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1713165

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	RAF Lossiemouth
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel are based at RAF Lossiemouth.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	23283
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>As at 1 January 2024, there were 2,310 UK Armed Forces Service personnel stationed at RAF Lossiemouth.</p><p> </p><p>Please note the following caveats:</p><p> </p><ol><li>All UK Forces Service personnel comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel , Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS) of unknown origin. University Officer Cadets are excluded. The figure includes trained and untrained personnel.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="2"><li>The figure has been rounded to the nearest 10. However, numbers ending in &quot;5&quot; have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.</li></ol><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 26/04/2024 13:20:07 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1713180

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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 (a) urgent and (b) routine maintenance and repair appointments for service accommodation properties in Scotland have been missed since 1 April 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	23284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Since 1 April 2022, 1,302 maintenance and repair appointments for Service Family Accommodation properties have been missed in Scotland. This figure includes reactive repairs, planned maintenance and all other appointed tasks such as damp and mould remediation. Typically, circa 1,116 work orders are raised each month across Scotland and on average, 95% of appointments are met.</p><p>A further breakdown of this figure by priority category (urgent and routine) can only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 29/04/2024 14:17:14 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1713184

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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 22 April 2024 to Question 22382 on Armed Forces: Housing, what the value is of those compensation claims.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	23285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The value of the 1,724 compensation claims paid to Service personnel living in Service Family Accommodation in Scotland is £132,593.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 29/04/2024 14:18:53 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

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

1712912

	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	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 service family accommodation properties there are in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	23035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>There are 3,140 Service Family Accommodation properties in Scotland.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 29/04/2024 14:28:07 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	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

1702174

	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	Army: Bereavement Counselling
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Army publication entitled Family Guide: What to do after the death of a partner or relative, when that guide (a) was last updated and (b) will be updated next.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Army Families Guide was introduced in 2010. Minor amendments have been made subsequently, with the last amendment in August 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The Bereavement and Aftercare Support team in Army Headquarters are partway through a revision of this guide to update content, improve layout and complement rather than duplicate the Defence Purple Pack. Work is due to be completed in autumn 2024.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:57 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

1702176

	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, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel, updated on 7 March 2023, whether that guidance is provided in conjunction with other documentation developed by each service.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22647
	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 22646 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

1702177

	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, when his Department's guidance entitled Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel, updated on 7 March 2023, is next due to be updated.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22648
	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 22646 22647 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

1702178

	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, whether his Department produces guidance for bereavement of a family member in the armed forces for children and young people.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22649
	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 22646 22647 22648 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

1702179

	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: Death
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many young people had their continuity of education allowance withdrawn as a result of the death of a service member in each of the last five years broken down by key stage of education.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>In the last five years, no young person has had their continuity of education allowance withdrawn as a result of the death of a claiming Service person.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 26/04/2024 10:14:20 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702180

	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 times the Defence Bereaved Families Group has met in the last five years; and when it is due to meet next.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22651
	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 22646 22647 22648 22649 22652 question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:35 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702292

	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, which Minister (a) attends and (b) receives minutes from meetings of the Defence Bereaved Families Group.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22652
	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 22646 22647 22648 22649 22651 question first answered 26/04/2024 10:13:35 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702298

	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, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2023 to Question 202814 on Armed Forces: Housing, how many service personnel were living in grade four single living accommodation in each region of the UK as of 18 April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22653
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The attached table shows the number of service personnel living in grade four single living accommodation in each UK region as of 18 April 2024.</p><p> </p><p>SLA is a significant component of the domestic accommodation for Service personnel, ranging from multi-occupancy rooms with shared ablutions, through to high specification ensuite rooms with storage, social areas and kitchens depending on the accommodation purpose and requirement.</p><p> </p><p>SLA is broken into three principal categories:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Permanent</strong>. Accommodation on units/bases to which personnel are allocated for an assigned tour of duty. For some people, this is where they live during the week and they may commute back to their family home at weekends; for others, this room can be their only home in which they have all their possessions and where they live full time over weekends and leave periods.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Temporary (transit)</strong>. Accommodation for visitors, or those on training courses. This can be for one night or for some months where residential courses are delivered for example. Furthermore, a person on a four-month course can be occupying two bedspaces: their home unit room where they have all their possessions and their room on the course. In some cases, a serving person can live in an SFA with their family, occupy a room at their unit during the week and also occupy a transit room for a period. The definition of transit accommodation may also change; if a unit decides to change a block of transit accommodation into permanent accommodation or vice versa then they may do this in response to accommodation demand. Units may designate certain rooms in a permanent block as transit for varying periods of time this allows flexibility to be responsive to accommodation demands that ebb and flow. They can host foreign nations on exercises, accommodate personnel from other bases as overflow or in support of ceremonial activity.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Training estate</strong>. Where units and individuals deploy to exercise, there are no accommodation charges levied for this component of the estate, neither is there a grading system.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 29/04/2024 15:12:49 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison attachment 1 file name PQN_23-24_2024_06238 (22653)- Pollard- Supporting table2.xlsx title Service Pers; Grade 4 Single Living Accommodation
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1702299

	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 service personnel live in single living accommodation (a) overseas and (b) in total.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>As of 18 April 2024, there are 78,760 service personnel living in single living accommodation. Of those, 1,950 service personnel are living overseas.</p><p> </p><p>SLA is a significant component of the domestic accommodation for Service personnel, ranging from multi-occupancy rooms with shared ablutions, through to high specification ensuite rooms with storage, social areas and kitchens depending on the accommodation purpose and requirement.</p><p> </p><p>SLA is broken into three principal categories:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Permanent</strong>. Accommodation on units/bases to which personnel are allocated for an assigned tour of duty. For some people, this is where they live during the week and they may commute back to their family home at weekends; for others, this room can be their only home in which they have all their possessions and where they live full time over weekends and leave periods.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Temporary (transit)</strong>. Accommodation for visitors, or those on training courses. This can be for one night or for some months where residential courses are delivered for example. Furthermore, a person on a four-month course can be occupying two bedspaces: their home unit room where they have all their possessions and their room on the course. In some cases, a serving person can live in an SFA with their family, occupy a room at their unit during the week and also occupy a transit room for a period. The definition of transit accommodation may also change; if a unit decides to change a block of transit accommodation into permanent accommodation or vice versa then they may do this in response to accommodation demand. Units may designate certain rooms in a permanent block as transit for varying periods of time this allows flexibility to be responsive to accommodation demands that ebb and flow. They can host foreign nations on exercises, accommodate personnel from other bases as overflow or in support of ceremonial activity.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Training estate</strong>. Where units and individuals deploy to exercise, there are no accommodation charges levied for this component of the estate, neither is there a grading system.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 29/04/2024 15:12:33 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

1702301

	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 service personnel live in single living accommodation in each UK region.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22656
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The attached table shows the number of service personnel living in single living accommodation in each UK region.</p><p> </p><p>SLA is a significant component of the domestic accommodation for Service personnel, ranging from multi-occupancy rooms with shared ablutions, through to high specification ensuite rooms with storage, social areas and kitchens depending on the accommodation purpose and requirement.</p><p> </p><p>SLA is broken into three principal categories:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Permanent</strong>. Accommodation on units/bases to which personnel are allocated for an assigned tour of duty. For some people, this is where they live during the week and they may commute back to their family home at weekends; for others, this room can be their only home in which they have all their possessions and where they live full time over weekends and leave periods.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Temporary (transit)</strong>. Accommodation for visitors, or those on training courses. This can be for one night or for some months where residential courses are delivered for example. Furthermore, a person on a four-month course can be occupying two bedspaces: their home unit room where they have all their possessions and their room on the course. In some cases, a serving person can live in an SFA with their family, occupy a room at their unit during the week and also occupy a transit room for a period. The definition of transit accommodation may also change; if a unit decides to change a block of transit accommodation into permanent accommodation or vice versa then they may do this in response to accommodation demand. Units may designate certain rooms in a permanent block as transit for varying periods of time this allows flexibility to be responsive to accommodation demands that ebb and flow. They can host foreign nations on exercises, accommodate personnel from other bases as overflow or in support of ceremonial activity.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Training estate</strong>. Where units and individuals deploy to exercise, there are no accommodation charges levied for this component of the estate, neither is there a grading system.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 29/04/2024 15:13:02 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison attachment 1 file name PQN_23-24_2024_06241 (22656)- Pollard- Supporting table (1) (1)1.xlsx title Service Pers; Live in single living accommodation
	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

1701829

	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 19174 on Armed Forces: Housing, what those figures are as of 17 April 2024 (a) by region and (b) for Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22383
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>As at 17 April 2024, the number of open work orders for repairs to Service Family Accommodation (SFA), broken down by region can be found in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Contract</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Open Reactive Work Orders at 17 April 2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central</p></td><td><p>1,976</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>3,715</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland and Northern Ireland</p></td><td><p>1,717</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>3,169</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Of those reported for the Scotland &amp; Northern Ireland Region, 533 relate to Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>As at 17 April 2024, the number of open work orders for repairs to Single Living Accommodation (SLA) on the Built Estate, broken down by region, can be found in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Contract</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Open Reactive Work Orders at 17 April 2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central</p></td><td><p>3,566</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>2,590</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland and Northern Ireland</p></td><td><p>921</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>1,998</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Of those reported for the Scotland and Northern Ireland Region, 768 relate to Scotland.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 23/04/2024 13:48:40 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701836

	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	RAF Lossiemouth: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many callouts have been made to RAF Lossiemouth for maintenance issues relating to (a) roofing, (b) loss of heating and hot water, (c) electrics (d) pest control and (e) damp and mould in the since April 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22384
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Callouts made to RAF Lossiemouth for maintenance issues since April 2022, are shown in the table below;</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Roofing</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Loss Heating &amp; Hot Water</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Electrical</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Pest Control</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Damp &amp; Mould</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>TOTAL</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31</p></td><td><p>82</p></td><td><p>506</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>87</p></td><td><p><strong>723</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 23/04/2024 13:48:54 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701506

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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 service family accommodation properties there are in Aldershot.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties there are in Aldershot, Plymouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Devon are shown in the table below, the number for Plymouth is also included in the figures for Devon:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Aldershot</p></td><td><p>Plymouth</p></td><td><p>Southampton</p></td><td><p>Salisbury</p></td><td><p>Devon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total SFA</p></td><td><p>3,253</p></td><td><p>973</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>1,571</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 22146 22147 22148 22149 question first answered 23/04/2024 13:55:09 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701536

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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 service family accommodation properties there are in Plymouth.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties there are in Aldershot, Plymouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Devon are shown in the table below, the number for Plymouth is also included in the figures for Devon:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Aldershot</p></td><td><p>Plymouth</p></td><td><p>Southampton</p></td><td><p>Salisbury</p></td><td><p>Devon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total SFA</p></td><td><p>3,253</p></td><td><p>973</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>1,571</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 22145 22147 22148 22149 question first answered 23/04/2024 13:55:09 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701537

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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 service family accommodation properties there are in Southampton.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties there are in Aldershot, Plymouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Devon are shown in the table below, the number for Plymouth is also included in the figures for Devon:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Aldershot</p></td><td><p>Plymouth</p></td><td><p>Southampton</p></td><td><p>Salisbury</p></td><td><p>Devon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total SFA</p></td><td><p>3,253</p></td><td><p>973</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>1,571</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 22145 22146 22148 22149 question first answered 23/04/2024 13:55:09 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701538

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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 service family accommodation properties there are in Salisbury.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties there are in Aldershot, Plymouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Devon are shown in the table below, the number for Plymouth is also included in the figures for Devon:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Aldershot</p></td><td><p>Plymouth</p></td><td><p>Southampton</p></td><td><p>Salisbury</p></td><td><p>Devon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total SFA</p></td><td><p>3,253</p></td><td><p>973</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>1,571</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 22145 22146 22147 22149 question first answered 23/04/2024 13:55:09 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701539

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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 service family accommodation properties there are in Devon.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22149
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties there are in Aldershot, Plymouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Devon are shown in the table below, the number for Plymouth is also included in the figures for Devon:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Aldershot</p></td><td><p>Plymouth</p></td><td><p>Southampton</p></td><td><p>Salisbury</p></td><td><p>Devon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total SFA</p></td><td><p>3,253</p></td><td><p>973</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>1,879</p></td><td><p>1,571</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 22145 22146 22147 22148 question first answered 23/04/2024 13:55:09 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701563

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police: Labour Turnover
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people (a) joined and (b) left the Ministry of Defence Police in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22150
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>MDP Officer joiners and leavers in each financial year, to 31 March, are as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2023</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Joiners</strong></p></td><td><p>275</p></td><td><p>404</p></td><td><p>322</p></td><td><p>248</p></td><td><p>253</p></td><td><p>125</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Leavers</strong></p></td><td><p>286.5</p></td><td><p>266.53</p></td><td><p>190.79</p></td><td><p>311.05</p></td><td><p>353.98</p></td><td><p>308</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>MDP Non-uniformed Civil Servant joiners and leavers in each financial year, to 31 March, are as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2023</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Joiners</strong></p></td><td><p>38.9</p></td><td><p>40.5</p></td><td><p>26.5</p></td><td><p>39.6</p></td><td><p>40</p></td><td><p>25.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Leavers</strong></p></td><td><p>20.5</p></td><td><p>26.6</p></td><td><p>19.4</p></td><td><p>44.8</p></td><td><p>48.8</p></td><td><p>38.5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Figures are based on Full Time Equivalents.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/04/2024 16:39:14 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701565

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many individuals were employed by the Ministry of Defence Police in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22151
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The employment numbers for the Ministry of Defence Police on 31 March each year since 2020 are:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2023</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>MDP ¹</strong></p></td><td><p>2643</p></td><td><p>2768</p></td><td><p>2701</p></td><td><p>2593</p></td><td><p>2407</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>NUCS ²</strong></p></td><td><p>227</p></td><td><p>235</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>221</p></td><td><p>211</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p>2869</p></td><td><p>3003</p></td><td><p>2931</p></td><td><p>2814</p></td><td><p>2618</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>¹ Ministry of Defence Police officers</p><p>² Non-uniformed Civil Servants</p><p> </p><p>The figures are based on Full Time Equivalents.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/04/2024 16:43:37 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701566

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officers are employed by the Ministry of Defence Police; and whether he has made an estimate of the number officers that will be required in financial year 2025-26.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22152
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>As at 31 March 2024, MDP employed 2,407 police officers. This figure is based on Full Time Equivalents.</p><p> </p><p>The officer requirement for 2025-26 is dependent on a number of factors including operational need and changes in Defence priorities. Recruitment is kept under constant review and is driven by Defence requirements and takes account of the number of leavers and joiners at any given time.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/04/2024 16:40:51 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701567

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police: Standards
	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 effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence Police's new operational policing model.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22153
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence Police’s Operational Policing Model (OPM) programme is subject to consultation and has yet to be rolled out across Defence. The aim of the OPM is to create an operational policing model which deploys police capability to take better advantage police skills, utilise technology where suitable and use other Defence security providers where more appropriate. It will support the Ministry of Defence’s policing needs in the 21st Century as well as enhance police officer skills making them more effective to protect Defence.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/04/2024 16:45:30 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701568

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Military Provost Guard Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the use of soldiers from the Military Provost Guard Service.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22154
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) provides professional soldiers to meet armed security requirements at Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and other Ministry of Defence bases in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>The use of MPGS soldiers is determined by the relevant chain of command which will either be Army for those at Army establishments or, for other MOD sites, the Front Line Command holder.</p><p> </p><p>The organisation and management of the MPGS is outlined within an appropriate Army Administrative Instruction.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/04/2024 16:39:33 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701569

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police: Defence Infrastructure Organisation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the line management of the Ministry of Defence Police has moved to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22155
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 24/04/2024 16:52:41 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701570

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence Police: Housing and Infrastructure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to improve the (a) accommodation and (b) infrastructure for the Ministry of Defence Police at Devonport.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	22156
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Navy Command, in conjunction with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, has maintained all Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) buildings at His Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport appropriately in accordance with policy.</p><p>An Establishment Management Plan has been conducted at HMNB Devonport and will be used in conjunction with the MDP Operational Policing Model review, once complete, to determine where further investment is required to support the long-term future of the MDP at HMNB Devonport.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 24/04/2024 15:44:14 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701081

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2024
	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, how many emergency pest control requests were responded to within three hours.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>In relation to the incidents data in the table referred to, there were no emergency incidents relating to pest control activities requiring a response within three hours.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 18/04/2024 16:11:09 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1701082

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2024
	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, how many routine pest control requests were responded to within fifteen days.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>This information is not held in the format requested and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 18/04/2024 16:11:27 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700145

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept id	211
	answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
	hansard heading	High Rise Flats: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department has issued on a building’s status as a relevant building under section 117(3)(c) of the Building Safety Act 2022 in the event that a freeholder purchased a leasehold property in a building after 14 February 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21203
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>We are aware of the specific concerns raised by the Hon Member, and the specific case in his constituency. As the Member will know, Departmental Officials are due to meet him and his constituents to discuss the issue in more detail.</p> answering member constituency North East Derbyshire answering member printed Lee Rowley question first answered 17/04/2024 13:51:51 answering member 4652 label Biography information for Lee Rowley
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700157

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	HMS Albion: Regeneration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's planned timetable is for the potential regeneration of HMS Albion.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21207
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>For reasons of operational security, we do not disclose timetables of future readiness levels for Royal Navy (RN) vessels. However, I can confirm that, as has been the case since 2010, one Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship will be held in extended readiness so that she will be capable of being regenerated if we have strategic notice that she will be needed. As such, HMS Albion will take HMS Bulwark's place in extended readiness and HMS Bulwark will be regenerated from extended readiness and maintained so that she can be ready to deliver defence outputs if required.</p><p> </p><p>All discussions with Babcock International Group Plc on the LPD programme of work have related to the delivery of the original contract.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 21208 21289 question first answered 17/04/2024 14:40:16 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700158

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Babcock on the tying up of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>For reasons of operational security, we do not disclose timetables of future readiness levels for Royal Navy (RN) vessels. However, I can confirm that, as has been the case since 2010, one Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship will be held in extended readiness so that she will be capable of being regenerated if we have strategic notice that she will be needed. As such, HMS Albion will take HMS Bulwark's place in extended readiness and HMS Bulwark will be regenerated from extended readiness and maintained so that she can be ready to deliver defence outputs if required.</p><p> </p><p>All discussions with Babcock International Group Plc on the LPD programme of work have related to the delivery of the original contract.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 21207 21289 question first answered 17/04/2024 14:40:16 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700377

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Navy: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trained marine systems personnel the Royal Navy has; and what the target number is.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21264
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>The Marine Engineering branch is a vital part of the Royal Navy (RN) these are exceptionally skilled and highly valued personnel, crucial to ensuring the RN can continue to meet its commitments.</p><p> </p><p>The number of trained Marine Engineers (MEs) is a constantly fluctuating number, however as of 17 April 2024:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>ME General Service</p></td><td><p>ME Submariner</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Officer</p></td><td><p>276</p></td><td><p>248</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rating</p></td><td><p>2,125</p></td><td><p>1,070</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2401</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1318</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The forecast figures for April 2025 are:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>ME General Service</p></td><td><p>ME Submariner</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Officer</p></td><td><p>298</p></td><td><p>283</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rating</p></td><td><p>2, 464</p></td><td><p>1,204</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2762</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1487</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>*</strong>These figures do not include those currently in the training pipeline to join the branch.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 22/04/2024 14:58:39 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700378

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans for HMS (a) Argyll and (b) Westminster to be put to sea again.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The coming years will see the Royal Navy carefully managing the transition between the current fleet to its new ships, maintaining operational commitments while ensuring value for money. I am committed to looking at the future of the Surface Fleet in the round and making tough but necessary decisions to ensure this transition is a success.</p><p> </p><p>Any announcement on the future of the Surface Fleet will be made in the usual way.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 23/04/2024 15:27:37 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700379

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Type 23 frigates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational status is of each of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates as of 12 April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21266
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>As of 12 April 2024, five Type 23 Frigates were available. The remaining six were in various stages of refit and therefore were not available for operations.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 22/04/2024 15:27:21 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700402

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	HMS Bulwark: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's planned timetable is for HMS Bulwark's (a) regeneration and (b) return to fleet.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21289
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2024 answer text <p>For reasons of operational security, we do not disclose timetables of future readiness levels for Royal Navy (RN) vessels. However, I can confirm that, as has been the case since 2010, one Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ship will be held in extended readiness so that she will be capable of being regenerated if we have strategic notice that she will be needed. As such, HMS Albion will take HMS Bulwark's place in extended readiness and HMS Bulwark will be regenerated from extended readiness and maintained so that she can be ready to deliver defence outputs if required.</p><p> </p><p>All discussions with Babcock International Group Plc on the LPD programme of work have related to the delivery of the original contract.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 21207 21208 question first answered 17/04/2024 14:40:16 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700433

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Spectacles: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2024 to Question 16241 on Spectacles: Irlen Syndrome, what financial support is available to low-income families to help fund prescription glasses for children where the cost of the prescription exceeds the £50 NHS voucher cost.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>NHS optical vouchers are available for children to help with the cost of glasses that correct a defect in sight. There are ten optical voucher values ranging from £42.40 to £233.56, depending on the strength of the optical lenses. The cost of glasses will be set by individual optical practices and because prices can vary, we would always advise individuals to shop around.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 18/04/2024 15:27:36 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700483

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	RFA Tiderace
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects RFA Tiderace to next be put to sea.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships are adjusted to reflect operational requirements and to ensure outputs are optimised. Individual ships will be generated to different levels of readiness as required. As such, RFA Tiderace is currently alongside for a period and will be regenerated as needed.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 21371 question first answered 22/04/2024 15:29:47 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1700484

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	RFA Tiderace
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RFA Tiderace is being placed at extended readiness.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	21371
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships are adjusted to reflect operational requirements and to ensure outputs are optimised. Individual ships will be generated to different levels of readiness as required. As such, RFA Tiderace is currently alongside for a period and will be regenerated as needed.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 21370 question first answered 22/04/2024 15:29:47 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard