To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies have been awarded sub-contracts for construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales since June 2013; at which sites he expects work under each such contracts to be carried out; and what the monetary value is of each...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies have been awarded sub-contracts for construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales since June 2013; at which sites he expects work under each such contracts to be carried out; and what the monetary value is of each...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times a day the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier will be able to enter Portsmouth Harbour during spring tides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times a day the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier will be able to enter Portsmouth Harbour during spring tides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which companies tendered for the Portsmouth Harbour dredging contract;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which companies tendered for the Portsmouth Harbour dredging contract;

(2) when the Defence Infrastructure Organisation will allow the contract to dredge Portsmouth Harbour so the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier can navigate it; what estimate he has made of the contract's cost to the public; and when work will (a) commence and (b) finish.

Angus Robertson:

(2) when the Defence Infrastructure Organisation will allow the contract to dredge Portsmouth Harbour so the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier can navigate it; what estimate he has made of the contract's cost to the public; and when work will (a) commence and (b) finish.

Angus Robertson:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times HMS Hermes docked in Portsmouth Harbour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times HMS Hermes docked in Portsmouth Harbour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much electricity is consumed by a Queen Elizabeth class carrier when it is alongside with no internal power generation taking place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much electricity is consumed by a Queen Elizabeth class carrier when it is alongside with no internal power generation taking place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is required to the docks at Portsmouth to accommodate the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is required to the docks at Portsmouth to accommodate the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether both Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers can be docked at Portsmouth harbour simultaneously.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether both Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers can be docked at Portsmouth harbour simultaneously.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) beam and (b) draft is of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier when it is loaded to its maximum configuration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) beam and (b) draft is of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier when it is loaded to its maximum configuration.

What recent assessment he has made of the economic effects on West Fife of the Queen Elizabeth class carrier programme.

What recent assessment he has made of the economic effects on West Fife of the Queen Elizabeth class carrier programme.

The carrier programme as a whole is estimated to have sustained about 10,000 jobs across the UK, 4,000 of which are based in Scotland. Although we have made no specific assessment of the impact on the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, to the end of January the Ministry of Defence had spent about £2.3 billion on work billed to the programme by BAE Systems on the Clyde, and by Babcock at Rosyth. I was pleased to visit Rosyth last week to see the progress of the work on the Queen Elizabeth carrier, which is on track to be flooded up in July. The initial bow sections of the Prince of Wales carrier are dockside, ready for assembly to start later this year.

The carrier programme as a whole is estimated to have sustained about 10,000 jobs across the UK, 4,000 of which are based in Scotland. Although we have made no specific assessment of the impact on the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, to the end of January the Ministry of Defence had spent about £2.3 billion on work billed to the programme by BAE Systems on the Clyde, and by Babcock at Rosyth. I was pleased to visit Rosyth last week to see the progress of the work on the Queen Elizabeth carrier, which is on track to be flooded up in July. The initial bow sections of the Prince of Wales carrier are dockside, ready for assembly to start later this year.

I am grateful for that answer. Is the Minister aware that Babcock commented last week that if Scotland votes yes it would be highly unlikely that my constituency dockyard would get further orders for maintenance work from the MOD? Is that why the Scottish National party has admitted that there would be significant job losses at Rosyth in the event of independence?

I am grateful for that answer. Is the Minister aware that Babcock commented last week that if Scotland votes yes it would be highly unlikely that my constituency dockyard would get further orders for maintenance work from the MOD? Is that why the Scottish National party has admitted that there would be significant job losses at Rosyth in the event of independence?

The hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to learn that I keep an eye on press cuttings relating to all defence procurement matters. The in-service support solution for the Queen Elizabeth class carriers is still in development and will not be decided until next year, but much support will be delivered at the base port and on deployment at sea. I think, however, that the hon. Gentleman was referring to depth maintenance and refit, and the security implications of that work being undertaken in a non-sovereign dock outside the UK would need to be carefully considered. Several dry docks in the UK are physically capable of accommodating such ships outside Scotland.

The hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to learn that I keep an eye on press cuttings relating to all defence procurement matters. The in-service support solution for the Queen Elizabeth class carriers is still in development and will not be decided until next year, but much support will be delivered at the base port and on deployment at sea. I think, however, that the hon. Gentleman was referring to depth maintenance and refit, and the security implications of that work being undertaken in a non-sovereign dock outside the UK would need to be carefully considered. Several dry docks in the UK are physically capable of accommodating such ships outside Scotland.

I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating the Chancellor on the remarkable recovery in Britain’s economic prospects. He knows well my own view, which is that having invested £3 billion each in building our carriers, it would look strange if we did not make every possible effort to find the relatively small amounts of money that will enable them to be operated, so that we can have a set of doctrine based on the continuous availability of a carrier at sea.

I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating the Chancellor on the remarkable recovery in Britain’s economic prospects. He knows well my own view, which is that having invested £3 billion each in building our carriers, it would look strange if we did not make every possible effort to find the relatively small amounts of money that will enable them to be operated, so that we can have a set of doctrine based on the continuous availability of a carrier at sea.

In Budget week, will the Defence Secretary join me in commending Britain’s improved economic outlook, thanks to the Chancellor’s stewardship, which potentially gives rise to finding the annual £65 million required to run the second aircraft carrier? Does my right hon. Friend agree that operating two carriers would strategically extend and involve Britain’s diplomatic military influence in a manner not seen for a generation?

In Budget week, will the Defence Secretary join me in commending Britain’s improved economic outlook, thanks to the Chancellor’s stewardship, which potentially gives rise to finding the annual £65 million required to run the second aircraft carrier? Does my right hon. Friend agree that operating two carriers would strategically extend and involve Britain’s diplomatic military influence in a manner not seen for a generation?

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the re-baselining of the QE Class aircraft carrier has been completed and whether the programme has been re-approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the re-baselining of the QE Class aircraft carrier has been completed and whether the programme has been re-approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air assets can carry an entire F135 jet engine and deliver it to the Queen Elizabeth class carrier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air assets can carry an entire F135 jet engine and deliver it to the Queen Elizabeth class carrier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) with reference to the National Audit Office's Major Project Report 2013 Appendices and project summary sheets, what steps he is taking to mitigate the risk posed by insufficient maritime intra-theatre lift assets to support the Joint Combat Aircraft operations aboard Queen...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) with reference to the National Audit Office's Major Project Report 2013 Appendices and project summary sheets, what steps he is taking to mitigate the risk posed by insufficient maritime intra-theatre lift assets to support the Joint Combat Aircraft operations aboard Queen...

(3) what assets are available for Maritime Intra-Theatre lift to support the Joint Combat Aircraft aboard Queen Elizabeth class carriers when those aircraft enter service.

Angus Robertson:

(3) what assets are available for Maritime Intra-Theatre lift to support the Joint Combat Aircraft aboard Queen Elizabeth class carriers when those aircraft enter service.

Angus Robertson: