| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
12 Oct 2009 : Column 430W—continued
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to purchase additional helicopters to assist military operations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) elsewhere. [290374]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Over the next 10 years, the Ministry of Defence intends to invest some £6 billion in its helicopter capability, including procurement of the new Lynx Wildcat, which we confirmed in December last year, and the purchase of additional lift helicopters.
This is a significant investment that will modernise and enhance our helicopter fleet, making it more suitable for extreme conditions such as hot temperatures, high altitudes and challenging operational conditions experienced in Afghanistan. Alongside investment being made from
the reserve, this funding is already helping enhance our Merlin, Chinook and Lynx Mk9 fleets making them more suitable for deployment in Afghanistan. This investment will, by May 2010, allow us to double the number of UK battlefield helicopters in Afghanistan and increase the number of flying hours by more than 130 per cent. compared with November 2006. We constantly keep this situation under review.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effect on armed forces running costs of increasing the number of helicopter platforms and reducing the variety of aircraft. [290380]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Department recognises the potential cost savings that might result from reducing the number of fleets operated and instead investing more in fewer aircraft types. These benefits include an overall reduction in the fixed costs of delivering our helicopter capability and the opportunity to maximise the return on investment on the training and support arrangements of retained types.
Achieving such rationalisation is a key objective, although we are clear that it must not be achieved at the expense of support to current operations.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours training (a) on computer-based simulators and (b) in the air are required to qualify pilots for (a) Merlin, (b) Chinook and (c) Puma helicopters. [292327]
Bill Rammell: The table shows the number of hours of simulator and flight training required for each pilot undergoing Operational Conversion Flight (OCF) training for Merlin, Chinook and Puma. Each pilot will also fly additional hours undertaking co-pilot responsibilities, both on the simulator and in the aircraft. Pilots also undergo computer based training and computer aided instruction lectures and briefings as part of Ground School training.
| Dedicated hours: Minutes | Additional hours: Minutes | ||||
| Aircraft type | Simulator | Aircraft | Simulator | Aircraft | Ground School (days) |
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the capacity of RAF Benson to train and retrain helicopter pilots is: and what such capacity exists elsewhere in the UK. [292328]
Bill Rammell: RAF Benson trains pilots on Merlin and Puma Operational Conversion Flights (OCF). The normal throughput of pilots on Merlin OCF is 16 pilots and four refresher pilots per year. However, in order to increase the Merlin force to 35 crews by 2010 the throughput is currently 24 pilots and four refresher pilots undergoing Merlin OCF training per year.
16 pilots and up to 15 refresher pilots undergo Puma OCF training at RAF Benson per year.
Similar training takes place at other air bases across the UK according to helicopter type. Chinook OCF training takes place at RAF Odiham. Sea King pilots undergo conversion training with 848 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton. Army pilots undergo Conversion To Type training onto Lynx, Gazelle and Bell 212 with 671 Squadron and onto Apache with 673 Squadron at Middle Wallop. Apache pilots then go on to Conversion To Role training with the Air Manoeuvre Training and Advisory Team at Wattisham Station.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the merits of using commercial facilities for initial training of military helicopter pilots. [292329]
Bill Rammell: Initial helicopter training for all three Services is provided by the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) at RAF Shawbury. A civilian contractor already provides helicopters, flight simulators, air engineering, test flying functions and an element of flying instruction. Military flying instructors are also provided by members of the armed forces. The mix of military and contractor-provided instructors is kept under regular review, taking account of requirements.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional investment has been made in the spare parts inventories for (a) Merlin and (b) Chinook helicopters in 2008-09; and what additional investment is planned for 2009-10. [292331]
Mr. Quentin Davies: An additional Merlin (multi-aircraft) deployable spares pack was delivered in 2008-09 and further investment has been made in additional stock for deployment in Afghanistan, for which deliveries will be completed in 2009-10. Total costs to date are in the region of £18 million.
For Chinook, £19 million has been invested in the procurement of additional spares for support to operations in Afghanistan during FY 2008-09 and the first half of FY 2009-10. Spares purchased by Boeing Ltd. as part of broader support for the Chinook fleet are not included in the above.
NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much aid and how many staff the Government contributes to the NATO Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia. [292500]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The United Kingdom is fully supportive of this Estonian-hosted Cyber Defence initiative and their endeavours in this important area. However, given the need to coordinate Cyber Defence with a number of other Government Departments and Allies, our preferred means of support is by participation in specific mutually beneficial workstreams rather than attach personnel permanently to Estonia.
Both the current Head of the MOD Defence Security and Assurance Service and his predecessor, as well as other Senior Officers, have visited the Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, participated in their conferences, and provided additional assistance to its development.
Nepal: Helicopters
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2000W, on helicopters: Nepal, (1) what the terms of reference were of the investigation; and what the length and cost was of that investigation; [292129]
(2) what allegations were investigated by the Police Fraud Squad. [292130]
Bill Rammell: Detectives from the Ministry of Defence Police Fraud Squad (MDPFS) Anti Corruption Unit began a criminal investigation in June 2007 and delivered their findings in April 2008.
