procurement Agency
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel by rank are currently working for the Defence Procurement Agency. [131632]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 25 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many military personnel by rank are currently working for the Defence Procurement Agency. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- There are a total of 606 military personnel working for the Defence Procurement Agency. The breakdown by rank is shown in the table attached.
25 Jul 2000 : Column: 545W
Nimrod
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to eliminate the slippage in defence contracts with particular reference to slippage in Nimrod; when it is estimated that all Nimrod 4 aircraft will be operational; and how many are currently available for operation. [131591]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 25 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about slippage in the Nimrod MRA4 programme. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- You asked what steps are being taken to eliminate the slippage in the Nimrod MRA4 programme. The Nimrod MRA4 contract was let with BAE SYSTEMS in December 1996 with an In-Service Date (ISD) of April 2003. Following technical and resource problems, BAE SYSTEMS advised the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) in late 1998 that they could not meet this date. In May 1999, following extensive negotiations the contract was re-baselined with an ISD of March 2005, a delay of 23 months and with the MoD securing various benefits in compensation.
- The DPA are working very closely with BAE SYSTEMS to ensure that all possible measures are taken to support delivery of the full operational capability in the required timescales, consistent with a March 2005 ISD.
- You also asked how many Nimrod MRA4 aircraft are currently in service. Nimrod MRA4 is due to enter operational service in August 2004. The In Service Date (ISD) of March 2005 marks the delivery of the 7th aircraft, with the 21st and final aircraft due for delivery in December 2008.
25 Jul 2000 : Column: 546W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |