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1020217

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army: Suicide
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to tackle the matter of soldiers taking their own life (a) during and (b) after active service.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	199402
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Every study conducted by the Ministry of Defence has found that the risk of suicide amongst the Armed Forces community, including veterans of the 1982 Falkland and 1990-91 Gulf conflicts, is lower than amongst the general population.</p><p>A considerable amount of work has already been undertaken to improve the mental health of Service personnel and to prevent suicide and suicide risk. This includes tackling stigma through education and providing easily accessible, rapid and flexible access to mental health support and healthcare services. Armed Forces personnel undergo &quot;through life&quot; psychological resilience training which enables them to recognise and manage stress in themselves and in their colleagues and actively encourages them to seek help at an early stage.</p><p>However, we continue to look at what more can done. This includes a focused review by the Defence Safety Authority of suicide in Service personnel to identify additional measures for preventing suicide. The review was published on 9 November 2018 by the Defence Safety Authority and work to take forward the recommendations has commenced.</p><p>We have less influence on individuals' behaviour once they are discharged from the Armed Forces, as their mental healthcare becomes the responsibility of the National Health Service in the UK. There are many factors that can result in suicide such as relationship breakdown, debt and employment concerns, not only service in the Armed Forces.</p><p>However, we are not complacent. Any suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual, their family, friends and colleagues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/12/2018 16:15:29 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1020229

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group met in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	199321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Cabinet Office records indicate that the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group met three times in each year.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 10/12/2018 16:14:34 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1020255

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Empty Property
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) value of empty homes in the Ministry of Defence estate in (i) Wales, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
tabling member printed	Ben Lake
uin	199469
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2018 answer text <p>The number and estimated value of void properties in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can be found in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Wales</strong></p></td><td><p>Annington Leased</p></td><td><p>MOD owned</p></td><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p><strong>Total </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total voids</p></td><td><p>244</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>254</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average estimated value per property</p></td><td><p>£127,000</p></td><td><p>£85,000</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td><td><p>£212,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Estimated Value</p></td><td><p>£30,988,000</p></td><td><p>£595,000</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td><td><p>£31,583,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p>Annington Leased</p></td><td><p>MOD owned</p></td><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total voids</p></td><td><p>8,222</p></td><td><p>704</p></td><td><p>383</p></td><td><p>9,309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average estimated value per property</p></td><td><p>£157,000</p></td><td><p>£236,600</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td><td><p>£393,600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Estimated Value</p></td><td><p>£1,290,854,000</p></td><td><p>£166,566,400</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td><td><p>£1,457,420,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p>Annington Leased</p></td><td><p>MOD owned</p></td><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total voids</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1,056</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>1,116</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average estimated value per property</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td><td><p>£161,000</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td><td><p>£161,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Estimated Value</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td><td><p>£170,016,000</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td><td><p>£17,016,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Northern Ireland</strong></p></td><td><p>Annington Leased</p></td><td><p>MOD owned</p></td><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total voids</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>902</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>902</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average estimated value per property</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td><td><p>£82,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>£82,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Estimated Value</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td><td><p>£73,964,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>£73,964,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>A percentage of the Department’s housing stock needs to be void when it is between occupants, for essential maintenance and repair and to ensure that the Armed Forces are able to move units and individuals around the country as required. We have previously estimated the management margin required as around 10%.</p><p> </p><p>Approximately half of the void properties in the table have been identified for disposal, or are being retained to ensure homes are available to meet rebasing plans as part of the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme, including the rebasing of around 4,000 personnel from Germany. In addition, the Department is reducing the number of voids by sub-letting properties on the open market. Some 3,217 void properties are awaiting letting.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 14/12/2018 13:53:49 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1020257

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Empty Property
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) value of empty homes in the Ministry of Defence estate in each parliamentary constituency.
tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
tabling member printed	Ben Lake
uin	199470
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>The information is not held by the Department in the format requested.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/12/2018 16:24:47 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1020266

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2018 to Question 197453 on Ministry of Defence: Equality, what assessment he has made of whether the means for collecting statistics on religious representation among Ministry of Defence civilian staff, as published in the Civilian Personnel Biannual Diversity Dashboard is compatible with his Department's commitments under the Equality Act 2010.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	199369
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is compliant with its obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Detailed data on religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation is collected for MOD civilian staff and is used to inform policy decisions. However, statistics published by Defence are required to strike a balance between transparency and usability. I am satisfied that the MOD’s statistical outputs are clear and concise and inform users of the overall patterns in the data. The inclusion of small sub-categories of non-Christian staff and Christian denominations would not add any additional benefit to the analysis provided in the Civilian Personnel Biannual Diversity Dashboard (CPBDD), and would make the document far longer and more difficult to understand as the small sub-sets would likely be represented by a series of dashes and tildes, representing zeroes and numbers less than five. In addition, the same granular approach would necessarily have to be taken with the BAME, and sexual orientation categories.</p><p> </p><p>The CPBDD has been designated an Official Statistic by the United Kingdom Statistics Authority (UKSA) in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, meaning that Defence is required to publish the logic and overall methodology which can be found at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fmod-civilian-personnel-quarterly-report-background-quality-report&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C559f07b8ee824ecc3c2a08d65b7088e4%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C636796936215591798&amp;sdata=EhTAtY857wSIos3B7MNlMRgd%2F1uMeXVxi5H5kLhVwzo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-civilian-personnel-quarterly-report-background-quality-report</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The CPBDD complies with the UKSA’s Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The process of determining compliance with the Code and designation as an Official Statistic is known as assessment. Details of this assessment can be found at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.statisticsauthority.gov.uk%2Fpublication%2Fstatistics-on-uk-defence-personnel&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C559f07b8ee824ecc3c2a08d65b7088e4%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C636796936215601802&amp;sdata=aFfm31nZIQeBydOvx%2F84OEtaUEPmHuoflSerMB%2BxrPk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/statistics-on-uk-defence-personnel</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/12/2018 16:14:08 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1020269

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Typhoon Aircraft
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2018 to Question 169196 on European Fighter Aircraft, whether the timetable for the completion of Project Centurion remains at 31 December 2018.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	199370
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Yes.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 10/12/2018 17:04:19 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1020272

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Arctic
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for the Armed Forces of 26 November 2018, Official Report, column 14, which stakeholders he is consulting on the development of the UK Defence Arctic Strategy.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	199371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>A wide range of UK Government and international stakeholders are being consulted. Inputs are being gathered from a wide cross-section of the Ministry of Defence, including the Armed Forces and across Whitehall, including key stakeholders in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Transport and the Cabinet Office.</p><p> </p><p>Once initial UK Government positions have been considered, we will engage extensively with international allies and partners, to ensure that the strategy effectively addresses their perspectives and priorities.</p><p> </p><p>This stakeholder engagement builds on the Department's existing engagement with academic institutions and think tanks which have assisted in the development of its position on the Arctic to date.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 12/12/2018 15:03:23 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1020323

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Russia: INF Treaty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral contribution of 26 November 2018, Official Report, column 6, what steps he is taking to urge Russia to comply with its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	199372
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>We have consistently, along with NATO Allies, supported US efforts to bring Russia back to compliance, including at the NATO Summit in July, the NATO-Russia Council in October and most recently following the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on 4 December.</p><p>The US has given Russia a final opportunity to return to compliance and respect its Treaty obligations. The onus is now on Russia to act responsibly. We will continue to work with our international partners to put pressure on Russia to comply.</p> answering member constituency South Staffordshire answering member printed Gavin Williamson question first answered 13/12/2018 16:18:00 answering member 4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1020324

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Foreign Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral contribution of 26 November 2018, Official Report, column 3, what the evidential basis is of his estimate that up to 1,350 Commonwealth citizens will join the armed forces in 2019.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	199373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>On 5 November 2018, I announced (HCWS1062) the removal of the five-year UK residency criterion for Commonwealth citizens wishing to join the Armed Forces to enable the recruitment of up to 1,350 per year. We know from the recruitment that we have continued to do from the Commonwealth over recent years that many Commonwealth citizens aspire to join the Armed Forces where they make an outstanding contribution. Our recruitment plans will see the numbers joining rising upwards to 1,350 per year over the next few years as this change takes full effect.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/12/2018 16:13:49 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

1020327

registered interest
date	05/12/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Veterans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Veterans Board last met.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	199374
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board has strengthened strategic oversight of the Armed Forces Covenant and is driving forward better Government support to the Armed Forces, their families and veterans across the whole of the UK. The Board last met on 5 November 2018.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 10/12/2018 16:15:39 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith