Lord Moonie: asked Her Majesty's Government: What impact the proposed changes in the way the prime contractor charges the F-35 joint programme office are expected to have upon (a) the United Kingdom contribution to the programme; and (b) the unit cost of F-35B aircraft for the Armed Forces.
Lord Moonie: asked Her Majesty's Government: What discussions they have held with United States officials and industry about reductions in uptake of F-35 aeroplanes by (a) the United States Air Force, (b) the United States Navy, (c) the United States Marine Corps, (d) the Royal Air Force, and (e) the Royal Navy.
Lord Moonie: asked Her Majesty's Government: What United Kingdom-mandated systems will be fitted to F-35 aircraft for United Kingdom use; and what are the additional costs of qualifying such equipment.
Lord Moonie: asked Her Majesty's Government: What consideration they have given to the August 2008 RAND Corporation briefing on Pacific Vision and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies report America's Self-destroying Air Power in respect of the ability of the F-35 aircraft to meet the United Kingdom's strategic and tactical requirements.
Lord Lyell: My Lords, first, I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to discuss this particularly important subject today. Secondly, as noble Lords will see, I am a bit down the batting list. However, after the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, and the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig, I shall be brief and restrict my remarks to what I have been able to see in this country as the...
Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will purchase two F-35 Lightning II aircraft in January for evaluation and training as anticipated.
Quentin Davies: As MOD central financial systems do not record total fuels consumption, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures are, however, available for marine fuels consumed (including fuels for operations) by UK gallon and are set out in the following table: UK g allon Financial year Fuel type 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 F-76 (marine diesel)...
Gordon Marsden: My hon. Friend chides me for a purpose. I saw her in the Chamber but did not know whether she wished to intervene or speak on the issue. She is absolutely right, of course. Historical problems in Merseyside have had a strong impact on that area, but as she may wish to mention later, there are some encouraging signs in that area of her constituency, not least in the construction industry. Big...
Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 18, (c) 19 to 24, (d) 25 to 29, (e) 30 to 34, (f) 35 to 39 and (g) over 40 years of age in (i) Essex Strategic Health Authority and (ii) England who had (A) no children, (B) one child, (C) two children, (D) three children, (E) four children and (F) five or more children had an abortion in 2008.
Michael Jack: I defer to my hon. Friend's knowledge, because he knows a great deal about these matters, but in any case I agree with him. Lord Drayson is a good exemplification of the way in which a bridge was built between industry and the Ministry of Defence to create a good rapport over the use of technologies. Someone who knows a great deal more about defence than I do has said that, whatever the...
Lord Lee of Trafford: My Lords, I join these Benches in the earlier tribute to those who have fallen in Afghanistan. I also join with the noble Lord, Lord Astor, in requesting an earlier sighting of MoD documents, which would be appreciated. Today's Statement hardly warrants the banner headline in Monday's Times, "Brown goes into battle with billions for defence". Indeed, we are in the defence overstretch that we...
Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty's Government following the statement by United States Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz on 20 January, whether the Ministry of Defence has been notified of (a) the delay of the F-35 programme, and (b) any additional costs to the unit price of early aircraft as a result of a delay.
Question accordingly negatived. Amendments made to motion 7 : (c), leave out from 'opportunity' to end and add 'to establish, in time for the start of the next Parliament, a backbench business committee, constituted in accordance with the principles set out in recommendation 18 of the Committee's Report, to schedule non-ministerial business as described in recommendations 22 (select...
David Borrow: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. He and I have a long history of dealing with aerospace issues in this place, being officers of the all-party group on aerospace. I know of his interest in the issues, given that he represents Farnborough, which is the headquarters of BAE Systems. On many issues, we have fought on the same side in the interests of the aerospace and defence industries. I...
Quentin Davies: Our position is certainly not identical to the hon. Gentleman's position. There is a gulf about the size of the Grand Canyon between the Government's policies and the Tory party's plans on the carrier programme. The Tory party regard the strategic defence review as a kind of excuse to conceal their plans to make subsequent defence cuts; but, in fact, their plans for the carriers are no longer...
Lorraine Fullbrook: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to make my maiden speech today. I congratulate you on your new role. I also congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Richard Drax) and the hon. Member for North Tyneside (Mrs Glindon) on their fascinating and excellent maiden speeches. It is a great honour to be in this Chamber representing the people of the South Ribble...
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what economic modelling his Department undertook to determine the proposed level at which (a) capital gains tax, (b) entrepreneurs' relief and (c) the annual exempt amount would be set; (2) what (a) research and (b) impact assessments he undertook in deciding on his proposal for capital gains tax in the June 2010 Budget; (3) what estimate...
Gordon Birtwistle: Does my hon. Friend accept that not only the people at Warton and Samlesbury are involved in this, but the people at Rolls-Royce who develop and build the engines and avionics? In making his comments on the Eurofighter, would he like to include the F-35, which is being developed, alongside in the USA, at Samlesbury and at Warton? It would be helpful if my hon. Friend the Minister, or even the...
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fewer Tornado GR4 Force and F-35 aircraft he now plans to purchase.
Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Joint Strike Fighter F-35 fighters he plans to order; and what timescale he has set for their entry into service.