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  • Mike Wood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Mike Wood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Wood on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time taken was by each arm of the Armed Forces to make serving personnel available to the civilian police in connection with criminal investigations in the most recent period for which figures are available; and how many approaches the civilian police have made to the Armed Forces for access to serving personnel in relation to indictable offences.

    Anna Soubry

    This information is not held in the format requested. The civil police are not required to seek the assistance or permission of relevant arms of the Armed Forces in relation to serving personnel being made available in connection with criminal investigations. However, if such an approach is made, then the Service authorities will attempt to assist as far as they are able so to do.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his objectives are in negotiations with the Kenyan government on a memorandum of understanding for continued use of the Nanyuki training facility.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The current Memorandum of Understanding concerning UK and Kenyan military co-operation includes UK use of training facilities in Kenya. This covers all activities until April 2015, when a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is due to be signed. Constructive dialogue on the MOU continues, and we anticipate a successful outcome which will reflect the positions and requirements of the Kenyan and UK Governments, and permit continued military training in Kenya.

  • Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the net benefit to UK defence exports as a result of the recent Farnborough Airshow.

    Matthew Hancock

    Farnborough is an important showcase for the UK Defence sector, the Department does not make estimates of defence exports arising as a result of the Farnborough Airshow, but recent figures released show that defence exports grew by 11% in 2013 to £9.8 billion. Previous exhibitions such as Farnborough 2012 are likely to have contributed to these figures.

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been able to distinguish between duplicate payments and other types of overpayment made to suppliers from financial year 2013-14. In that year, the total value of duplicate payments identified was £4.1 million, 100% of which has been recovered. Over the first quarter of 2014-15, we have identified duplicate payments to the value of £0.5 million of which 60% has so far been recovered. Prior to 2013-14 we were unable to distinguish duplicate supplier payments from other types of overpayments. However all overpayments have been recovered since 2010.

    The MOD processes over four million invoices a year totalling some £26 billion. We review our bill payment processes and controls periodically to ensure that we achieve the required high standards of performance and governance and seek to recover overpayments made to suppliers as quickly as possible.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    As part of the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) transparency programme, monthly spend over £25,000 is available on the Gov.uk website for financial years 2010-11 to 2013-14:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-finance-transparency-dataset.

    This data represents payments made centrally by the MOD. It does not include payments made by the MOD’s Trading Funds, payments made for warlike stores, and payments that would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information legislation (for example, for reasons of national security or commercial sensitivity).

    No payments have been made over the period 2010-11 to 2013-14 to GEO Amey, Working Links, A4E, MTC Amey or GEO Group.

    Since January 2011, all contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder:

    http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk/

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to lay before the House a Statutory Instrument to reflect the establishment of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees; and if he will make statement.

    Anna Soubry

    It is our intention to change legislation to reflect the establishment of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees. The Armed Forces Bill 2015 represents the most likely opportunity to make the change through primary legislation.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that service personnel are effectively reintegrated into society following active service duty.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has robust measures in place to prepare our Service personnel for civilian life. As Lord Ashcroft highlighted in his recent review of transition arrangements, the vast majority of Service leavers make a successful transition.

    All Service leavers are entitled to resettlement assistance from the Ministry of Defence funded Career Transition Partnership (CTP). We work with all industry sectors to offer Service leavers a range of employment options through the creation of partnerships with major organisations such as BAE Systems, Jaguar, Siemens and Google. The CTP helped 85% of Service leavers find sustainable employment within six months of leaving the Armed Forces in 2013-14.

    The MOD supports a range of schemes to help Service leavers secure appropriate accommodation, and provides briefings on housing and finance. The £200 million Forces Help to Buy scheme began on 1 April 2014, meaning that Servicemen and women can now borrow up to 50% of their salary, up to a maximum of £25,000, interest free, providing a boost to those needing to find a deposit to buy their own home. In February 2014, LIBOR funding of £40 million was announced to support charities which assist veterans with housing needs. Projects are expected to include hostels and half-way houses for veterans, supported housing for the wounded, injured and sick, and long-term care homes.

    The Veterans UK Helpline can provide advice on a wide range of issues, including healthcare, accommodation, training and benefits. The helpline can be reached on 0808 1914 218.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The Prime Minister’s Office and the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office are an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

    As part of my department’s transparency programme, any spend over £25,000 is available on the Department’s website. Since January 2011, all contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder (http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk/).

    “

  • Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the criteria were for the choice of representation on the Northern Futures Board announced on 4 July 2014.

    Mr Nick Clegg

    As explained in my reply of 15 July 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 591W the aim of our Northern Futures initiative is to facilitate a new kind of conversation about how we rebalance our economy. We did not announce a “Northern Futures Board” on July 4th and there are no plans to create one. However, Liverpool is strongly encouraged to join the Northern Futures conversation by submitting ideas to the email address northernfutures@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

    “

  • Louise Ellman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Louise Ellman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her targets are for improvement at the University Academy, Liverpool; and in what timescale she will require such improvements to be made.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The responsibility for engaging with parents and staff on improving standards in underperforming academies lies with the sponsor or trust.

    The Department for Education will intervene in cases where we are concerned that sponsors are not bringing about rapid, sustained educational improvements.

    In the case of the University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT), which is the sponsor of the University Academy Liverpool (UAL), the Department has already intervened. Officials have been closely monitoring the performance of the sponsor since the publication of examination results in 2013. In April 2014, my noble Friend Lord Nash issued UCAT with a pre-warning notice letter as a result of our overall concerns about the performance of the Trust and our particular concerns about three of its academies, including UAL. The Trust has responded with an action plan to address these issues.

    We do not tolerate underperformance. Where an academy is not making urgent sustained progress, we will work closely with the school and sponsor to secure whatever changes are necessary to make improvements. This might include a change of leadership, or a new partnership with a successful strong academy, sponsor or school.

    We continue to monitor the situation at UAL closely against its action plan and will not hesitate to intervene further at both school and Trust level if results in 2014 do not improve.