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1712896

registered interest
date	22/04/2024
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, what the Full-Time Trade Trained Strength (FTTTS) of the Army is; and when he expects the Army's FTTTS to be reduced to 72,500.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	23034
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>As at 1 January 2024, the Full-Time Trade Trained Strength (FTTTS) of the British Army was 73,190. The Army is continuing to implement <em>Future Soldier </em>which will see a Regular Army of 73,000 by 2025.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 25/04/2024 14:37:07 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702396

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army: Tanks
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many tanks are in service with the Army as of 19 April 2024.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>I am withholding this information as it is held by the Ministry of Defence with a view to its publication, at an undetermined future date. This information will be published in the form of the UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations 2024, which will be accessible here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations.</a></p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 24/04/2024 15:41:17 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702170

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Bereavement Counselling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training is required to be a designated visiting officer for a bereaved family of a member of the armed forces.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22642
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a caring employer has a comprehensive range of policies and resources in place to support families during the most difficult of times.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to accommodation, Joint Service Publication 464: Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, makes provision for bereaved families to remain in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) for up to two years following the death of a Service person. It is normal to issue a 93 Day Notice to Vacate when two years is reached but retention of SFA may be extended beyond the two-year period on a discretionary case by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel who die in service is provided by the MOD. A routine review of the pack is underway, with a view to publication in summer 2024. The Purple Pack is supplemented and supported by documentation provided by each of the Services, for example, the Army Families Guide.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack is provided for immediate adult family members. Information is provided for adults to support and manage bereaved children, including signposting to relevant charities and organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The Defence Bereaved Families Group meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn. In the past five years it has met ten times. The next meeting will be in September 2024, with the exact date yet to be confirmed. The Minister for Defence People and Families does not routinely attend the meeting, but he attended in September 2023 and regularly receives briefings from the Chair and co-Chair.</p><p> </p><p>Visiting Officers (VO) are an integral part of the support provided by Defence to bereaved families. VO are provided by each Service and undertake training relevant to their role. The Royal Navy (RN) has 60 personnel trained as VO, the Army has 1,390 and the Royal Air Force (RAF) has 1,103.</p><p> </p><p>Each Service runs training courses that meet their specific requirements, for personnel designated as a VO. For example, all RN VO are either Specialist Welfare Worker trained, having completed the Defence Specialist Welfare Worker Course (a Level Five Social Care training course specifically for the care of service personnel and their families), or Civil Service Social Workers registered with Social Work England (or equivalent devolved UK registration). In addition, all must attend and pass the RN Family &amp; People Support VO training every three years.</p><p> </p><p>For the Army, formal, in person training is provided for those conducting both Casualty Notification Officer and VO duties. The training competency is extant for four years; if not appointed within that time frame a one-day refresher course can be conducted to enable another four years competency. The Army’s recommended minimum provision of VO is set at ten for Regular major units, three for Regular minor units, and two for Reserve units.</p><p> </p><p>The RAF VO competency is awarded after completion of a workshop and remains current for four years after which volunteers must attend another briefing day to renew it. Units are expected to aim for 2-5% of their trained strength to have the VO competency.</p><p> </p><p>There is no fixed period of time during which a VO will provide support to a bereaved family. This is dependent upon circumstances but normally would not extend beyond an Inquest or Service Inquiry. Appropriate transition plans will be put in place including arrangements for ongoing support to be provided through a point of contact from either the relevant single Service aftercare cell or unit HR staff.</p><p> </p><p>Via DBS’s Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), Defence also provides support to the bereaved via its national network of welfare managers (WM). A WM is assigned to families who experience a death in service and usually attends the initial visit alongside the VO. Support from VWS then endures for as long as is required and focuses on access to financial, welfare and wellbeing support as required, including issues in relation to the Armed Forces Pension. WMs who support clients in such circumstances are specifically trained and supervised as part of a VWS experts’ group. VWS is part of the Defence Bereaved Families Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 22643 22644 22646 22647 22648 22649 22651 22652 question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:34 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702172

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Bereavement Counselling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many designated visiting officers there are in each service of the armed forces; and what are the targeted numbers in each service.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22643
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a caring employer has a comprehensive range of policies and resources in place to support families during the most difficult of times.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to accommodation, Joint Service Publication 464: Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, makes provision for bereaved families to remain in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) for up to two years following the death of a Service person. It is normal to issue a 93 Day Notice to Vacate when two years is reached but retention of SFA may be extended beyond the two-year period on a discretionary case by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel who die in service is provided by the MOD. A routine review of the pack is underway, with a view to publication in summer 2024. The Purple Pack is supplemented and supported by documentation provided by each of the Services, for example, the Army Families Guide.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack is provided for immediate adult family members. Information is provided for adults to support and manage bereaved children, including signposting to relevant charities and organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The Defence Bereaved Families Group meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn. In the past five years it has met ten times. The next meeting will be in September 2024, with the exact date yet to be confirmed. The Minister for Defence People and Families does not routinely attend the meeting, but he attended in September 2023 and regularly receives briefings from the Chair and co-Chair.</p><p> </p><p>Visiting Officers (VO) are an integral part of the support provided by Defence to bereaved families. VO are provided by each Service and undertake training relevant to their role. The Royal Navy (RN) has 60 personnel trained as VO, the Army has 1,390 and the Royal Air Force (RAF) has 1,103.</p><p> </p><p>Each Service runs training courses that meet their specific requirements, for personnel designated as a VO. For example, all RN VO are either Specialist Welfare Worker trained, having completed the Defence Specialist Welfare Worker Course (a Level Five Social Care training course specifically for the care of service personnel and their families), or Civil Service Social Workers registered with Social Work England (or equivalent devolved UK registration). In addition, all must attend and pass the RN Family &amp; People Support VO training every three years.</p><p> </p><p>For the Army, formal, in person training is provided for those conducting both Casualty Notification Officer and VO duties. The training competency is extant for four years; if not appointed within that time frame a one-day refresher course can be conducted to enable another four years competency. The Army’s recommended minimum provision of VO is set at ten for Regular major units, three for Regular minor units, and two for Reserve units.</p><p> </p><p>The RAF VO competency is awarded after completion of a workshop and remains current for four years after which volunteers must attend another briefing day to renew it. Units are expected to aim for 2-5% of their trained strength to have the VO competency.</p><p> </p><p>There is no fixed period of time during which a VO will provide support to a bereaved family. This is dependent upon circumstances but normally would not extend beyond an Inquest or Service Inquiry. Appropriate transition plans will be put in place including arrangements for ongoing support to be provided through a point of contact from either the relevant single Service aftercare cell or unit HR staff.</p><p> </p><p>Via DBS’s Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), Defence also provides support to the bereaved via its national network of welfare managers (WM). A WM is assigned to families who experience a death in service and usually attends the initial visit alongside the VO. Support from VWS then endures for as long as is required and focuses on access to financial, welfare and wellbeing support as required, including issues in relation to the Armed Forces Pension. WMs who support clients in such circumstances are specifically trained and supervised as part of a VWS experts’ group. VWS is part of the Defence Bereaved Families Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 22642 22644 22646 22647 22648 22649 22651 22652 question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:34 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702173

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days after the death of a member of the armed forces are their families required to leave service family accommodation.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22644
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a caring employer has a comprehensive range of policies and resources in place to support families during the most difficult of times.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to accommodation, Joint Service Publication 464: Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, makes provision for bereaved families to remain in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) for up to two years following the death of a Service person. It is normal to issue a 93 Day Notice to Vacate when two years is reached but retention of SFA may be extended beyond the two-year period on a discretionary case by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel who die in service is provided by the MOD. A routine review of the pack is underway, with a view to publication in summer 2024. The Purple Pack is supplemented and supported by documentation provided by each of the Services, for example, the Army Families Guide.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack is provided for immediate adult family members. Information is provided for adults to support and manage bereaved children, including signposting to relevant charities and organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The Defence Bereaved Families Group meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn. In the past five years it has met ten times. The next meeting will be in September 2024, with the exact date yet to be confirmed. The Minister for Defence People and Families does not routinely attend the meeting, but he attended in September 2023 and regularly receives briefings from the Chair and co-Chair.</p><p> </p><p>Visiting Officers (VO) are an integral part of the support provided by Defence to bereaved families. VO are provided by each Service and undertake training relevant to their role. The Royal Navy (RN) has 60 personnel trained as VO, the Army has 1,390 and the Royal Air Force (RAF) has 1,103.</p><p> </p><p>Each Service runs training courses that meet their specific requirements, for personnel designated as a VO. For example, all RN VO are either Specialist Welfare Worker trained, having completed the Defence Specialist Welfare Worker Course (a Level Five Social Care training course specifically for the care of service personnel and their families), or Civil Service Social Workers registered with Social Work England (or equivalent devolved UK registration). In addition, all must attend and pass the RN Family &amp; People Support VO training every three years.</p><p> </p><p>For the Army, formal, in person training is provided for those conducting both Casualty Notification Officer and VO duties. The training competency is extant for four years; if not appointed within that time frame a one-day refresher course can be conducted to enable another four years competency. The Army’s recommended minimum provision of VO is set at ten for Regular major units, three for Regular minor units, and two for Reserve units.</p><p> </p><p>The RAF VO competency is awarded after completion of a workshop and remains current for four years after which volunteers must attend another briefing day to renew it. Units are expected to aim for 2-5% of their trained strength to have the VO competency.</p><p> </p><p>There is no fixed period of time during which a VO will provide support to a bereaved family. This is dependent upon circumstances but normally would not extend beyond an Inquest or Service Inquiry. Appropriate transition plans will be put in place including arrangements for ongoing support to be provided through a point of contact from either the relevant single Service aftercare cell or unit HR staff.</p><p> </p><p>Via DBS’s Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), Defence also provides support to the bereaved via its national network of welfare managers (WM). A WM is assigned to families who experience a death in service and usually attends the initial visit alongside the VO. Support from VWS then endures for as long as is required and focuses on access to financial, welfare and wellbeing support as required, including issues in relation to the Armed Forces Pension. WMs who support clients in such circumstances are specifically trained and supervised as part of a VWS experts’ group. VWS is part of the Defence Bereaved Families Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 22642 22643 22646 22647 22648 22649 22651 22652 question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:34 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702175

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Bereavement Counselling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long visiting officers allocated to a service family who have experienced the bereavement of a member of the armed forces are allocated for.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22646
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a caring employer has a comprehensive range of policies and resources in place to support families during the most difficult of times.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to accommodation, Joint Service Publication 464: Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, makes provision for bereaved families to remain in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) for up to two years following the death of a Service person. It is normal to issue a 93 Day Notice to Vacate when two years is reached but retention of SFA may be extended beyond the two-year period on a discretionary case by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel who die in service is provided by the MOD. A routine review of the pack is underway, with a view to publication in summer 2024. The Purple Pack is supplemented and supported by documentation provided by each of the Services, for example, the Army Families Guide.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack is provided for immediate adult family members. Information is provided for adults to support and manage bereaved children, including signposting to relevant charities and organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The Defence Bereaved Families Group meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn. In the past five years it has met ten times. The next meeting will be in September 2024, with the exact date yet to be confirmed. The Minister for Defence People and Families does not routinely attend the meeting, but he attended in September 2023 and regularly receives briefings from the Chair and co-Chair.</p><p> </p><p>Visiting Officers (VO) are an integral part of the support provided by Defence to bereaved families. VO are provided by each Service and undertake training relevant to their role. The Royal Navy (RN) has 60 personnel trained as VO, the Army has 1,390 and the Royal Air Force (RAF) has 1,103.</p><p> </p><p>Each Service runs training courses that meet their specific requirements, for personnel designated as a VO. For example, all RN VO are either Specialist Welfare Worker trained, having completed the Defence Specialist Welfare Worker Course (a Level Five Social Care training course specifically for the care of service personnel and their families), or Civil Service Social Workers registered with Social Work England (or equivalent devolved UK registration). In addition, all must attend and pass the RN Family &amp; People Support VO training every three years.</p><p> </p><p>For the Army, formal, in person training is provided for those conducting both Casualty Notification Officer and VO duties. The training competency is extant for four years; if not appointed within that time frame a one-day refresher course can be conducted to enable another four years competency. The Army’s recommended minimum provision of VO is set at ten for Regular major units, three for Regular minor units, and two for Reserve units.</p><p> </p><p>The RAF VO competency is awarded after completion of a workshop and remains current for four years after which volunteers must attend another briefing day to renew it. Units are expected to aim for 2-5% of their trained strength to have the VO competency.</p><p> </p><p>There is no fixed period of time during which a VO will provide support to a bereaved family. This is dependent upon circumstances but normally would not extend beyond an Inquest or Service Inquiry. Appropriate transition plans will be put in place including arrangements for ongoing support to be provided through a point of contact from either the relevant single Service aftercare cell or unit HR staff.</p><p> </p><p>Via DBS’s Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), Defence also provides support to the bereaved via its national network of welfare managers (WM). A WM is assigned to families who experience a death in service and usually attends the initial visit alongside the VO. Support from VWS then endures for as long as is required and focuses on access to financial, welfare and wellbeing support as required, including issues in relation to the Armed Forces Pension. WMs who support clients in such circumstances are specifically trained and supervised as part of a VWS experts’ group. VWS is part of the Defence Bereaved Families Group.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 22642 22643 22644 22647 22648 22649 22651 22652 question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:34 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702300

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Members: Correspondence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will update the letter deposited in the Library of the House on 27 December 2023, reference DEP2024-0002, with the latest figures available.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22655
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Data provided in response to Questions is not updated when new data becomes available.</p><p>If the data was later found to be incorrect, then a correction would be issued. However this is not the case with the Question referred to by the hon. Member.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 23/04/2024 16:54:19 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701757

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2024 to Question 20104 on Armed Forces: Housing, if he will provide a breakdown of those figures for Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Please find below the figures broken down for Scotland.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Issue</p></td><td><p>Damp and Mould (provided from February 2023)</p></td><td><p>Loss of heating and hot water</p></td><td><p>Loss of water Supply</p></td><td><p>Electrical faults</p></td><td><p>Pest Infestation</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>104</p></td><td><p>96</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>646</p></td><td><p>68</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 23/04/2024 13:47:14 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701760

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2024 to Question 19178 on Armed Forces: Housing, if he will provide a breakdown of this figure for Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>For the period 1 April 2023 to 29 February 2024, the Department spent £21,004 on housing Service personnel and their families in emergency accommodation in Scotland due to major repairs needed at their military accommodation.</p><p>Information for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 is not separately identifiable due to the way in which data was held at the time.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 22/04/2024 15:35:39 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701767

registered interest
date	17/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what data his Department holds on the number of compensation payments awarded to families living in service family accommodation in Scotland since April 2022.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	22382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Since 1 April 2022 1,724 compensation claims have been paid to Service personnel living in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in Scotland.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 22/04/2024 15:39:07 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard