Since the introduction of the Defence Equipment and Support Inventory Management Strategy (IMS) in 2012 the level of obsolete stock held has substantially reduced; currently, items identified as obsolete represent less than 0.2 per cent of the total value of inventory held by the Ministry of Defence. As at 1 April 2015 the IMS has achieved an overall stock reduction of £8.7 billion against a strategic target of £9.5 billion set for 31 March 2016. We are also working with industry to optimise inventory further and reduce the logistics footprint, while supporting operations and maintaining availability to the Front-line Commands.

I am pleased to confirm that I announced the sale of the Government pipelines and storage system via a Written Ministerial Statement on 20 March 2015 (Official Report, column 86-87WS).

I welcome Thursday’s statement from the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne), about the submarine dismantling project. Will the Minister confirm that as far as he is concerned we are still on course for early dismantling, and will he meet me before the end of the year to discuss further the future of Rosyth?

Work is ongoing to establish the preferred options and costs of replacement, which will confirm the programme timescales.

There is spare capacity at the following dedicated vehicle storage sites: Ashchurch, Stafford, Ayrshire, Chivenor (Royal Marines) and Kinnegar.

Ashchurch has 20% available capacity and 4,140 vehicles on site, Stafford has 38% available capacity and 495 vehicles on site, Ayrshire has 40% available capacity and 2,186 vehicles on site, Chivenor has 41% available capacity and 227 vehicles on site, Kinnegar has 29% available capacity and 213 vehicles on site. These figures will fluctuate as the study into the optimum vehicle storage solution matures.

Ashchurch has 1,277 A and B vehicles stored under cover in a controlled humidity environment, 4,445 A and B vehicles stored under cover in unheated hangars and 485 vehicles stored uncovered as stock pending disposal.

Ministry of Defence Lyneham has 20 A vehicles, 146 B vehicles and 167 Protected Mobility vehicles stored under cover in unheated hangars.

No vehicles are stored at Warminster or Donnington.

An initial assessment was conducted at the end of 2012 of the size of the vehicle fleet that would be required to equip the new Army 2020 structure. This took account of vehicles redeploying from Afghanistan and Germany. The assessment included a requirement to store around 7,000 vehicles in a controlled humidity environment. Work continues to determine the exact storage requirement and is scheduled to be complete by the middle of 2014.

[holding answer 12 March 2013]: The revenue received from the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) is included in the impact assessment which was published alongside the draft Energy Bill in November 2012. The GPSS' revenue comprises payments from the United States Visiting Forces and commercial sources for the use of spare capacity totalling £39 million. In addition, the Ministry of Defence pays a notional charge of approximately £13 million per annum.

Provisions to enable the sale of the Government pipeline and storage system (GPSS) are included in this Session's Energy Bill. A decision to proceed with sale will not be made until the Bill has been approved and the Government can be sure that sale will deliver value for money.

The intention is to go to market to invite bids for the GPSS in early 2014.

Working with other Government Departments and our advisers we are considering what additional safeguards, if any, will need to be put in place once the Government pipeline and storage system is sold to protect the interests not only of the public but also customers, including the Ministry of Defence.

All necessary safeguards will be identified prior to the start of the formal sale process and we expect they will be incorporated in the contractual arrangement between the Department and the buyer.

The Ministry of Defence expects that the sale of the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) will result in a capital receipt. I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Under the Polaris Sales Agreement 1963 as amended for Trident in 1982, the UK pays the US Department of Defence (DoD) an annual contribution towards the overall cost of the US Navy's Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic at Kings Bay, Georgia. This contribution is based on the UK's share of the overall missile inventory.

Reprocessing costs commenced in 2002; the total paid since then being $155 million. This figure includes all activities undertaken at Kings Bay; reprocessing and storage costs are not held separately. Included in these payments is the US DoD administration charge of 3% at a total value of $4.5 million.

As part of its ongoing procurement programme and the Development Test programme, the UK receives constant updates on the safety of the F-35 fuel tank design. With personnel embedded within the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme, this is part of the daily work.

All aircraft variants of F-35 are currently within the Development Test phase of the overall programme. The aim of the Development Test phase is to reveal issues through testing so that solutions can be developed in order to deliver a capable aircraft to the armed forces.

The JSF programme is currently carrying out tests on the effects of lightning on the F-35 fuel tank to ensure the aircraft is appropriately equipped to fly in all weathers.

Work to assess the future required size of the Ministry of Defence storage capacity is ongoing. No decisions have yet been made regarding storage of material returning from either theatre in Operation Herrick or from Germany.

Work to assess the future required size of the Ministry of Defence storage capacity is ongoing. No decisions have yet been made regarding storage of material returning from either theatre in Operation Herrick or from Germany.