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Type 45 Destroyers
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place the Design for Manufacture contract for the Type 45 Destroyer programme with BAE Systems; how many companies capable of bidding for the follow-on ships of the class have made representations to his Department on the subject; and what steps he has taken to ensure that this contract will contain adequate safeguards to ensure an equitable basis for competition for the follow-on ships. [143035]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The contract for the Demonstration and First-of-Class Manufacture (DFM) was placed with BAE Systems Electronics, the nominated Prime Contractor for the Type 45 programme, on 20 December. As I announced on 11 July 2000, Official Report, column 701, the design will be capable of evolutionary improvement through an incremental acquisition plan. This will enable the required capability to be inserted during the class build and provide growth paths to enable future capability insertion over the life of the class.
Prices for changes to specification will be negotiated in the usual way and be subject to affordability criteria. The contractual Maximum price represents the limit of our cost exposure and the contract contains strong incentives for the contractor to deliver at a lower price. The hon. Member will be pleased to note that the SMART approach adopted by the MOD provides the best opportunity to deliver additional capability into the programme without increasing the price.
The DFM contract covers the construction of the first three ships of the class only. Sub-contractors must now reach satisfactory agreements with the Prime Contractor to secure the opportunities offered to them under the contract; the MOD will--through its involvement in the Integrated Project Team--ensure that these negotiations are conducted fairly. MOD agreement to all significant sub-contracts will be required.
The BAE Systems Type 45 Prime Contractor and MOD have received an unsolicited proposal from BAE Systems Marine concerning the procurement approach to the Type 45 programme. The proposal will be evaluated and the MOD will consult with other interested Departments before coming to a conclusion.
Plans are to seek bids for the next batch of three ships around 2004. BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thornycroft have expressed an interest in bidding for this work. Bids for work on the follow-on ships should be made to the Prime Contractor at the appropriate time.
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Vessel Contracts
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action he is taking to ensure that the procurement strategy for the production and assembly of follow-on Type 45 destroyers is on a competitive basis; [142963]
- (2) what conditions are necessary for the procurement of the first batch of Type 45 destroyers to ensure that yards capable of competing for downstream batches have the opportunity to compete equitably; [142961]
(3) when he expects contracts to be placed with BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thornycroft for work on (a) the Type 45 First of Class, (b) ship 02 and (c) ship 03. [142962]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 December 2000]: BAE Systems Electronics (the nominated Prime Contractor for the Type 45 programme) has the intention of letting the ship manufacturing sub-contracts with shipbuilders either when a satisfactory risk sharing arrangement emerges (which could happen next year) or when the ship design is sufficiently mature that the shipyards can take on the remaining risk at an affordable price (which is likely to be the case in 2002).
The prime contract, placed on 20 December, covers the construction of the first three ships of the class only. Sub-contractors must now reach satisfactory agreements with the Prime Contractor to secure the opportunities offered to them under the contract; the MOD will--through its involvement in the Integrated Project Team--ensure that these negotiations are conducted fairly. MOD agreement to all significant sub-contracts will be required.
Plans are to seek bids for the next batch of three ships around 2004. BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thornycroft have expressed an interest in bidding for this work. Bids for work on the follow-on ships should be made to the Prime Contractor at the appropriate time.
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects (a) HMS Portland and (b) HMS St. Albans to be completed. [143032]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 December 2000]: HMS Portland was handed over on 15 December 2000.
The contract for HMS St. Albans requires delivery by 30 November 2001, and this is expected to be achieved.
Tornado GR1
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornado GR1s he expects to be upgraded to GR4 standard. [143029]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 December 2000]: It is planned that 142 Tornado GR1s will be upgraded to GR4 standard.
Service Families (Pets)
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consult the Royal Army Veterinary Corps' Cyprus Defence Animal Support Unit about the repatriation of pets belonging to service families; and if he will make a statement. [143123]
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Mr. Spellar: Responsibility for regulations governing the importation of animals into the United Kingdom rests with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). Service personnel are individually responsible for ensuring they comply with the regulations and for making travel arrangements for their pets.
My Department is advised by MAFF that Cyprus is expected to be included within the PET Travel Scheme (PETS) early next year although a precise date has yet to be fixed. The Ministry of Defence liaises with the Commander British Forces Cyprus to ensure that any associated issues are properly addressed. The Cyprus Defence Animal Support Unit (CDASU) of the RAVC forms part of the Command and is currently advising service personnel about the veterinary aspects of the scheme prior to its introduction, including Rabies Vaccination/Blood Testing, Micro Chipping and Vaccination records.
Voice and Data Communications System
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to procure for the RAF combat aircraft an integrated fully encrypted real time air-to-air and air-to-ground voice and data communication system; and if he will make a statement. [143351]
Dr. Moonie: Yes. A number of RAF combat aircraft are already fitted with Multi Function Information Distribution System (MIDS) (formerly Joint Tactical Information Distribution System--JTIDS) Link 16 terminals which give this capability, including Tornado F3 and Sentry E3D aircraft. A similar capability is planned to be fitted to the majority of future combat aircraft types, including Eurofighter.
Royal Navy
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the rationalisation of Royal Navy training facilities; and if he will make a statement; [143042]
- (2) what plans he has for the amalgamation of Royal Navy shore establishments; and if he will make a statement. [143043]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The Royal Navy's Special Communications Unit (SCU) at Leydene will close in 2001 and its activities will transfer to HMS Collingwood.
A number of other reviews are in hand which may result in the amalgamation of RN shore establishments, but no decisions have yet been taken.
The Royal Navy has completed a comprehensive study of its training estate to identify the estate necessary for training beyond 2010. The study will be considered along with the findings of the Defence Training Review and no decisions have yet been taken.
European Rapid Reaction Force
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel will be (a) allocated to the European Rapid Reaction Force, (b) able to be deployed with the European Rapid Reaction Force at any
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given time and (c) removed from availability for home defence as a result of such allocation and deployment; and if he will make a statement. [143691]
Dr. Moonie: There is no such entity as a standing European Rapid Reaction Force. The UK has identified a pool of forces and capabilities which would enable it to make a powerful contribution to such operations in support of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, where NATO as a whole is not engaged. UK participation in any particular operation, and the nature of our contribution (including any potential use of the Territorial Army), would be matters for decision by the UK Government in the light of circumstances at the time.
Our aim in restructuring the TA was to make it more integrated with regular forces and defence plans, with a shift in emphasis away from the TA's traditional home defence roles to other such as signallers, artillery, air defence, logisticians and particularly medical services. Maximum numbers deployed with regulars would depend on the nature and scale of the operation.
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