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1042271

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter dated of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what assessment he has made of the reasons why only a maximum of nine out of the full compliment of 11 full-time investigator posts have ever been filled in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman; and whether the problems identified in the United Kingdom Security Vetting agency by the National Audit Office in its report entitled Investigation into national security vetting, published in September 2018, have contributed to the posts being unfilled; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	209305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208857 208859 208860 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041578

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Navy: Reserve Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists at each rank are serving on Her Majesty's Ships on operational duty.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	208736
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>There are currently fourteen Royal Navy Reservists serving in Her Majesty’s ships on operational duty. These are broken down as follows:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Rank/Role</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lieutenant</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sub-Lieutenant</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Leading Hand</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Able Seaman</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 21/01/2019 16:15:18 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1041599

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Republic of Ireland: Armed Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Irish citizens have joined the British armed forces in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	208802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The numbers of Irish and Commonwealth citizens who have joined the Regular Armed Forces in the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2018 is provided below.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Irish Regular Personnel</p></td><td><p>Commonwealth Regular Personnel</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>40</p></td><td><p>1,470</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>970</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>450</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>680</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>720</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>440</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>480</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>840</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5,740</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Notes:<ul><li>UK Regulars comprises Full-time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service, Locally Employed Personnel and Non-Regular Permanent Staff</li><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Figures ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to avoid systemic bias</li></ul></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 208803 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:14:27 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1041600

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	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, how many Commonwealth citizens have joined the British armed forces in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	208803
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The numbers of Irish and Commonwealth citizens who have joined the Regular Armed Forces in the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2018 is provided below.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Irish Regular Personnel</p></td><td><p>Commonwealth Regular Personnel</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>40</p></td><td><p>1,470</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>970</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>450</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>680</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>720</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>440</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>480</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>840</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5,740</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>Notes:<ul><li>UK Regulars comprises Full-time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service, Locally Employed Personnel and Non-Regular Permanent Staff</li><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Figures ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to avoid systemic bias</li></ul></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 208802 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:14:27 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1041726

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Nigeria: Military Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is giving to the Nigerian Government to repel attacks by armed insurgents in north-east Nigeria.
	tabling member constituency	Ilford North
	tabling member printed	Wes Streeting
	uin	208931
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>Since 2014, the UK has sought to support and enable a Nigerian-led regional response to Boko Haram and related violent extremism in the north-east, doing so in the context of the long-term need to help build capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces and support Defence Transformation. Some 70 Defence personnel are currently deployed to Nigeria on an enduring basis, and over 800 have deployed to Nigeria on training and advisory tasks since April 2015. This is supported by equipment gifting, places on professional development courses, and a focus on developing Nigerian Command, Staff, and Leadership institutions.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 21/01/2019 17:34:47 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4504 label Biography information for Wes Streeting

1041758

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what steps he is taking to ensure the number of full-time investigation officer posts in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman's are fully staffed; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	208852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208853 208854 208857 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:46:59 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041760

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of staffing levels in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	208853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208854 208857 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041762

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Sick Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question, how many staff in the Service Complaints Ombudsman's office have taken sick leave as a result of stress related illnesses; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	208854
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208857 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041765

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Complaints
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what the average length of investigations held by each full-time investigator was; and how many complaints were received relating to the length of time investigations were taking in the office of the Service Complaint Ombudsman in each quarter from March 2017 to 30 September 2018; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	208857
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041767

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768 and with reference to the 122 cases currently unallocated within Service Complaints Ombudsman's office, what plans he has to increase the resources available to that office; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	208859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208857 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon