Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Procurement

Monday 25 March 2024 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department uses a range of measures to assess the effectiveness of defence acquisition and has reduced the average time to deliver projects.
  • The RAF confirmed to the Minister that it has met its pilot training quotas for the first time in a long while.
  • The Government is on target to meet the deadline for producing armoured vehicles.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Khalid Mahmood Lab
Defence
Context

The effectiveness of the defence procurement system is under scrutiny.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the defence procurement system?

Answer from James Cartlidge

The Department uses a range of measures to assess the effectiveness of defence acquisition. We have reduced the average time taken to deliver our projects and programmes, but we must go further to drive pace, so last month I announced our new integrated procurement model.

Partly answered
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Q2 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Defence
Context

The National Audit Office highlighted MOD pilot training procurement failures.

Question

Is the RAF now meeting its pilot training quotas? Is the Minister satisfied with progress in that key area?

Answer from James Cartlidge

The hon. Gentleman asks a very important question. Of course, training is fundamental to bringing in the next generation to man our capability. I recently had the pleasure of visiting RAF Valley, where I discussed the issue with the RAF. It was able to confirm to me that, for the first time in a long time, there were more students taking up their places rather than in holds. That is a key metric in which we are seeing significant progress, but yes we want to go further.

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Q3 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Defence
Context

The Government previously stated that the Ajax scheme would be ready between October 2028 and September 2029.

Question

Given only 25% of armoured vehicles have been produced, are the Government on target to meet their deadline?

Answer from James Cartlidge

Yes.

Not addressed: The answer does not provide any details about progress or timeline of the Ajax programme.

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Q4 Khalid Mahmood Lab
Defence Business & Trade
Context

The Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot is considering cutting down its blast furnace capacity.

Question

Will the Minister join a campaign to make in Britain, ensuring our industry and economy move together to support not just our defence, but our economy?

Answer from James Cartlidge

On the important question of steel, we do not expect the closure of Port Talbot to have a significant impact on defence, but obviously we will continue to monitor that situation. I would just gently point out that in 2022-23, the last year for which we have figures available, 89% of spend by the MOD with industry was with British industry. It will be an awful lot harder to make that level of spend if Labour is unable to commit to matching our spending commitments.

Not addressed: The answer discusses general procurement figures rather than directly addressing the campaign request or steel industry impact.

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Q5 Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold
Defence
Context

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the procurement of additional Chinooks.

Question

Will he reassess where potential gaps might occur between old platforms being retired and new platforms being delayed?

Answer from James Cartlidge

My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point. He made a similar point in the debate on readiness last week about the importance of accommodation. I think we can all agree that there is a tendency in defence to focus on the big shiny platforms. Accommodation is a key priority; we are very committed to improving accommodation.

Not addressed: The answer discusses housing procurement and accommodation rather than gaps between retiring old platforms and new ones coming online.

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Q6 Ranil Jayawardena Con
Defence
Context

The MOD has confirmed the procurement of additional Chinooks, and RAF Odiham is a key site for this.

Question

Can I have my hon. Friend's assurance that RAF Odiham will remain the home of the Chinook, and that there will be a similar level of maintenance of the new variants here?

Answer from James Cartlidge

I greatly enjoyed my visit to Odiham, where my hon. Friend and I discussed a wide variety of issues. He is right to draw attention to our commitment to the procurement of 14 extended-range Chinooks—they have a huge range, of 1,000 miles—but there is also the industrial benefit to the UK and, of course, to my hon. Friend's constituency.

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Q7 Jack Lopresti Con
Ukraine Defence
Context

There are ongoing efforts to remove hurdles in UK-Ukraine defence manufacturing cooperation.

Question

Will my hon. Friend update the House on progress made with UK-Ukraine defence manufacturing co-operation?

Answer from James Cartlidge

My hon. Friend has championed this matter consistently. I am pleased to say that we held the first UK trade mission in December, and that there will be further such missions. I can confirm most importantly that, following that mission, UK defence companies and the Ukrainian Government have signed the following agreements.

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Q8 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence
Context

The procurement process for the new medium-lift helicopter has been suboptimal, with costs increasing from £1 billion to £1.3 billion, delivery delays from 2025 to 2031, and a reduction in assets from 44 to 35.

Question

Procurement of the new medium-lift helicopter has been characteristically suboptimal under the present Government, with costs growing from £1 billion to £1.3 billion, delivery forecasts delayed six years to 2031, and a reduction in assets from 44 to 35. Given that forecast delays are inevitable, service personnel will be under-resourced and the budget will grow. What confidence can anyone have in this Defence Procurement Minister?

Answer from James Cartlidge

I will take no lectures from the hon. Gentleman, whose party has been unable even to procure a ferry. I can confirm that at my insistence our competition for the new medium helicopter will involve a far greater emphasis both on supporting UK industry and on supporting exports.

Not addressed: The suboptimal procurement process of the new medium-lift helicopter was not directly addressed.

How: Attacking The Opposition'S Record

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