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416166

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
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 the Government monitors feedback on the Armed Forces Community Covenant; and what steps he is taking to strengthen this covenant.
tabling member constituency	Northampton South
tabling member printed	David Mackintosh
uin	8395
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2015 answer text <p>The Secretary of State provides an annual report to Parliament on progress delivering the commitments in the Armed Forces Covenant. Importantly this report includes unedited comments from the three Service Family Federations and key representatives of the Armed Forces charity sector (including the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA). This independent assessment, in conjunction with the engagement of these organisations with the Cross Government Covenant Reference Group (CRG), and my personal engagement with them as the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, provides an essential strand of continuous feedback on all elements of the Covenant, not just the Community Covenant.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is also able to draw on the results of annual continuous attitude surveys, which provide a comprehensive picture of the views of our personnel on key issues, including the Covenant. We also have a network of personnel deployed regionally with responsibility for engaging with Local Authorities on the Covenant.</p><p>The previous Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, the right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), wrote to each local authority in Great Britain underlining the importance of the Community Covenant and inviting them to provide details of the actions they have taken since signing the Community Covenant. This information is being used to support a broader body of work aimed at sharing and promoting best practice across Local Authorities. It builds on the three regional Community Covenant Conferences (Bristol, Manchester and Leicester) run by the MOD earlier in the year, as well as the Community Covenant event hosted at the Local Government Association annual conference in June.</p><p>Annual funding of £10 million will continue to support all 407 Local Authorities who have signed up to the Community Covenant and made a commitment to support their local Armed Forces community. The Community Covenant remains an essential strand in supporting the Armed Forces and we are committed to its successful implementation. I encourage all colleagues to engage their Local Authority on the actions they are taking to uphold the principles in the Covenant. We all have a shared responsibility for its delivery at a local level.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/09/2015 16:26:20 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4431 label Biography information for David Mackintosh

416217

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Public Consultation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what ways the public can submit comments on the (a) National Security Strategy and (b) Strategic Defence and Security Review.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Mr Andrew Smith
uin	8857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>We have in place a broad programme of engagement with a range of stakeholders, including Parliament, academics, industry, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and members of the public. Members of the public can contribute thoughts and comments on both the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review via a dedicated page on the gov.uk website at the following link.</p><p>www.gov.uk/government/news/strategic-defence-and-security-review-public-engagement</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 14/09/2015 15:48:52 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	95 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Smith

416230

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army: Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether army apprenticeships at Level 2 require students to study towards Level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2015 answer text <p>The Army is compliant with the Government policy requiring apprenticeships to offer learners training to Level 2 English and mathematics where that level has not already been achieved. Soldiers enrolled onto a Level 2 apprenticeship are expected to study towards Level 2 English and mathematics if they have already achieved English and mathematics at Level 1. When a soldier being enrolled on a Level 2 apprenticeship does not have any prior attainment in functional skills, they will be assessed on enrolment and will study English and mathematics at Level 1 or Level 2 depending upon an assessment of their current skill.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/09/2015 16:20:09 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416231

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers who enlisted in the army aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and above dropped out before completing Phase Two training in each of the last five financial years.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2015 answer text <p>The number of soldiers enlisting within the last five financial years who have since left the Army on voluntary or compulsory grounds before completion of their Phase Two training is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Regular Soldier Outflow</p><p>(by year of enlistment)</p></td><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>2014-15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Under 18</p></td><td><p>660</p></td><td><p>870</p></td><td><p>560</p></td><td><p>420</p></td><td><p>300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18 and over</p></td><td><p>1,480</p></td><td><p>2,040</p></td><td><p>1,660</p></td><td><p>950</p></td><td><p>1,060</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Personnel may leave the Army for a number of reasons, including medical and fitness factors, disciplinary reasons, or voluntary withdrawal. Those who enlist under 18 years of age have a statutory right to discharge from the Armed Forces within six months if they feel they are unsuited to Service life.</p><p> </p><p>Some personnel who enlisted in the periods in question are still undertaking Phase Two training so totals for later years are not yet complete.</p><p> </p><p>The figures in the table exclude Gurkhas, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Military Provost Guard Service, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves.</p><p> </p><p>Figures have been rounded to 10.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/09/2015 16:24:51 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416232

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army: Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether army apprenticeships at Level 3 require students to have achieved Level 2 qualifications in (a) English and (b) mathematics in order to complete the Level 3 apprenticeship.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2015 answer text <p>All soldiers undertaking a Level 3 Apprenticeship must achieve Level 2 functional skills in English and mathematics during the apprenticeship programme or must demonstrate that they have achieved a valid equivalent Level 2 qualification, such as a GCSE at grade A-C, before enrolment.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 09/09/2015 16:12:30 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416233

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
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 7 July 2015 to Question 4788, why figures pertaining to the number of army and RAF visits to schools in the academic years from 2012 to 2015 are lower than figures for earlier years provided during the last Parliament by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8831
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2015 answer text <p>The overall number of visits is dependent on a range of factors including the approach of the Army and RAF to engaging young people.</p><p>For the Army in particular, a more focused approach to engagement through the Army in Education programme may also have contributed to this reduction.</p><p>In addition, from 2012 to 2015 the RAF operated a system that sought to connect with pupils mainly through social media and marketing. This has changed and the emphasis is now on a return to personal contact and enhanced schools visits through the RAF 'Skills for Life' curriculum-based programme and its Schools Engagement Plan.</p><p>The Armed Forces will only ever visit a school by invitation from a teacher to support school activities.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/09/2015 16:29:06 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416235

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time soldiers remained in the army after enlisting (a) under the age of 18 and (b) 18 or above was in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2015 answer text <p>Using the latest information available, as at 14 May 2014, the average time that soldiers remained in the Army, who enlisted under the age of 18 is 12 years and two months. Soldiers who enlisted at the age of 18 or above is nine years and three months.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/09/2015 16:31:32 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416238

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
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 7 July 2015 to Question 4788, for what reasons figures pertaining to the number of RAF visits to schools is no longer collected in a disaggregated format for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2015 answer text <p>From financial year 2015-16 the RAF has been collecting data for visits to schools which will identify individual schools by region and country. Prior to this we could not collect disaggregated figures because the information was not recorded in that format. Although further disaggregation was achievable, to do so would have incurred disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 10/09/2015 16:27:18 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416246

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Cadets
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many state school Combined Cadet Forces have been set up under the Cadet Expansion Programme in each year since 2012; and how many such forces are (a) new units and (b) partnerships with existing units.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>The number of state school cadet units set up under the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) in each year since 2012, either as new stand-alone units, or in partnership with existing units is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>New Units</p></td><td><p>Partnership units</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>51</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Although most of the new cadet units in schools set up under the CEP are Combined Cadet Force (CCF) units, some are community cadet units (Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Air Training Corps) located in schools.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Canterbury answering member printed Mr Julian Brazier question first answered 14/09/2015 15:55:53 answering member 77 label Biography information for Sir Julian Brazier
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416247

registered interest
date	04/09/2015
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Cadets
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Local Education Authority areas are planned to host new Combined Cadet Force units; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	8449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2015 answer text <p>It has not yet been decided in which Local Education Authority areas new cadet units in schools will be opened.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 11/09/2015 13:12:55 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham