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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

1702300

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

1701757

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

1701760

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

1701767

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

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