The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff from the US Departments of (a) Energy and (b) Defense are currently on secondment to the AWE facilities at (i) Aldermaston and (ii) Burghfield.
Mr Philip Dunne
There are two US staff from the Department of Defense on secondment to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston. No US staff are on secondment to AWE Burghfield.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to encourage full-time regular soldiers to join the reserves after they leave the Army.
Anna Soubry
We are keen to see ex-members of the Regular Army join the Army Reserve and have two schemes in place to support this:
Ex-Regular Commitment Bonus:
£10,000 over four payments.
Payable from 1 April 2014, back dated to 1 January 2014.
The Scheme will run until 31 March 2017.
Ex-Regular Reduced Commitment Incentive. This allows ex-Regulars to serve on a reduced commitment for up to three years from when they join the Army Reserve:
Reduced annual training requirement (19 days, down from 27 for Regional units):
Reduced call out liability (except under sect 52 of RFA 96, no call-out liability; aside for national emergencies).
Reduced Military Annual Training Tests.
Ex-Regulars who participate in the Commitment Bonus scheme are ineligible to benefit from the Army Reserve Reduced Commitment scheme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Russell on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to transfer the maintenance of graves of military personnel who have died since 1945 from his Department to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Anna Soubry
It is important that maintenance of post-second World War military graves in the UK is undertaken in the most efficient and effective way.
The transfer of responsibility for some 6,139 graves from the Ministry of Defence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), who already maintain many more such graves, is accordingly under consideration. Discussions between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the CWGC about the possibility of such a change are ongoing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information is held on the value of the residual estates of service men and women killed in action who were not married at the time of their death.
Anna Soubry
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) would not have visibility of the residual value of the estate of a Service person, as it is the responsibility of the executor or personal representative to collect information on any monies due (such as bank accounts, insurance payouts) or owed (such as bank loans).
The MOD would inform the executor of any money owing to the estate from the Department. This can comprise: arrears of pay; arrears of allowances (operational allowance, council tax refund); credit for untaken annual leave; cash found in effects and the death in service lump sum payment if this falls due to the estate (rather than being paid to a qualifying beneficiary under the pension scheme).
Payment is made to the executor once they obtain either a Grant of Representation or Confirmation or Letters of Administration or for small amounts only (Under £5,000) on completion of a Form of Declaration supplied by the MOD.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to contact members of the armed forces wrongly disciplined in addition to receiving a police caution; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
No such steps have been taken.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many senior members of each branch of the armed forces missed a promotion following the receipt of a police caution in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
None. Administrative action is no longer taken against Service personnel who receive a police caution.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 443W, on armed forces: offenders, when he was first informed of this issue; what potential options are being considered; if he will ensure that the options under consideration do not disadvantage personnel who have been wronged; when he will update the House on any decision; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
The Department first recognised the implications of changes to rehabilitation legislation relating to police cautions in September 2011, since when no administrative action has been taken against Service personnel who receive a police caution. Officials brought the issue to the attention of Ministers in early December 2011 and have provided further advice at intervals since then.
It would be inappropriate to disclose the options that officials have presented for consideration. This is a complex matter, and I will update the House when I have reached a judgement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, columns 619-20W, on army: disciplinary proceedings, how many of the individuals discharged in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011 under AGA167 (i) were discharged as a result of cautions and (ii) have been notified that they were wrongly discharged; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
The information requested can only be gained through a manual search of personnel records and therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
No steps have been taken to notify individuals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2014, Official Report, column 650W, on armed forces: disciplinary proceedings, how many and what amount of ex gratia payments were made to armed forces personnel incorrectly disciplined following receipt of a police caution; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
No such ex-gratia payments have been made.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 443W, on armed forces: disciplinary proceedings, how many cautions are recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration database; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
The total number of police cautions recorded on the Joint Personnel Administrative system, since rollout in 2006 to date, is 900 cases involving 870 personnel. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
These numbers are for police cautions issued by the civilian police and the civilian courts.