Blog

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what planning he has undertaken to ensure that any UN airstrikes in Syria are (a) co-ordinated with all participating countries and (b) do not harm UN relations with the Russian Federation.

    Michael Fallon

    UK airstrikes are undertaken as part of the Global Coalition’s counter-Daesh campaign and are coordinated by the Coalition’s Combined Air Operations Centre based at Al Udeid in Qatar. UK aircraft also abide by the provisions and procedures in the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Russia which aims to prevent flight safety incidents over Syria and Iraq.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on establishment of a Northern Ireland University Air Squadron.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The two newly established staff posts in the Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron were filled in October and November 2015, and the first students were accepted on 25 November. Of the 24 student places, 11 have so far been filled.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17682, what the cost per trainee is of the Eagle training scheme at (a) Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Bavaria, (b) FDTC Grantown-on-Spey, (c) FDTC Danesford/Weston on the Green/Halton and (e) overseas Eagles; and what the location is of the overseas Eagles training.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The highest priority for UK based Force Development Training Centres (FDTC) is the delivery of Phase One and Phase Two formal training. The EAGLEs training scheme makes use of any irreducible spare capacity. Therefore, costs for EAGLEs training at UK based FDTCs cannot be separated out from overall training costs at those centres.

    For Financial Year 2015-16:

    EAGLEs training at FDTC Bavaria has a fixed cost per person estimated at £488.00.

    The current projection for the planned 600 places for overseas EAGLEs training is £587.00 per person.

    Overseas Eagles training is carried out in Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 2 December 2015 to Questions 17676, 17682, 17679, 17694 and 17681, what statistical data was used in the assessment process to close (a) MOD Fairbourne and (b) MOD Llanrwst; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the statistical data contained in his Department’s Future Development and Adventure Training review.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mark Lancaster) on 4 December 2015 to Question number 18405. Namely, the key documents will be placed in the Library of the House following the appropriate redactions and these will contain statistical data.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17676, on military bases, whether those beds spaces have been consistently present and utilised in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The bed spaces at Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Grantown-On-Spey, Joint School for Adventurous Training Instructors (JSATI) Llanrwst and FDTC Fairbourne have remained constant over the last five years. Since August 2015, FDTC Crickhowell has increased the bed spaces available from 80 to 260, at Cwrt-Y-Gollen Cadet Training Centre, which is adjacent to FDTC Crickhowell.

    Bed space use is driven by the training requirement.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17679, what the maintenance, improvement and development costs of (a) MOD Grantown-on-Spey, (b) MOD Llanrwst, (c) MOD Fairbourne and (d) MOD Crickhowell were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mark Lancaster) on 2 December to Question number 17679. Some costs for some previous years may be available and Ministry of Defence officials are reviewing them. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17694, how many training courses have been completed at (a) MOD Grantown-on-Spey, (b) MOD Llanrwst, (c) MOD Fairbourne and (d) MOD Crickhowell in each year from 2010 to 2015; how many students of each service attended each such course; what the cost of each such course was per trainee; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    Due to the variation in course length (from one day through to 42 weeks), the number of courses completed is not recorded. Rather, delivery is measured on the number of weeks of training delivered. For financial year (FY) 2014-15, the number of weeks of training delivered at each centre is as follows (historical data is not held).

    Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Grantown – 46 weeks

    Joint School for Adventorous Training (JSATI) Llanrwst – 41 weeks

    FDTC Fairbourne – 45 weeks

    FDTC Crickhowell – 46 weeks

    Information on the number of attendees is not held as costs are solely dependent on the maximum bed space capacity, regardless of the number of students attending.

    Please see the information below giving the operating costs covering all locations for the last four financial years, for which information is available.

    FY 2011-12 £

    FY 2012-13 £

    FY 2013-14 £

    FY 2014-15 £

    FDTC Grantown

    295,624

    220,819

    213,781

    231,290

    JSATI Llanrwst

    292,320

    302,366

    382,063

    281,695

    FDTC Fairbourne

    259,855

    292,885

    325,181

    279,093

    FDTC Crickhowell

    688,808

    654,010

    646,027

    643,985

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to version 4.3 of JSP 441 Defence Records Management Policy and Procedures, for what period training centres are required to maintain records in relation to (a) trainee attendance and (b) courses held; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) policy for the capture, management and final disposal, including transfer to The National Archives, of the MOD’s records is detailed in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 441-Defence Records Management Policy and Procedures. However it is important to note that not all documents are official records. The MOD only retains documents worthy of permanent preservation which are judged to have short or long term corporate value. For example a Training Centre may not retain attendance lists but the qualification attained would be included in the individual’s service record.

    A copy of JSP 441 has been placed in the Library of the House and can also be found on the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-441-defence-records-management-policy-and-procedures–2

    JSP 441 advises that records relating to the development of the business unit’s personnel or human resources through formally and informally delivered training activities, are to be retained for at least 15 years after which they are to be reviewed for on-going business reasons or potential historical value. These records may include records created by training centres relating to trainee attendance and courses held. If this review deems that these records are no longer required, then they are to be destroyed.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information he has received from TalkTalk concerning the cause of its recent cyber-security breach and the measures it has put in place to prevent another such breach.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Government has been in contact with TalkTalk from the early stages of this incident, but this remains primarily a matter for the company itself and for law enforcement.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 2.144 of the Summer Budget 2015, what progress has been made on designing the Horserace Betting Right; and when he plans to publish his proposals on that matter.

    Tracey Crouch

    Work is continuing on the detailed policy design of the replacement for the existing levy.

    As part of the design work we commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of racing. This will draw on information provided by betting and racing, and will be key to assessing what level of funding from betting to racing would be reasonable.

    We will make a further announcement in due course