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784838

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Special Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a review of access to information on the Special Forces by Parliament to enable effective scrutiny of those forces.
	tabling member constituency	Reigate
	tabling member printed	Crispin Blunt
	uin	111620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>Given the sensitivity of their activities, oversight of Special Forces is exercised through the Prime Minister and Defence Ministers. We have no plans to change the current arrangements.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 16/11/2017 15:13:25 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	104 label Biography information for Crispin Blunt

784835

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Reserve Forces: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been made to his Department's guidance on insurance packages for reservists undertaking specialist forces training and selection since 2013; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	111514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2017 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides cover for death and injury attributable to service under the Armed Forces Compensation and Pension Schemes. It is a matter for individual Service personnel to decide whether they wish to enhance the wider benefits available to them already by additionally purchasing commercial personal accident and life insurance.</p><p>The MOD recognises there have been times when Service personnel have experienced difficulty in obtaining commercial insurance cover which is available to the general public, due to the nature of their employment and the war risks associated with conflict situations. In keeping with the Armed Forces Covenant, the MOD is committed to ensuring that Service personnel are not disadvantaged in their ability to access privately arranged personal accident and life insurance due to their employment and this approach is currently managed through two insurance schemes: PAX and SLI 365. Guidance provided by the MOD on these schemes is updated on a periodic basis, although there have been no specific changes in guidance for Reservists undertaking specialist forces training and selection since 2013.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 13/11/2017 15:50:23 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

784844

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Navy: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his current policy is on drug testing on all ships of the Royal Navy on operations; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	111629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2017 answer text <p>Substance misuse is unacceptable in the Naval Service, which maintains a policy of zero tolerance. All personnel, wherever they are serving in the UK or deployed on operations, are liable for random compulsory drug testing. This includes all ships, submarines and shore establishments, and the ships' companies of Vanguard Class submarines are not, nor have they been, exempt from this.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster grouped question UIN 111628 question first answered 13/11/2017 17:19:50 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

784845

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Army: Recruitment
	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 recruit soldiers to the Army.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	111625
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2017 answer text <p>The Army recruits through a diverse and wide range of methods and is taking a number of steps to improve its recruitment processes.</p><p>Applications to the Army are received through the Army Website, and as of September 2016 the online application process has been enhanced by the launch of the &quot;Quick App&quot; making the application process faster and more user friendly. During the last 12 months there has also been an increased spend on marketing, including on the 'This is Belonging' campaign which is active on television, radio, cinema and a variety of social media outlets. In addition, the Army advertises for specialist staff through online job advertising boards.</p><p>These developments are showing signs of progress, over 8,000 people joined the Regular Army last financial year and since April 2017 application levels are over 20% higher than the same period last year.</p><p>This is all supported by extensive Army regional engagement to promote awareness across society of the role of the Army and the career opportunities that it presents. The Army is Britain's biggest provider of apprenticeships, offering not just a job, but a career with ongoing training and qualifications.</p><p>The Armed Forces also seek to attract recruits from across the UK, and continue to work hard at recruiting a diverse work force. The Army has made addressing issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity a priority in order to ensure that it is a modern employer which is capable of recruiting talent from all elements of society. The lifting of the exclusion for women serving in Ground Close Combat roles highlights the commitment to offering maximum opportunity for all.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 16/11/2017 14:17:02 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

784824

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2017
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Mental Health Services
	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 support armed services personnel and veterans who experience mental ill health.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	111457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2017 answer text <p>The Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (DPMHWS) 2017-2022 was launched on 20 July. Covering all Defence people, the Strategy identifies the need for strong partnerships with the Department of Health, the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the Devolved Administrations and the charitable sector and for a new operating model focusing on Promote, Prevent, Treat and Detect. The Strategy is well resourced through connected agencies and services, and it will be taken forward by the forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan. The DPMHWS can be found at the following link:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-people-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy</p><p>The NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations have responsibility for the provision of healthcare, including mental healthcare, for former Armed Forces personnel. In line with the DPMHWS, the Ministry of Defence works closely with the Department of Health and NHS to facilitate a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the Armed Forces Community.</p><p>We encourage Service personnel and veterans wishing to seek help with mental health problems to visit: www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces. Veterans can also call the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline, provided by Combat Stress, on 0800 138 1619. Information and advice on services is also available through Veterans UK and the Veterans Gateway.</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 13/11/2017 17:14:45 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury