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  • Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Fleet Ready Escort met the Russian Navy Research Vessel Yantar as it passed through UK waters; and what other assets were used to monitor the Yantar once inside the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The designated Fleet Ready Escort was not activated on this occasion, but remained available at high readiness. There are always a number of Royal Navy units available in UK waters at any one time and, if it is appropriate, one of those units could be reprioritised to undertake a required task. In this case, HMS Severn was better placed to respond, and it made the most operational sense for her to undertake this task.

    I am withholding further details of our capabilities and programmes as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • 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 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the army’s (a) Junior Entrants and (b) Standard Entrants were medically discharged due to an injury during initial training in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mark Lancaster

    The proportion of Junior and Standard Entrant Regular Army Personnel, Medically Discharged during initial training for 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 is shown below:

    Entry Type

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    Junior Entry

    6.3%

    8.6%

    6.8%

    Standard Entry

    4.2%

    5.1%

    5.1%

    Initial training has been defined as all personnel either in Phase 1 or Phase 2 training.

    Junior Entry is defined as trainees under 18 years old at the Army Foundation College (Harrogate) on Junior Entry courses. Figures for under 18s who follow the standard entry route are recorded with the standard entry total and cannot be separated out.

    Officer Designates have been excluded from this response as they do not enter the UK Army via Junior or Standard Entry.

  • Martin John Docherty – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Martin John Docherty – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martin John Docherty on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contribution his Department has made, excluding investment in Trident, to the NATO (a) civil budget, (b) military budget and (c) Security Investment Programme in each of the last three years.

    Michael Fallon

    The amount contributed by the Ministry of Defence to NATO’s Military Budget and the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) in each of the last three financial years is as follows:

    Financial Year

    Military Budget

    NSIP

    £ million

    £ million

    2014-15

    82.050

    47.261

    2013-14

    109.741

    53.287

    2012-13

    123.408

    45.975

    Both the Military Budget and NSIP amounts include UK contribution to NATO Operations and Missions. The contribution to both funding streams is based on the agreed NATO cost share for the UK of 10.479%.

    The UK contribution to the NATO Civil Budget is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  • Antoinette Sandbach – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Antoinette Sandbach – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to reopen the Government’s Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme, which has supported thousands of small businesses, is now closed as the funding has been fully allocated. Any decision regarding new funding is subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport.

    Tracey Crouch

    The Government supports the work ofUK Anti-Doping (UKAD)whichworkstirelessly to ensure athletes and sport are clean. Throughtesting programmes, intelligence sharing with law-enforcement agencies on supplying and trafficking,and its excellentathleteeducationinitiatives,UKAD is one of the world’s most highly regardednationalanti-dopingorganisations.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of people sustaining serious injuries as a result of participating in boxing in each of the last five years.

    Tracey Crouch

    DCMS does not hold information or data on the comparative health risks resulting from taking part in major sports.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of people sustaining serious injuries as a result of playing rugby in each of the last five years.

    Tracey Crouch

    DCMS does not hold information or data on the comparative health risks resulting from taking part in major sports.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what response he has made to the findings of the report by the National Audit Office of January 2015 on the Superfast (Rural) Broadband Programme: update, that BT had overstated its claims for the costs of rolling out superfast broadband by 38 per cent.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The National Audit Office (NAO) report of January 2015 showed that in September 2014, BT had spent at least 25% less than its contracted forecast cost once work in progress was taken into account. Our contract with BT has ensured that any underspend at the end of project delivery will be available for local authorities to make further investment in broadband networks. This positive outcome has been praised by the Major Projects Authority, which concluded in autumn 2014 that BDUK’s open book accounting process to keep BT’s costs in check was an exemplar of best practice.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of households in each region of the UK have access to superfast broadband.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    According to the Ofcom Communications Market Report, published in August 2015, superfast broadband is available to 83 per cent of UK premises. Regionally, it is available to 84 per cent of the premises in England, 79 per cent in Wales, 77 per cent in Northern Ireland, and 73 per cent in Scotland. We aim to reach 95 per cent coverage by 2017.In addition we are supporting seven pilot projects to explore ways to extend superfast broadband beyond 95 per cent of UK home and businesses.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the amount of its own capital which BT has invested in the rural broadband rollout programme to date.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Major Projects Authority concluded in Autumn 2014 that BDUK’s open book accounting process which supports BDUK’s monitoring and control of BT’s costsisan exemplar of best practice.Most Phase 1 broadband projects are using this process. BT have incurred £230 million spend to date for these projects.