14 Dec 2005 : Column 147WS
Written Ministerial Statements
Wednesday 14 December 2005
CABINET OFFICE
Better Regulation Bill (Consultation Responses)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Jim Murphy): A copy of the summary of the public consultation on proposals for a Better Regulation Bill is today being placed in the House Library and on the website of the Cabinet Office Better Regulation Executive at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/
The publication of the summary of consultation responses follows a three-month consultation exercise, which ran from 20 July to 12 October 2005.
The proposed Bill will replace the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, so that it is easier to remove or amend outdated and unnecessary legislation. It also requires regulators to have regard to a set of regulatory principles which will be contained in and made under the proposed Bill.
This document also includes the Government's responses to issues raised during the consultation process.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Co-ordinated Online Record of Electors
The Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Ms Harriet Harman): My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has made the following written ministerial statement in the other place today, 14 December 2005:
"Today, I am pleased to announce to the House the launch of a consultation on detailed issues and proposals for the implementation of arrangements providing national access to locally collected and maintained electoral registration data.
Part one of the Electoral Administration Bill currently before Parliament makes provision for the establishment of one or more Co-ordinated Online Record of Elector (CORE) schemes. It will allow—at national level—access to electoral registration data that will continue to be locally gathered and maintained. The scheme would be established by a secondary legislation order, a draft of which would first need to be actively approved by both Houses of Parliament. The paper seeks views on what the CORE scheme order should contain. Stakeholders will have until 7 March 2006 to respond.
Copies of the consultation document are available in the Libraries of both Houses and will also be made available on the website of the Department of Constitutional Affairs."
Boundary for Wales Commission Report
The Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Ms Harriet Harman):
I have today laid the Report of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Wales, and associated Draft Order, before Parliament.
14 Dec 2005 : Column 148WS
The Report, and associated Draft Order, will affect Welsh Parliamentary Constituencies and National Assembly for Wales Electoral Regions.
DEFENCE
Autumn Performance Report
The Secretary of State for Defence (John Reid): I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of the Ministry of Defence's "Autumn Performance Report". This shows that Defence has continued to deliver on its primary objectives in the last six months. The armed forces, supported by their civilian colleagues, have consistently succeeded on military operations, including providing support to a number of home departments, and have made a significant contribution towards the Government's wider conflict prevention goals. At the same time we have continued to improve the level of military readiness and deliver the changes and efficiencies needed to make the most of the resources available for defence. In particular, a major programme of work is currently in hand across defence, the Government and industry to improve the way in which we acquire and support equipment.
Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF)
The Secretary of State for Defence (John Reid): The Ministry of Defence has today taken a major step forward in its plans to acquire two new Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) for the Royal Navy. These carriers will provide mobile, flexible, independent bases from which to deploy the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) and other capabilities. They will provide a step change in capability—enabling us to deliver significant strategic effect and influence around the world at the time and place of our choosing.
I am pleased to announce agreement on an innovative shipbuild strategy for these vessels, bringing together a number of shipyards in a type of partnering arrangement that will be central to the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.
Key to this ground-breaking approach will be the innovative Aircraft Carrier Alliance: a single integrated team formed from MOD and industry. I am pleased to announce that today also marks a major stage in the development of the Alliance with the shipyards VT and Babcock now joining BAE Systems, KBR, Thales UK and MOD as full members. To mark the commitment to the Alliance approach, these five companies and MOD have signed an Alliance Charter committing to this arrangement. The Alliance has also agreed the best allocation of roles and responsibilities between them to achieve overall success for the project. In doing so all the Alliance members will share in the risks and rewards of delivering this challenging project to time and cost.
Having completed detailed assessment work, we have now decided to commit to the Demonstration phase, amounting to some £300 million of further work: an essential step before we commit to and contract for manufacture of these two ships. This is the first of a two-stage incremental approach to "Main Gate". The second stage of the "Main Gate" approval will set the time, cost and performance envelope for the manufacture phase. Shifting the point at which we make
14 Dec 2005 : Column 149WS
the main investment decision has no effect on the "In Service Date". We are undertaking work now that we had originally intended to undertake during the demonstration phase after full commitment to manufacture.
We will now refine the detail of the adaptable CVF Delta design for these new carriers, including the ship systems, ahead of rather than after the signature of manufacture contracts. By this innovative approach we will ensure the commitment of the maritime industry to supporting this vital project. This further approval also includes commitment to long lead materials, where this is necessary to maintain the momentum of the build programme.
In addition, we are now able to maintain momentum and give the industry a greater degree of planning stability. I can announce that subject to satisfactory contract and demonstration of value for money—that we have already allocated some 60 per cent. of the carriers to be built in separate "super blocks" at BAE Systems yards at Govan and Barrow; at VT in Portsmouth and Babcock in Rosyth, with final assembly of both carriers at Rosyth. The structure above the hangar deck will be open to competition and will allow an opportunity for the many shipyards and suppliers with the ability to undertake this work, but not currently involved, to compete and win work. These blocks will then be joined to the base structure at Rosyth. We will also aim to maximise the level of subcontract competition within the "super blocks". Early indications suggest that CVF associated work could sustain and create some 10,000 jobs in the UK across its design and manufacture period.
The expansion of the Alliance partnership provides an important launch pad for further innovation on this project. We have agreed that we will jointly consider, subject to negotiation, how the build contract can be extended to encompass not only the carriers' initial support but also the support for the Invincible class carriers until their out of service dates. This approach will ensure coherency in maintaining continuity in our carrier capability, with the same companies responsible for ensuring the continuation in service of the Invincible carriers also managing the introduction into service of their replacements.
In parallel with this approach, we are continuing our discussions with France, with whom we are jointly examining areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies in our respective carrier programmes. For any co-operation to work, however, it must deliver cost savings and must do so without delaying UK or French programmes and we look forward to receiving industry's proposals.
Taken together, therefore, our approach provides a key stepping stone towards the developing maritime industrial strategy which we intend to outline in our forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy. It is already clear that the CVF programme, as part of the wider Carrier Strike capability with the Joint Strike Fighter, will offer the enhanced power projection capability required by our armed forces in the future. This announcement reinforces our commitment to this flagship project for the Royal Navy and represents a significant step on the route to re-shaping our maritime industry and providing this vital expeditionary capability.
14 Dec 2005 : Column 150WS
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |