Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) is an important event which supports the UK defence industry seeking to trade internationally and offers valuable defence engagement opportunities with our allies and partners. The support to DSEI 2015 was delivered through the course of normal departmental business and in-line with existing budgetary provisions. Any additional costs were recouped in line with standard practices

Farnborough International Air Show is an important event which supports UK defence industry seeking to trade internationally and offers valuable defence engagement opportunities with our allies and partners. The support to the Farnborough International Air Show 2016 will be delivered through the course of normal departmental business and in-line with existing budgetary provisions. Any additional costs will be recouped in line with standard practices.

There are 209 contractors and 78 AWE personnel working on decommissioning projects, including demolition, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment

The nuclear deterrent is the cornerstone of the UK’s defence security policy. Maintaining the UK’s defence nuclear enterprise supports over 30,000 jobs across the UK and makes a significant contribution to the economy.

In the UK, four key suppliers directly support the delivery of the Trident programme. The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) managed and operated by AWE Management Limited is based in Aldermaston and Burghfield; BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness; Babcock at Devonport; and Rolls-Royce at Raynesway, Derby. There are thousands of jobs sustained across these sites.

There are also 6,800 Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian and Royal Navy jobs at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde including contractors from Babcock, Lockheed Martin UK and Rolls-Royce. This figure is due to grow to 8,200 in the 2020s. Rolls-Royce also operate the site at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment, Dounreay, supporting the Trident programme and other nuclear-powered submarines. Also the Defence Equipment and Support’s military and defence civilian personnel are based at MOD Abbey Wood and other sites in the UK.

The ability of these key areas to deliver their programmes depends heavily on an extensive network of sub-contractors who are working indirectly in support of the Trident programme.

The nuclear deterrent is the cornerstone of the UK’s defence security policy. Maintaining the UK’s defence nuclear enterprise supports over 30,000 jobs across the UK and makes a significant contribution to the economy.

In the UK, four key suppliers directly support the delivery of the Trident programme. The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) managed and operated by AWE Management Limited is based in Aldermaston and Burghfield; BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness; Babcock at Devonport; and Rolls-Royce at Raynesway, Derby. There are thousands of jobs sustained across these sites.

There are also 6,800 Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian and Royal Navy jobs at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde including contractors from Babcock, Lockheed Martin UK and Rolls-Royce. This figure is due to grow to 8,200 in the 2020s. Rolls-Royce also operate the site at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment, Dounreay, supporting the Trident programme and other nuclear-powered submarines. Also the Defence Equipment and Support’s military and defence civilian personnel are based at MOD Abbey Wood and other sites in the UK.

The ability of these key areas to deliver their programmes depends heavily on an extensive network of sub-contractors who are working indirectly in support of the Trident programme.

The UK's contribution to the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence network for future years will form part of our contribution to NATO in accordance with our agreed cost share. As outlined in the SDSR, we will support research, development initiatives and multinational engagement through the UK's Missile Defence Centre. The specific expenditure for the years requested has not yet been identified

We have not yet made decisions as to the exact capabilities required of the radar or where it will be sited - this will be determined in due course.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Tobias Ellwood) to Question 224052.

The Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project Programme Director is Brigadier Tim Watts. The Director, Saudi Armed Forces Projects is
Air Vice-Marshal Ian C Morrison CBE.

The number of civilian and military staff based in the UK and in Saudi Arabia working on both the Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications (SANGCOM) Project and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) on 1 April 2014 is shown in the table. The Saudi Arabian government reimburses the UK MOD for these staff costs and there is, therefore, no cost to the UK taxpayer.

The function of the SANGCOM Project is to support the United Kingdom’s commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by acquiring and supporting modern communications capabilities for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

The function of the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects is to support the United Kingdom’s commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia through the supply of modern military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons and associated support services to the Saudi Armed Forces.

Pegasus is the replacement highly enriched uranium component manufacturing and storage facility, and forms part of the Government’s programme of investment in the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites.

In accordance with normal industry best practice, the project is under regular review to ensure that the facility will meet the Ministry of Defence’s requirements while also achieving the optimum balance of performance, cost and schedule. No changes to the approved scope of the project have been made.

The following tables show the current new build projects, with approved costs and in-service dates, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Projected in-service dates are shown in bandings to avoid prejudice to national security and defence. No costs are attributed to projects detailed in table 2 as these have yet to be approved.

There are no plans for the Ministry of Defence to review the conduct of, nor representation at, local liaison committees relating to defence nuclear sites. The operation of such committees is a matter for agreement between the individual site operator (the licensee and/or authorisee) and the appropriate local authorities.

As a key element in their training for operational deployment, members of the UK Defence Medical Services attend military Exercise Surgical Training courses in Denmark.

These exercises are essential to ensure our medical personnel are capable of carrying out potentially life-saving surgery on casualties with serious bullet and blast wounds. Injuries of such severity are not routinely encountered during their clinical practice in NHS hospitals, but they are regularly required to treat them when on operational deployment. Participating in Danish training minimises the number of animals involved. The pigs are treated humanely with full use of anaesthetics.

There are a number of sophisticated simulation models on the market that provide effective training in certain surgical techniques, and the Ministry of Defence already uses these where clinically appropriate. However, none of those currently available provide a viable alternative to the serious bullet and blast wound training that our surgeons receive from live pig models.

The A91 facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment was designed to house a Radioactive Liquid Effluent Treatment Plant (RALETP). The contract

for the construction of the facility was originally let in the late 1970s and it was intended to become operational in 1991. Following the detection of corrosion, the works were formally rejected in 2000.

The Ministry of Defence wrote off the costs of the facility over two financial years. In 2002-3 it wrote off £82 million in respect of the RALETP and in 2003-4 it wrote off £65 million for the A91 building itself.

A final decision has yet to be made on the future of the A91 facility.

A post project evaluation was conducted in 2004-5 from which a lessons learned report, dated May 2005 was produced. The key lessons learned were published by the Defence Select committee in 2006 and can be found at the following link:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmdfence/1293/129302.htm

The full document will be considered for publication in the Library of the House, taking account of whether any information should be withheld, consistent with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Work commenced on decommissioning the A1 facility in 2004 and is due to finish in 2030. The anticipated cost is estimated to be between £130 million and £150 million.

Work is under way in the UK and US to amend the treaty by the end of 2014.

A Stocktake meeting took place at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, on 16 January 2014. The date and venue for the next meeting have not yet been set. Stocktake meetings are nominally annual, hosted equitably by the US and UK.

Export licences are approved by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The two standard individual export licences for sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride were revoked following a revision to the sanctions regime which came into force in June 2012. The revision introduced new prohibitions on certain chemicals, including sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride. In these cases the chemicals were to be used for metal finishing of aluminium showers and windows. There was no evidence at the time of granting the licences—and there has been no evidence subsequently—to suggest that the end-use was anything other than stated. Our system of export controls is robust, responsive and effective in protecting our interests and upholding the highest international standards.

The licences were not used before they were revoked.