Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

427075

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Families
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.
	tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
	tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
	uin	15350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2015 answer text <br /><br /><p>The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014. The Department for Work and Pensions published guidance for Departments and officials on how the test should be applied when formulating policy and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) follows that guidance: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf</a></p><br /><p>The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance. While the guidance states that Departments should consider publishing assessments carried out under the Test, there is no requirement to do so.</p><br /><br /><p>Over the last five years the MOD has significantly increased the support provided to the families of Service personnel. For details of these I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 June 2015 to Question 1192 to the hon. Member for Enfield Southgate (Mr Burrowes): <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-06-04/1192/" target="_blank">http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-06-04/1192/</a></p><br /><p>Since I provided that answer I was delighted to announce to the Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO) Annual General Meeting on 30 September our plans for the first UK Armed Forces Families Strategy, the aim of which is to provide a clearer focus for our efforts to understand, value and empower the families of our Armed Forces personnel. This Strategy will build on the successes outlined in my answer by addressing inconsistencies and incoherence in MOD policies and by improving our communications to Armed Forces families.</p><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 15331 15341 question first answered 16/11/2015 16:29:34 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

445894

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Veterans: North West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans in (a) Pendle, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West have been helped by Veterans UK since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Pendle
	tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
	uin	23072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2016 answer text <br /><p><br></p><p>I have taken help by Veterans UK to mean assistance provided by the Veterans UK Welfare Service. The Veterans Welfare Service provides Veterans and their families' with free and confidential advice on a wide range of issues.</p><br /><p>Regrettably, the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><br /><p>However, the total number of visits to Veterans from the Veterans UK Welfare Service since 01 January 2010 to 20 January 2016 in the Pendle, Lancashire and North West district, are set out below.</p><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>District</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>*Number of Visits</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pendle</p></td><td><p>100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lancashire</p></td><td><p>1,870</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West(1)</p></td><td><p>7,240</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>(1) This figure incorporates the Pendle and Lancashire districts.</p><br /><p>*In line with departmental policy, values have been rounded to the nearest 5.</p><br /><br /> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 26/01/2016 15:42:09 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

436203

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Buildings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.62 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, published on 23 November 2015, what estimate he has made of the revenue that will be received from the sale of 30 per cent of the built estate.
	tabling member constituency	Stirling
	tabling member printed	Steven Paterson
	uin	19187
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2015 answer text <br /><p>As stated in the Spending Review 2015 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) expects to generate £1 billion through the disposal of sites in the financial years 2016-17 to 2020-21.</p><p>The MOD does not disclose annual breakdowns due to the potential for prejudice to its commercial interests.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 15/12/2015 16:23:37 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4392 label Biography information for Steven Paterson

427082

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Veterans: Cancer
	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 ensure that British veterans who develop cancer through exposure to asbestos are entitled to the same level of compensation as civilians.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	15511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2015 answer text <br /><p>As the Prime Minister said during Prime Ministers' Questions on 4 November 2015, the Ministry of Defence is looking into the matter.</p><p>The Government has continuously made compensation available under the War Pensions Scheme for injuries, illness or disease caused by service before 6 April 2005, including mesothelioma. The War Pensions Scheme provides Veterans with mesothelioma with the maximum award paid on a weekly/monthly basis and additional supplementary allowances and, where appropriate, entitlement to dependent's benefits.</p><p>While there are currently no plans for separate compensation arrangements for veterans suffering with mesothelioma, consideration is being given to whether any flexibility can be provided for future claimants under the War Pensions Scheme. As this issue is a complex matter, officials have been undertaking a detailed review. I hope we will be able to present our conclusions soon.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 16/11/2015 17:13:03 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

442587

	registered interest
	date	05/01/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Veterans: Mesothelioma
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to give veterans affected by mesothelioma the choice between receiving a traditional War Pension or a lump sum payment that is comparable to the awards given to civilians under the Government's Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Cambridge
	tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
	uin	20900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2016 answer text <br /><p>Mesothelioma is a devastating disease affecting not only the individual diagnosed, but their family and loved ones. It is important to ensure we offer the right support for those veterans affected.</p><p>As I announced on 16 December 2015, veterans who were diagnosed on or after that date with diffuse mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos during their military service prior to 6 April 2015 would have the option of receiving a lump sum of £140,000 under the War Pension Scheme. For those who elect to receive the lump sum, this will take the place of the current arrangements of payment of a regular War Pension, any Supplementary Allowances and dependant's benefits.</p><p>The necessary legislative changes need time to be brought into effect. Subject to the agreement of the Privy Council, these changes will be made on 11 April 2016.</p><p>Those diagnosed on or after 16 December 2016, who elect to receive the lump sum before legislation has been introduced, will in the interim be able to receive the War Disablement Pension and any Supplementary Allowances until the lump sum is paid. Any such payments would then be deducted from the lump sum which will be paid following the introduction of the legislation on 11 April 2016.</p><p>The Veterans Welfare Service is on hand to help claimants and their families understand the details of the options available.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 12/01/2016 17:24:12 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

438895

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many official animal mascots there are in the armed forces; and what the (a) rank, (b) rations, (c) species and (d) regiment is of such mascots.
	tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
	tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
	uin	20460
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2016 answer text <br /><p>Official military animal mascots are a long-standing tradition in our Armed Forces and carry out ceremonial roles and duties. There are a total of nine publicly funded official mascots in the Armed Forces, all of which are attached to the Army. The details are provided below:</p><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Name</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Rank</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Rations</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Species</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Regiment</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Talavera</p></td><td><p>None</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Drum Horse</p></td><td><p>The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Alamein (‘Charlie')</p></td><td><p>None</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Drum Horse</p></td><td><p>The Queen's Royal Hussars</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Domhnall of Shantamon</p></td><td><p>None</p></td><td><p>Dog food</p></td><td><p>Wolfhound</p></td><td><p>Irish Guards</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>None</p></td><td><p>None</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Indian black buck</p></td><td><p>The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Llwelyn</p></td><td><p>Fusilier</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Kashmiri goat</p></td><td><p>1st Battalion The Royal Welsh</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Shenkin III</p></td><td><p>Lance Corporal</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Kashmiri goat</p></td><td><p>3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Derby XXX</p></td><td><p>Lance Corporal</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Swaledale ram</p></td><td><p>The Mercian Regiment</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cruachan IV</p></td><td><p>Lance Corporal</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Shetland pony</p></td><td><p>The Royal Regiment of Scotland</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pegasus V</p></td><td><p>Lance Corporal</p></td><td><p>Pasture forage and concentrate</p></td><td><p>Shetland pony</p></td><td><p>The Parachute Regiment</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As their traditional Regimental Mascot, an Indian black buck, is now an endangered species, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have adopted a British Otterhound as their stand-in Regimental Mascot; he holds the rank of Fusilier and is fed dog food.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 11/01/2016 15:17:57 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

445477

	registered interest
	date	18/01/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Marines: Defence Equipment and Uniforms
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department's policy that Royal Marines are required to contribute towards the cost of their uniform or equipment.
	tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
	tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
	uin	22829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2016 answer text <br /><p>On joining and for deployments, Royal Marines are issued with the uniform and equipment required for their role and specific tasking.</p><p>Officers, unlike Other Ranks, are required to pay for the maintenance of their uniforms for which Income Tax relief is provided automatically via salary.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 26/01/2016 15:37:09 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

438055

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2015
	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, how many serving members of the regular Army have been transferred to the staff and personnel support branch in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
	tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
	uin	19815
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2015 answer text <br /><p>Since 2010 the numbers of trained regular officers and soldiers transferring to the Adjutant General's Corps Staff and Personnel Support Branch, AGC(SPS), each calendar year are as follows:</p><p>2010 - 130</p><p>2011 - 160</p><p>2012 - 50</p><p>2013 - 40</p><p>2014 - 60</p><p>2015 to 31 October - 150</p><p>Where there is a shortage of key personnel, the Army offers a transfer bonus which is payable to soldiers upon successful completion of the transfer into the specified trade.</p><p>From 2010 to 2013, transfer bonus payments of £1,500 each were made to 73 soldiers who transferred into the AGC(SPS) as Military Clerks or Combat Human Resource Specialists. No payments were made from 2014 onwards. The amount spent each calendar year since 2010 is as follows:</p><p>2010 - £52,500</p><p>2011 - £51,000</p><p>2012 - £3,000</p><p>2013 - £3,000</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 19816 question first answered 18/12/2015 12:11:35 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

438056

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Army: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on bonuses for regular Army personnel who have been transferred to the staff and personnel support branch in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
	tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
	uin	19816
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2015 answer text <br /><p>Since 2010 the numbers of trained regular officers and soldiers transferring to the Adjutant General's Corps Staff and Personnel Support Branch, AGC(SPS), each calendar year are as follows:</p><p>2010 - 130</p><p>2011 - 160</p><p>2012 - 50</p><p>2013 - 40</p><p>2014 - 60</p><p>2015 to 31 October - 150</p><p>Where there is a shortage of key personnel, the Army offers a transfer bonus which is payable to soldiers upon successful completion of the transfer into the specified trade.</p><p>From 2010 to 2013, transfer bonus payments of £1,500 each were made to 73 soldiers who transferred into the AGC(SPS) as Military Clerks or Combat Human Resource Specialists. No payments were made from 2014 onwards. The amount spent each calendar year since 2010 is as follows:</p><p>2010 - £52,500</p><p>2011 - £51,000</p><p>2012 - £3,000</p><p>2013 - £3,000</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 19815 question first answered 18/12/2015 12:11:35 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

444281

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the Armed Forces Covenant applies to Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Belfast East
	tabling member printed	Gavin Robinson
	uin	22172
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2016 answer text <br /><p>Since the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011 the Ministry of Defence has worked closely with Northern Ireland Government Departments, Service charities and other groups to build on existing measures to support the Armed Forces Community. In 2013, the Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs reported that, less some specific areas, Covenant measures were being applied in Northern Ireland.</p><br /><p>I acknowledge that the Armed Forces Covenant does not enjoy the same level of awareness or appreciation in Northern Ireland as in other parts of the UK. However, I am clear that every effort is being made to implement the Covenant against the particular nuances of the Northern Irish political and legal environment. The Ministry of Defence and other parties work tirelessly to ensure good relationships help develop improved understanding of specific needs and I have been impressed by the way in which solutions to these needs are generated in a focussed and professional manner. Such provision is fully commensurate with the aims and objectives of the Covenant, whether it is branded as such or not.</p><br /><p>Service personnel in Northern Ireland are well-catered for under the auspices of the Covenant and are at no particular disadvantage, although more work is needed to identify the needs of those within the veterans community. This work is ongoing, well-resourced, and fully recognised as activity provided within the scope of the Armed Forces Covenant.</p><br /><br /> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 22173 22174 question first answered 18/01/2016 15:59:18 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4360 label Biography information for Gavin Robinson