Author: admin

  • Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel have been committed to NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The numbers of UK personnel committed to NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VHRJTF), is set out below:

    Year

    Number of Personnel

    2016

    1,200

    2017

    3,500-4,000

    The UK will be the lead nation for the VHRJTF in 2017. The exact number of UK personnel for 2017 will not be confirmed until the contributions from other NATO members has been finalised.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2016 to Question 22740, what steps his Department is taking to encourage and facilitate the supply of steel from UK sources for the (a) Type 26 and (b) Type 31 frigate programmes.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    In the main, Ministry of Defence (MOD) requirements for steel are sourced by our prime contractors taking into account cost, time and quality. The MOD has issued new policy guidance to ensure, as far as we are able to within EU procurement legislation and the Government’s overarching priority of value for money, that we are addressing the barriers that prevent UK steel suppliers from competing on a level playing field with international suppliers. This emphasises the importance of increased pre-market engagement, including industry days and the signalling of future requirements for steel, bringing prime contractors and steel producers together to facilitate supply chain opportunities. I have also written to our main defence contractors to highlight the new policy guidelines and seek their assistance and support in implementing them.

    No steel suppliers have yet been selected or orders placed for the Type 26 Global Combat Ships or Light General Purpose Frigates. The sourcing of steel for these programmes will take account of the new policy.

  • Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel are currently deployed in (a) the Baltic states and (b) Poland as part of the Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training initiative; and from which units these personnel are drawn.

    Penny Mordaunt

    In February 2016 the UK became a Lead Nation, alongside Germany and the US, in the Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training initiative (TACET). Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force personnel have met Baltic States’ and Polish representatives to discuss how to deliver TACET’s objectives, and training needs analysis teams will deploy shortly to take the initiative forward. UK training deployments will start from April 2017, and we expect the initiative will be fully operational by the Warsaw Summit this July, but precise numbers to be deployed and their Units have not yet been confirmed.

  • Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel are currently deployed in Ukraine; and from which units they are drawn.

    Penny Mordaunt

    In addition to the three members of the UK Armed Forces permanently based in Ukraine, as at 29 February 2016, there were 53 UK military personnel deployed in Ukraine providing training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The majority of these personnel, 40, are from the 1st Battalion, the Mercian Regiment. The remaining personnel are drawn from a number of different Army units.

    The number of UK personnel in Ukraine will vary dependent on the specific training, visits and exercises we may be conducting at the time.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the UK’s (a) direct and (b) indirect funding was to NATO in each of the last five years.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    Direct Ministry of Defence (MOD) funding to NATO can be found in the table below. The term "indirect funding" is not one used by the MOD in relation to NATO funding.

    Financial Year

    NATO Security Investment Programme

    Military Budget

    Total

    £ million

    2010-11

    £83.225

    £101.566

    £184.791

    2011-12

    £70.063

    £104.292

    £174.355

    2012-13

    £45.974

    £123.408

    £169.382

    2013-14

    £53.287

    £109.741

    £163.028

    2014-15

    £47.261

    £82.050

    £129.311

    “

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the operational readiness of UK-based tanks; and if he will make a statement.

    Penny Mordaunt

    As at February 2016 the Challenger 2 fleet was assessed to meet 100% of the fleet size and deployability requirements as set out in the 2015/16 Army Readiness Order.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the serviceability and spares situation of the UK-based tank fleet; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank serviceability and spares situation is routinely assessed to identify issues. A recent in-depth assessment was undertaken and additional repair funding allocated to maintain the capability. Furthermore, a Life Extension Programme is currently in the assessment phase.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Sharon Hodgson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of including data by type of disability in the school census.

    Edward Timpson

    No estimate has been made of the cost of including data by type of disability in the school census. The Department is exploring if there are other ways of capturing details of pupils’ disability.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Sharon Hodgson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to monitor local authority spending in 2016-17 on specialist education services for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

    Edward Timpson

    Local authorities’ (LAs) spending on education and children’s social care is monitored on a twice yearly basis. LAs are required under Section 251 (S251) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, to submit their planned (budget) and actual (outturn) expenditure to the Secretary of State, which includes spending in support of children with special educational needs and disabilities. The data collection began in early March 2016 for the 2016-17 budget statements, and the 2015-16 outturn statements are due to start being collected in early July 2016, with the 2016-17 outturn collection beginning in July 2017.

    The department publishes the data from these S251 financial collections on the GOV.UK website, usually in the following September for budget and in the following December for outturn. The department also requires LAs to provide us with an annual assurance statement from the Chief Finance Officer that confirms the funding given for the purpose of education has been spent in line with the regulations.

  • Ben Howlett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ben Howlett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to secure the appropriate data to monitor the progress of programmes which encourage the uptake of STEM subjects by girls.

    Nick Gibb

    The Government funds a number of programmes which encourage the uptake of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects by girls. We monitor the progress of these programmes against their key performance indicators through regular reports and by evaluating their impact.

    In 2014 the Government published for the first time data showing the proportion of girls and boys studying A levels in science and maths at each post-16 institution, and in 2016 time series data of students entered for mathematics and science A level subjects by number of subjects and gender. Both sets of data will continue to be published on an annual basis.