James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2024
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Written questions
Puma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of retiring Puma helicopters in March 2025 on capability.
Answer: The MOD takes a rigorous approach in assessing the risk of any capability transitions. The Department is exploring options to fulfil some short-term capability gaps in Cyprus and Brunei before the H-145 platform enters services from 2026. Key operational ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy that the Airbus H-145 will enter service to replace the Puma by 2026.
Answer: The out of service date for Puma was originally scheduled for 21 Mar 22; however, the platform was extended to fulfil some capabilities in Brunei and Cyprus until March 2025. In 2023, the Department agreed to procure the H-145 aircraft to fulfil these cap...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPuma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Pumas in use in Brunei (a) only provide a support to jungle training function and (b) are used for (i) search and rescue and (ii) other operational purposes.
Answer: The primary role of the Puma aircraft in Brunei is to provide search and rescue cover in support of operational training. Defence has taken measures to ensure continued output of operational training in the interim period before Puma's replacement, H145, ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPuma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring Puma helicopters in March 2025.
Answer: The MOD takes a rigorous approach in assessing the risk of any capability transitions. The Department is exploring options to fulfil some short-term capability gaps in Cyprus and Brunei before the H-145 platform enters services from 2026. Key operational ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17163More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of providing a military solution to alternative jungle training helicopter capability in Brunei.
Answer: The primary role of the Puma aircraft in Brunei is to provide search and rescue cover in support of operational training. Defence has taken measures to ensure continued output of operational training in the interim period before Puma's replacement, H145, ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinook HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a reduction in the number of Chinook helicopters on air assault operations.
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters will not negatively impact the delivery of current Defence operational outputs, as these retirements will be synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended R...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of providing a (a) commercial and (b) military solution to alternative jungle training helicopter capability in Brunei.
Answer: The department will not comment on alternative options for jungle training due to operational sensitivity.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinook HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential implications of retiring 14 Chinook helicopters early are on the ability of (a) Joint Helicopter Command, (b) the Chief of Joint Operations, (c) 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, (d) 16 Air M
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters will not negatively impact the delivery of current Defence operational outputs, as these retirements will be synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended R...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinook HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring 14 Chinook helicopters early for (a) 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, (b) the Air Manoeuvre Task Force, (c) Joint Helicopter Command, (d) the Global
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters will not negatively impact the delivery of current Defence operational outputs, as these retirements will be synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended R...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinook HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the retirement of 14 Chinook helicopters on the capability of the armed forces.
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters will not negatively impact the delivery of current Defence operational outputs, as these retirements will be synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended R...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinook HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring 14 Chinook helicopters early.
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters will not negatively impact the delivery of current Defence operational outputs, as these retirements will be synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended R...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to gift (a) cannibalised parts of and (b) complete Watchkeeper Mk 1 platforms to allies.
Answer: The Army will procure a modern Land Tactical Deep Find (LTDF) capability to replace the 14 years old Watchkeeper Mk 1 capability following its retirement from March 2025. This procurement will leverage lessons from Ukraine and emerging technologies to del...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of retiring Watchkeeper Mk 1 on the personnel of 47th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Answer: The Army will procure a modern Land Tactical Deep Find (LTDF) capability to replace the 14 years old Watchkeeper Mk 1 capability following its retirement from March 2025. This procurement will leverage lessons from Ukraine and emerging technologies to del...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the retirement of Watchkeeper Mk 1 on the capability of the armed forces.
Answer: The Army will procure a modern Land Tactical Deep Find (LTDF) capability to replace the 14 years old Watchkeeper Mk 1 capability following its retirement from March 2025. This procurement will leverage lessons from Ukraine and emerging technologies to del...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of Watchkeeper Mk 1 on the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Answer: The Army will procure a modern Land Tactical Deep Find (LTDF) capability to replace the 14 years old Watchkeeper Mk 1 capability following its retirement from March 2025. This procurement will leverage lessons from Ukraine and emerging technologies to del...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring Watchkeeper Mk 1 in March 2025.
Answer: The Army will procure a modern Land Tactical Deep Find (LTDF) capability to replace the 14 years old Watchkeeper Mk 1 capability following its retirement from March 2025. This procurement will leverage lessons from Ukraine and emerging technologies to del...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave RulerMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring RFA (a) Wave Knight and (b) Wave Ruler in March 2025.
Answer: RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler were placed into extended readiness by the previous Government, and have not been available for operations since 2022 and 2017 respectively. Therefore, the retirements will have no operational implications.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMulti-role Support ShipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the planned multi-role support ships.
Answer: The Muti Role Support Ships programme is in the concept phase and aims to deliver the first of class by 2033.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS BulwarkMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the retirement of HMS (a) Albion and (b) Bulwark on the capability of the armed forces.
Answer: The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally. Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government i...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS BulwarkMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring HMS (a) Albion and (b) Bulwark in March 2025.
Answer: The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally. Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government i...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS NorthumberlandMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the retirement of HMS Northumberland on the capability of the armed forces prior to delivery of the first Type 26.
Answer: Current and planned force levels are continually assessed to ensure that they are optimised to deliver the tasks His Majesty's Government asks of it, now and in the future. The Royal Navy is carefully managing a Surface Fleet Transition Plan to ensure our...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS NorthumberlandMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring HMS Northumberland in March 2025.
Answer: The retiring of HMS NORTHUMBERLAND in March 2025 will have no impact on current operations. During her planned refit period, significant structural damage was discovered. This would have taken a major amount of time and financial resource to rectify and o...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Private EducationMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce financial details of the increase to Continuity of Educational Allowance.
Answer: The MOD has now concluded its re-rating exercise for Continuity of Education Allowance. The next iteration of Joint Service Publication 752 (Tri-Service Regulations for Expenses and Allowances), to be released on 1 January 2025, will contain the new rates...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: South SuffolkDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 17027More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of bus services in South Suffolk constituency.
Answer: Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will introduce the Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right acro...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 17025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last issued instructions to his Department on the threshold for financial sign-off of new procurements; and what those instructions were.
Answer: We continue to review and spend on our priorities as part of normal financial management There have been a number of communications as part of departmental business to enable us to get a grip of defence spending. We are committed to securing value for mon...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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