The MDPFS were tasked to investigate the following:
Was there any criminality evident in the procurement and gifting of the helicopters, by any UK MOD, overseas personnel, or contractors involved in the procurement process?
Was there any misappropriation of Government funds?
Were the procured helicopters value for money in respect of Government Funds being used for purchase?
The cost of this investigation, which ensued as a result of an inquiry made by the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit in August 2007, was £500, covering travel and expenses incurred, but not salary costs. The costs of salary relating to this investigation are not held centrally and cannot be provided.
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2000W, on helicopters: Nepal, from what country the helicopters were purchased; and through what agency the purchase was organised. [292131]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In August 2002, the Directorate of Overseas Military Activity (DOMA) appointed Crown Agents to act for and on behalf of HM Government. The helicopters were procured from a company in Belarus.
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2000W, on helicopters: Nepal, what conclusion was reached by the investigation on whether (a) the new production model M1-17s were delivered to the Royal Nepal Army and (b) the mainframe numbers and the numbers in the aircraft logbooks matched. [292132]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The investigation stated that two helicopters were procured and gifted to the Government of Nepal in accordance with the Letter of Agreement, and that the Royal Nepal Army became the end user of the helicopters. The two helicopters were not new production models, but they had been subject to a complete overhaul prior to purchase and subsequent gifting to the Government of Nepal.
The investigation found that there was no evidence to suggest that the mainframe numbers and logbook numbers did not match, and that all logbooks and service records were signed as correct on date of purchase.
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2000W, on helicopters: Nepal, whether the Police Fraud Squad made any recommendations as a result of the investigation. [292133]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: With the investigation concluding that there was no evidence of criminality in the procurement and purchase process of these helicopters, nor any misappropriation or misuse of UK Government funds, the Ministry of Defence police fraud squad made no recommendations.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes there have been to the UK's deployable nuclear capability in each year since 1997. [289987]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Since before 1997 the UK has operated a fleet of four ballistic missile submarines. One submarine is on patrol at all times, providing Continuous At Sea Deterrence (CASD). In 1997, the fleet was completing a transition from the Resolution class to the Vanguard class; this transition was complete when the fourth Vanguard class, HMS Vengeance, achieved full operational status in early 2001.
The WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb was withdrawn from service in 1998.
The 1998 Strategic Defence Review concluded that the UK needed a stockpile of fewer than 200 operationally available warheads, a reduction of a third from the maximum of 300 announced by the previous Government. The December 2006 White Paper: The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994) announced a further reduction in our holdings of operationally available nuclear warheads, in line with the UK's commitment to maintain only the minimum necessary deterrent; we now have fewer than 160 operationally available nuclear warheads.
On 24 September, the Prime Minister announced in his speech to the United Nations Security Council that, subject to technical analysis and progress in multilateral negotiations, when the next class of submarines enters service in the mid-2020s, the aim is for the UK to deliver CASD from a fleet reduced in size from four to three.
Nuclear Weapons: Transport
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many convoys transporting nuclear weapons have used roads in Scotland in the last five years. [289531]
Mr. Quentin Davies: It is Ministry of Defence policy not to comment upon the frequency or routes used by the convoys, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security. Nuclear weapon convoy movements, however, are kept to the minimum necessary to maintain the operational effectiveness of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Puma Helicopters
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent assessment is of the performance of the upgraded Puma helicopters in combat operations. [290381]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
The Puma medium support helicopter will be fitted with new engines and modern avionics. Our assessment is that this upgrade will provide
a step change in the Puma's capability, providing enhanced performance in the toughest and most demanding conditions.
Radar
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the development of the UK Air Surveillance Command and Control System in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008. [291972]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Spend on the Concept and Assessment Phases of the UK Air Surveillance Command and Control System (UKASCACS) project in the financial years in question are as follows:
| Financial year | Cost (£ million) |
In 2008 the project was extended and redirected into the Air Command and Control Future Capability (AC2FC). The monies spent previously are contributing to the ongoing development of this project which will provide a more effective capability for UK.
RAF Odiham: Chinook Helicopters
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many combat-ready Chinook helicopters are stationed at RAF Odiham. [290376]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are 26 Chinook helicopters in the Forward Fleet available to the Front Line Command for operational and training purposes. This includes those based at RAF Odiham for training, trials and other UK defence tasks.
I am withholding the number of helicopters we have deployed as release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
Royal Artillery Range Hebrides
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what appraisal his Department has made for future uses of the Hebrides Range. [291721]
Mr. Quentin Davies: We expect that the Hebrides Range will continue to provide an important service in support of the development, testing, evaluation and operation of missile systems, unmanned air vehicles and other weapons. Accommodation facilities at the range will also continue to be available to support training activities.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |