With reference to the first element of the Noble Lord\u2019s question relating to the Fleet Solid Support ships, I refer the noble Lord to the answers provided by my hon. Friend, the then Minister for Defence Procurement (Jeremy Quin), in the House of Commons on 4 July 2022 to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey), in response to Question HC27511; and on 29 June 2022 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) to HC24549.<\/p>
<\/p>
I can also confirm that the Government intends to launch the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme later this year, subject to final Ministerial and HM Treasury approvals. This scheme will provide transactional cover for UK companies to underwrite the finance of new commercial vessel contracts. This will stimulate the industry by increasing the competitiveness of UK commercial shipbuilding.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"} , "attachment" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518521/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "24549 - Fleet Solid Support Ships Procurement.docx"} , "title" : "Fleet Solid Support Ships; Procurement"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518521/answer/attachment/2", "fileName" : {"_value" : "27511 - Fleet Solid Support Ships Procurement.docx"} , "title" : "Fleet Solid Support Ships; Proicurement"} ], "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-10T16:32:09.343Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current status of their proposed order of three Fleet Solid Support ships; whether they still intend that these ships will be built in the UK; and when they intend to launch the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"} ], "uin" : "HL2378"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518522", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518522/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH has had 603 days at sea since vessel acceptance date, with operational F-35 jets embarked on 278 of those days.<\/p>
HMS PRINCE OF WALES has had 267 days at sea since vessel acceptance date, with operational F-35 jets embarked on 13 of those days.<\/p>
The normal operating cycle of every ship involves them entering different readiness levels depending on their programmes, periods of refit and Departmental planning requirements. In addition, these figures represent days at sea and it should be noted that, while deployed away from the UK, ships will spend both days at sea and alongside in ports around the world.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-10T16:32:27.413Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aircraft Carriers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Goldie on 20 September (HL2197), how many days at sea (1) HMS Queen Elizabeth, and (2) HMS Prince of Wales, have had since their acceptance by the Royal Navy; and on how many of those days operational F-35 jets have embarked.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"} ], "uin" : "HL2379"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518523", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518523/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Chronologically the last aircraft carrier lost by the Royal Navy was the Escort Carrier HMS DASHER which sank as a result of an internal explosion in the Clyde on 27 March 1943.<\/p>
The aircraft embarked were Sea Hurricanes from 891 Naval Air Squadron and Swordfish from 816 Naval Air Squadron.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-10T16:27:12.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aircraft Carriers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government when the last aircraft carrier was lost by the Royal Navy; and whether she had her airwing embarked.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"} ], "uin" : "HL2380"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518524", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518524/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 8 September 2022, volume 824 during the debate in the House of Lords main chamber.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518524/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Royal Navy F35.docx"} , "title" : "Royal Navy; F35"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-10T16:30:01.06Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Aircraft Carriers: F-35 Aircraft"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what calculation they have made, if any, of the minimum number of F35s the UK requires to ensure that in a major war or an emergency the full complement of 36 aircraft can be embarked in the designated carrier.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"} ], "uin" : "HL2381"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518525", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518525/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government takes the protection and resilience of subsea and offshore infrastructure seriously and departments work together to protect it from malicious and other hazards such as accidental damage. The Cabinet Office is responsible for coordinating interdepartmental efforts. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is the lead department for the energy sector, including subsea energy infrastructure<\/ins> It is anticipated that the Royal Navy will increase in tonnage by 59,000 between 2020 and 2030, rising from 799,000 in 2020 to 858,000 by 2030.<\/p>"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Navy"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Royal Navy will increase in tonnage between 2020 and 2030.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"}
], "uin" : "HL2312"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506483", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506483/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Remedial work has started and is ongoing. As our partners undertake remedial works, they have uncovered further defects and are continuing to carry out a full internal repair of the fountain and its pump system. Due to the location of the fountain, works were halted during the period of mourning, but have now resumed within the secure zone.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Neville-Rolfe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "War Memorials: Greater London"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 28 April (HL7898), whether the Government Property Agency has received the list of works needed on the Royal Naval Division war memorial from Heritage England; if not, why not; and whether they have been hastened.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"}
], "uin" : "HL2313"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506484", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506484/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As negotiations for Type 26 Batch 2 are still in progress, it would not be appropriate to release any further information. The House will be updated in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-22T14:07:45.73Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Type 26 Frigates: Procurement"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government when the order for the five remaining Type 26 frigates will be placed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"}
], "uin" : "HL2314"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506485", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506485/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 809 Naval Air Squadron is due to stand up on 1 April 2023.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-20T13:54:38.36Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "F-35 Aircraft"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government when 809 Squadron will be formed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"}
], "uin" : "HL2315"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506486", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506486/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The next period of F-35B Lightning activity on UK Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers off the Eastern seaboard of the USA will be a four-week test period conducted by the Joint Programme Office (JPO) Integrated Test Force (ITF) using embarked ITF aircraft, maintainers, support personnel and pilots.<\/p> Whenever UK F-35B Lightning aircraft are embarked on Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers the required complement of maintainers, support personnel and pilots are embarked to meet the directed operational output.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government whether all UK F35 jets deployed for UK carrier operations off the Eastern seaboard of the USA will be embarked in the ship with their maintainers and aircrew.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"}
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CrNI<\/del>. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is the lead department for telecommunications policy, including telecommunications subsea cables. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for defending UK interests within the UK Marine Area (UK Territorial Waters and Exclusive Economic Zones) and forms part of HMG\u2019s efforts to counter state threats.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4336", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Callanan"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Callanan"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1518525/answer/previousversion/21766", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4336", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Callanan"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Callanan"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Offshore Structures: Protection"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government who is responsible for coordinating protection of (1) oil and gas installations, (2) pipelines, (3) offshore windfarms, (4) undersea electrical cables and interconnectors, and (5) fibreoptic cables, in (a) UK territorial seas, and (b) UK exclusive economic zones; and where this coordination takes place.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3834", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord West of Spithead"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord West of Spithead"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506482", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506482/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "