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1149728

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Armed Forces
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the contract with thebigword to provide interpreting and translation services to the United Kingdom armed forces in Afghanistan will be reviewed.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL21
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>Joint Forces Command manages the current contract with The Big Word. However, this is being replaced with contract award expected in the first half of next year. Included in the Statement of Requirement - which bidders will quote against - is the new policy relating to threats and intimidation of interpreters in theatre.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 22/10/2019 15:16:58 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1149990

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Veterans: Housing and Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to support veterans through (a) housing and (b) mental health services.
	tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
	tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
	uin	975
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with both the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Health and Social Care to ensure that veterans feel supported on these issues. However, the MOD does not have primary responsibility for housing veterans or treating their mental health.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD strongly believes that no-one should be homeless, least of all someone who has served their country. As part of the Strategy for our Veterans and its consultation, the Government has made clear its commitment to tackling rough sleeping and homelessness and ensuring that all veterans have a secure place to live: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ strategy-for-our-veterans. There is, however, no substantive evidence to suggest that veterans are over-represented in the homeless population.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD works with other service providers to ensure there is a coordinated and structured approach to homelessness amongst the small minority of veterans who are without homes. Our aim is both to prevent new Service leavers becoming homeless and to provide an effective safety net for existing homeless veterans. Former Service personnel with urgent housing needs are always given high priority for social housing.</p><p> </p><p>Service personnel can also be provided with a certificate of cessation six months before they leave the Armed Forces. The certificate contains the date Service personnel stop being entitled to Service accommodation and can be considered by local authorities as evidence of impending homelessness, arising from cessation of entitlement to Service accommodation. If Service personnel think they will become homeless they can show the certificate to their Local Authority, which will then conduct an assessment of individual housing needs.</p><p> </p><p>For those veterans who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, in addition to their mainstream mental health services NHS England has commissioned two bespoke services. The first is the Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) which supports serving personnel who need additional support as they are leaving the Armed Forces and veterans who have mental health issues. The TILS is also the entry point to the Complex Treatment Service (CTS), the second service commissioned by NHS England. The CTS is able to provide a range of more intensive care and treatment for veterans with military-related complex mental health difficulties, many of whom will have experienced trauma.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, the new Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in the Cabinet Office has been created to ensure the full power of Government is harnessed to help veterans. The OVA will use the convening power of the Cabinet Office within Whitehall to ensure better coordination of support. This will include helping veterans access services, such as training, housing, healthcare and mental health services. The OVA will also be a champion for veterans. On 16 October 2019 the Cabinet Office announced the appointment of retired Colonel David Richmond CBE, a former Commanding Officer of 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and subsequently became the Recovery Director at Help for Heroes, to lead the OVA. One of the first tasks of the OVA will be to consider responses to the Strategy for our Veterans public consultation and announce a detailed work programme and implementation plan to take the Strategy forward across the various Government Departments with an interest in veterans’ issues.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 22/10/2019 15:01:26 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

1149223

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Long Service Awards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what schemes his Department has introduced to recognise the long service of non-military personnel.
	tabling member constituency	Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
	tabling member printed	David Mundell
	uin	458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The mechanism by which civil servants are recognised for their long and meritorious service is the Imperial Service Medal, issued by the Cabinet Office. It is presented to selected civil servants who complete at least 25 years' service upon their retirement, to certain grades. In the Ministry of Defence, this is skill zone or Pay Band E grades.</p><p>Within the Ministry of Defence, there are likely to be schemes at unit level that are administered locally. A list of any such schemes are not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 22/10/2019 15:12:23 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	1512 label Biography information for David Mundell

1148943

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Bahrain: Military Bases
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated to Royal Navy facilities in Bahrain since 2014.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	102
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Royal Navy maintains a presence in the Kingdom of Bahrain to provide support for our deployed naval force in the Gulf, enabling our maritime security commitment for Bahrain, the wider region, and the global economy. This deployed force is supported by the UK National Support Facility (UK NSF). Since 2014, the money spent on this facility totals approximately £27 million.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 22/10/2019 15:11:16 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1148916

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Warships: Quantum Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to prepare for the adoption of quantum computing onboard Royal Navy vessels.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	91
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Royal Navy aspires to be an early adopter of quantum technology across multiple applications, including at sea. The Service is engaging with academia, industry and international partners while supporting and funding a number of Ministry of Defence research initiatives.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 22/10/2019 15:09:35 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1148944

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Suicide
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve the Royal Navy's anti-submarine warfare capability.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Royal Navy continually reviews Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities. This will be enhanced by the introduction into service of the world-leading, cutting edge technology of the Type-26 ASW frigates and the continuing roll-out of the Astute class submarines. HMS ASTUTE, HMS AMBUSH and HMS ARTFUL are already in service, with HMS AUDACIOUS, HMS ANSON, HMS AGAMEMNON, and HMS AGINCOURT to follow.</p><p>The RAF P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also play an intrinsic role as part of an integrated force to enhance maritime security and anti-submarine warfare. It will be fully integrated with other Royal Navy and NATO ASW assets. RAF Lossiemouth is preparing to welcome nine P-8A aircraft from 2020. They will be integrated into a £132 million strategic support facility with capacity to support Joint Expeditionary Force allies.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 22/10/2019 14:59:43 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1148855

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Veterans: Railways
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a separate railcard for those veterans who do not qualify for existing railcards.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the commitment which the Armed Forces Community has made to our country and will continue to strive to look after their best interests. There are eight available national railcards, including the Disabled Person Railcard and 26-30 Railcard, which veterans are eligible to apply for if they meet the relevant criteria. All of them offer discounted travel. Transport for London also offers free or discounted travel for veterans in receipt of ongoing payments under the War Pensions Scheme and those who receive Guaranteed Income Payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer grouped question UIN 320 question first answered 22/10/2019 15:12:53 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1148854

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Veterans: Railways
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for the HM Forces Railcard to include armed forces veterans.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the commitment which the Armed Forces Community has made to our country and will continue to strive to look after their best interests. There are eight available national railcards, including the Disabled Person Railcard and 26-30 Railcard, which veterans are eligible to apply for if they meet the relevant criteria. All of them offer discounted travel. Transport for London also offers free or discounted travel for veterans in receipt of ongoing payments under the War Pensions Scheme and those who receive Guaranteed Income Payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer grouped question UIN 321 question first answered 22/10/2019 15:12:53 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1149200

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Energy Supply
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 291002 and to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 290324, if he will introduce the same policy as the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and switch to an electricity provider that supplies electricity solely from renewable resources within the next 12 months; and for what reason his Department has not already ensured its electricity is supplied solely from renewable resources.
	tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
	tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
	uin	533
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to supporting and playing its part in the UK Government intent to tackle climate change by transitioning to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.</p><p>The MOD uses the mandated Crown Commercial Services energy framework to procure the supply of electricity. The framework is designed to achieve the best value for money for the public sector. The current three-year rolling contract is due to expire on 31 March 2022. This contract does not specify a percentage of electricity that should come from renewable sources however, the future contract specification will be reviewed as part of the ongoing planning for delivering net zero carbon emissions by 2050.</p><p>Procuring and generating renewable and low carbon electricity is part of a suite of measures the Department is pursuing to reduce its emissions. For example, at RAF Marham a new Generating Plant built by Future Biogas now supplies power to the site. Further opportunities to directly source renewable electricity through long term power purchase agreements and on-site generation are also being pursued.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 22/10/2019 15:07:55 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1150160

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department uses Office for National Statistics estimates of personal well-being in formulating policy; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve personal well-being in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	914
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) consults relevant National Statistics when formulating policy.</p><p>The MOD takes the health and wellbeing of its personnel very seriously. A Health and Wellbeing Strategy for all MOD employees, military and civilian, was published in mid-2015 (updated in August 2016) and is designed to provide guidance to the Chain of Command and civilian line managers on how to manage the health needs, both mental and physical, of their people. The aim is to maximise the number of people fit to work, managing people back to work after a period of sickness, so that they are fit and able to meet the requirements of Defence outputs, including operational effectiveness.</p><p>For personnel returning from conflict, the MOD continues to fund the large scale, ongoing independent study from the King's Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King's College London, which has become an important source of data on the impact of deployment on the overall health and wellbeing of military personnel and veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2003, MOD has contributed over £9 million to this study.</p><p>A considerable number of research papers, relating to issues such as wellbeing, depression, alcohol abuse, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, can be accessed on the KCMHR area of the King's College London website at https://www1.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/pubdb/. This work continues to produce high quality evidence upon which we can make considered decisions about the way we manage and treat our personnel.</p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 22/10/2019 15:06:01 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane