Rotary Wing Enterprise 2024-02-19
2024-02-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Fleetlands in Gosport has been the home of military helicopter maintenance for over 65 years, providing skilled engineering work crucial for local economic development and job creation.
Mr Speaker, as you know, Fleetlands in Gosport has been the home of military helicopter maintenance for more than 65 years. This highly skilled engineering work is really key to levelling up the area, providing much-needed jobs and opportunities. Does the Minister agree that the MOD's rotary wing enterprise and new medium helicopter programme would benefit greatly from these generations of expertise and skills right there in Gosport?
I know from my recent visit that my right hon Friend is a champion not only for defence in her constituency but for defence jobs in particular. She is right about StandardAero Fleetlands which is a valued actor in the maintenance of our rotary wing platforms. The rotary wing enterprise is due to enter its detailed design this year. As part of that, it will consider wider social value including the extent to which economic prosperity is supported. But as this is a specific potential procurement, I cannot comment any further.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific benefits for Fleetlands and procurement details were not addressed directly
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Government have delayed producing the information required for the invitation to negotiate for the new medium-lift helicopter four times since September 2022, causing a significant delay. This delay is concerning given recent reports of capital spending freezes.
The Government have delayed producing the information required for the invitation to negotiate for the new medium-lift helicopter four times since September 2022. Can the Minister explain what has caused this 18-month delay? Given the reports last week about his Department freezing capital spending until at least the new financial year, when will the Government get their act together to get this competition under way? Can he promise that the delay will not push back the delivery date for this vital capability for our forces?
I am pleased to say two things to the hon Lady. First, we will have the announcement on the next stage of the new medium helicopter very soon. I am also pleased to confirm that we have been clear on our spending position. To echo my right hon Friend the Minister for Defence People and Families if the hon Lady wants to talk about stuff that is rumoured in the press we do not have those sorts of capital spending controls can she confirm whether the shadow Chancellor will honour our defence spending commitments?
▸
Assessment & feedback
The specific delay and procurement concerns were not directly addressed
Redirecting To Labour'S Stance On Defence Spending
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The rotary wing enterprise programme aims to improve aircraft availability across support solutions for Apache, Chinook, Merlin and Wildcat from within existing budgets. The programme seeks to drive synergies between platforms, modernise support solutions, and pursue delivery-focused commercial mechanisms.
What plans he has for the future of the rotary wing enterprise?
The rotary wing enterprise programme seeks to improve aircraft availability across support solutions for Apache, Chinook, Merlin and Wildcat from within existing budgets. It will do so by driving synergies between platforms modernising support solutions and pursuing delivery-focused commercial mechanisms.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy