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1223688

registered interest
date	13/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that as a result of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy the UK (a) continues to exceed the NATO target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence and (b) at least maintains its level of established strength in each branch of the armed forces and Reserves; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Filton and Bradley Stoke
tabling member printed	Jack Lopresti
uin	72880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>Her Majesty's Government will continue to exceed the NATO target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence and increase the budget by at least 0.5 above inflation every year of this parliament. The UK is one of only a handful of nations that meets the 2 per cent target, and we remain the largest European Defence spender in NATO. It is too early to speculate on the outcomes of the Integrated Review but I can assure you that our national security capabilities will be determined by the threats that we face and that this country will maintain the strength of our world class Armed Forces.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 16/07/2020 16:51:54 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
tabling member	3989 label Biography information for Jack Lopresti

1223721

registered interest
date	13/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Dstl: Animal Experiments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the principle of replacement, reduction and refinement of the use of animals in research, what plans there are to reduce the size of the breeding colony of marmosets at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down.
tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
tabling member printed	Mark Tami
uin	72818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>The size of the Dstl marmoset breeding colony is under constant review by veterinary staff, independent inspectors and the Dstl Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body, following the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement of the use of animals in research (the 3Rs). Accordingly, the breeding colony is maintained at the minimum size consistent with future research needs and maintaining suitable genetic diversity.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 16/07/2020 15:34:25 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1223745

registered interest
date	13/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Contracts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes his Department has made to the contract profit rate in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	72823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>Under the Single Source Contract Regulations, the contract profit rate for a Qualifying Defence Contract (QDC) is determined by a six-step process, starting with a Baseline Profit Rate (BPR). The BPR is determined each year by the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO). It is then adjusted to take account of various factors, including risk, capital servicing and SSRO funding, in order to determine the contract profit rate for each QDC.</p><p> </p><p>Movements in the BPR over the past five years, together with details of some other adjustments, can be found in the 2020 contract profit rate update, which is published on gov.uk at the following link:</p><p> </p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2020-contract-profit-rate</p><p> </p><p>The site also includes a detailed supporting analysis and information on the methodologies used.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 16/07/2020 06:47:49 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1223748

registered interest
date	13/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the existing FOREX rate is for dollar purchases negotiated by his Department with the Bank of England.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	72824
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>We address the impact of foreign exchange using forward purchase contracts agreed with the Bank of England. This mechanism provides budget stability in the forward programme and is not intended to generate gains or savings from the foreign exchange market.</p><p> </p><p>The average Dollar rate secured by the Department through its forward purchase contracts for 2020-21 is 1.326, this covers 80% of the Department's requirement.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 16/07/2020 06:46:10 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1223828

registered interest
date	13/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review: Parachute Regiment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the veracity of recent media reports on plans to reduce the (a) number of personnel in and (b) funding received by the Parachute Regiment as part of the upcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	72928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>The Integrated Review will define the UK Government's ambition for the UK's role in the world and the long-term strategic aims for our national security and foreign policy. It is too early to discuss specific capabilities, but I can assure you that this country will continue to have the world class Armed Forces that it needs and deserves.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 16/07/2020 06:44:16 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1222864

registered interest
date	10/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence Audit Committee
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the membership of the Defence Audit Committee.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	72176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>The Defence Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (formerly the Defence Audit Committee) is a sub-committee of the Defence Board. It supports the Board and Accounting Officer in their responsibilities for risk control and governance by reviewing the comprehensiveness, reliability and integrity of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) risk assurance framework.</p><p> </p><p>Membership of the Defence Audit and Risk Assurance Committee 2018-19 can be found in the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19 Pages 103 - 104.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19</a></p><p>The MOD's Annual Report and Accounts for 2019 - 20 will be published in October 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 16/07/2020 06:51:14 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1222762

registered interest
date	09/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Domestic Abuse
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many houses on the defence estate are available to survivors of domestic abuse.
tabling member printed	Lord Tunnicliffe
uin	HL6692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>There is no statutory offence of ‘domestic abuse’ and actions amounting to it could be recorded under a number of offences such as Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), Actual Bodily Harm (ABH), Common Assault or sexual offences. Furthermore, within military police crime-recording systems, the categorisation of whether an incident involves ‘domestic violence’ or not, is not a mandatory field, meaning that the figures provided are indicative only.</p><p> </p><p>The first document provided gives figures for the number of reported offences for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date where the incident has been categorised as involving domestic violence. The second document provided gives figures for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date, for the number of GBH, ABH, and Common Assault offences. The noble Lord should note that in both of the documents, the figures given are for reported offences – that is, to say an allegation has been made. These figures do not relate to charges brought or court convictions.</p><p> </p><p>An average time cannot be given regarding the Chain of Command (CoC) reporting such incidents to the Service Police. Every case would require examination to determine when it was reported to the Service Police and not every investigation file may contain the date when an incident was originally reported to the CoC. Therefore, we would not be able to provide a complete answer and what we could provide could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However where reported to the CoC, any incident of domestic abuse must be reported to the Service Police no later than 24 hours after the incident has occurred. Further to this, a referral to the Welfare Service must be made in any situation involving domestic abuse or similar allegations.</p><p>Whilst there are no houses on the defence estate dedicated specifically for survivors of domestic abuse, support is provided through a suite of policies which seek to provide housing options for families in times of estrangement.</p><p> </p><p>Short term accommodation for welfare or compassionate reasons is administered by Service welfare associations. Tri-Service accommodation policy requires the provision of welfare houses at each designated establishment, scaled to reflect density of Service population. Unit welfare staff, in conjunction with civilian police and local authorities assess whether utilisation of such are in the best interests of safeguarding abuse survivors, and may provide alternative accommodation (through local authority or charitable provision) if distance between perpetrator and survivor is required.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD is currently reviewing the tri-service policy on domestic abuse with the help of leading charity Hestia, who sit alongside MOD on the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse. It is intended that this policy apply to the whole force – civilians, contractors and the single Services. The review will also focus on the availability of accommodation for survivors, taking advice from the domestic abuse charity Standing Together. MOD intends to refresh and re-launch the policy towards the end of 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD continually monitors whole force data on domestic abuse for prevalence and risk factors – this has been of particular focus during the Covid-19 pandemic. This data is disseminated and discussed within the MOD Domestic Abuse Stakeholder Forum the Domestic Abuse Working Group (DAWG), which meets quarterly. The DAWG seeks advice and guidance from national domestic abuse charities like Hestia, Aurora New Dawn and the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse, resulting in continual policy improvement.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL6648 HL6693 HL6694 question first answered 16/07/2020 15:11:17 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3671 label Biography information for Lord Tunnicliffe

1222763

registered interest
date	09/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Domestic Abuse
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many days, on average, it takes for the British Armed Forces chain of command to engage with the Royal Military Police on reports of domestic abuse.
tabling member printed	Lord Tunnicliffe
uin	HL6693
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>There is no statutory offence of ‘domestic abuse’ and actions amounting to it could be recorded under a number of offences such as Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), Actual Bodily Harm (ABH), Common Assault or sexual offences. Furthermore, within military police crime-recording systems, the categorisation of whether an incident involves ‘domestic violence’ or not, is not a mandatory field, meaning that the figures provided are indicative only.</p><p> </p><p>The first document provided gives figures for the number of reported offences for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date where the incident has been categorised as involving domestic violence. The second document provided gives figures for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date, for the number of GBH, ABH, and Common Assault offences. The noble Lord should note that in both of the documents, the figures given are for reported offences – that is, to say an allegation has been made. These figures do not relate to charges brought or court convictions.</p><p> </p><p>An average time cannot be given regarding the Chain of Command (CoC) reporting such incidents to the Service Police. Every case would require examination to determine when it was reported to the Service Police and not every investigation file may contain the date when an incident was originally reported to the CoC. Therefore, we would not be able to provide a complete answer and what we could provide could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However where reported to the CoC, any incident of domestic abuse must be reported to the Service Police no later than 24 hours after the incident has occurred. Further to this, a referral to the Welfare Service must be made in any situation involving domestic abuse or similar allegations.</p><p>Whilst there are no houses on the defence estate dedicated specifically for survivors of domestic abuse, support is provided through a suite of policies which seek to provide housing options for families in times of estrangement.</p><p> </p><p>Short term accommodation for welfare or compassionate reasons is administered by Service welfare associations. Tri-Service accommodation policy requires the provision of welfare houses at each designated establishment, scaled to reflect density of Service population. Unit welfare staff, in conjunction with civilian police and local authorities assess whether utilisation of such are in the best interests of safeguarding abuse survivors, and may provide alternative accommodation (through local authority or charitable provision) if distance between perpetrator and survivor is required.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD is currently reviewing the tri-service policy on domestic abuse with the help of leading charity Hestia, who sit alongside MOD on the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse. It is intended that this policy apply to the whole force – civilians, contractors and the single Services. The review will also focus on the availability of accommodation for survivors, taking advice from the domestic abuse charity Standing Together. MOD intends to refresh and re-launch the policy towards the end of 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD continually monitors whole force data on domestic abuse for prevalence and risk factors – this has been of particular focus during the Covid-19 pandemic. This data is disseminated and discussed within the MOD Domestic Abuse Stakeholder Forum the Domestic Abuse Working Group (DAWG), which meets quarterly. The DAWG seeks advice and guidance from national domestic abuse charities like Hestia, Aurora New Dawn and the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse, resulting in continual policy improvement.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL6648 HL6692 HL6694 question first answered 16/07/2020 15:11:17 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3671 label Biography information for Lord Tunnicliffe

1222764

registered interest
date	09/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Domestic Abuse
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to analyse 'Whole Force' data (1) to identify the prevalence of domestic abuse and potential risk factors, and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention measures and interventions, in order to refine and improve the policy and practice of the British Armed Forces.
tabling member printed	Lord Tunnicliffe
uin	HL6694
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>There is no statutory offence of ‘domestic abuse’ and actions amounting to it could be recorded under a number of offences such as Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), Actual Bodily Harm (ABH), Common Assault or sexual offences. Furthermore, within military police crime-recording systems, the categorisation of whether an incident involves ‘domestic violence’ or not, is not a mandatory field, meaning that the figures provided are indicative only.</p><p> </p><p>The first document provided gives figures for the number of reported offences for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date where the incident has been categorised as involving domestic violence. The second document provided gives figures for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date, for the number of GBH, ABH, and Common Assault offences. The noble Lord should note that in both of the documents, the figures given are for reported offences – that is, to say an allegation has been made. These figures do not relate to charges brought or court convictions.</p><p> </p><p>An average time cannot be given regarding the Chain of Command (CoC) reporting such incidents to the Service Police. Every case would require examination to determine when it was reported to the Service Police and not every investigation file may contain the date when an incident was originally reported to the CoC. Therefore, we would not be able to provide a complete answer and what we could provide could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However where reported to the CoC, any incident of domestic abuse must be reported to the Service Police no later than 24 hours after the incident has occurred. Further to this, a referral to the Welfare Service must be made in any situation involving domestic abuse or similar allegations.</p><p>Whilst there are no houses on the defence estate dedicated specifically for survivors of domestic abuse, support is provided through a suite of policies which seek to provide housing options for families in times of estrangement.</p><p> </p><p>Short term accommodation for welfare or compassionate reasons is administered by Service welfare associations. Tri-Service accommodation policy requires the provision of welfare houses at each designated establishment, scaled to reflect density of Service population. Unit welfare staff, in conjunction with civilian police and local authorities assess whether utilisation of such are in the best interests of safeguarding abuse survivors, and may provide alternative accommodation (through local authority or charitable provision) if distance between perpetrator and survivor is required.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD is currently reviewing the tri-service policy on domestic abuse with the help of leading charity Hestia, who sit alongside MOD on the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse. It is intended that this policy apply to the whole force – civilians, contractors and the single Services. The review will also focus on the availability of accommodation for survivors, taking advice from the domestic abuse charity Standing Together. MOD intends to refresh and re-launch the policy towards the end of 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD continually monitors whole force data on domestic abuse for prevalence and risk factors – this has been of particular focus during the Covid-19 pandemic. This data is disseminated and discussed within the MOD Domestic Abuse Stakeholder Forum the Domestic Abuse Working Group (DAWG), which meets quarterly. The DAWG seeks advice and guidance from national domestic abuse charities like Hestia, Aurora New Dawn and the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse, resulting in continual policy improvement.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL6648 HL6692 HL6693 question first answered 16/07/2020 15:11:17 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3671 label Biography information for Lord Tunnicliffe

1222765

registered interest
date	09/07/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Families
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding has been spent by the Ministry of Defence to implement the Armed Forces Families' Strategy in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, (3) 2018, (4) 2019, and (5) 2020 to date.
tabling member printed	Lord Tunnicliffe
uin	HL6695
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>Although it is not possible to provide the figures requested, the UK Armed Forces Families Strategy remains one of our priorities, setting the principles against which the Ministry of Defence (MOD) formulates policy; this acknowledges the challenges which mobility and separation present to family life, alongside the numerous positive aspects of Service life. Success is measured in satisfaction levels and improved outcomes for families, rather than in financial expenditure. In adhering to the principles of the strategy MOD has introduced flexible working, the Future Accommodation Model and is working across government, in the devolved administrations and the charitable sector to mitigate disadvantage in access to education and healthcare through the Armed Forces Covenant. £317 million has been provided by MOD to circa 21,000 families under the Forces Help to Buy Scheme - the current tranche of the scheme runs until December 2022 and we will actively look to extend this. This Government has committed to funding wrap around childcare for Armed Forces families, and recently announced the launch of a pilot programme beginning in September.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 16/07/2020 15:09:55 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3671 label Biography information for Lord Tunnicliffe