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  • Brendan O’Hara – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Brendan O’Hara – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel of his Department working directly with the Trident programme at HM Naval Base Clyde are based permanently within (a) Argyll and Bute constituency, (b) West Dunbartonshire, (c) other parts of Scotland and (d) other parts of the UK.

    Mark Lancaster

    Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde is one of the largest employment sites in Scotland, with around 6,800 military and civilian jobs now, increasing to around 8,200 by 2022.

    Civilian and Service personnel are not assigned to positions easily identified as supporting the Trident Programme. The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • David Hanson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Hanson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications from Normandy veterans for the award of the Legion d’Honneur have been made to his Department since 6 June 2014; how many such applications have been approved for forwarding to the French government; and how many of those applications have resulted in receipt of a medal by veterans.

    Mark Lancaster

    Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials have received approximately 3,850 applications from Normandy veterans in the period 6 June 2014 to date; about 3,300 had been sent to the French authorities by April this year. The French system was overwhelmed by these and other applications from Allied nations, which have far exceeded expectations. We jointly developed a new administrative process with the French whereby, since July 2015, 100 cases per week have been re-submitted to the French authorities.

    The MOD is not routinely informed when an individual veteran is awarded the Legion d’Honneur as this is a matter for the French authorities. MOD officials understand that around 150 awards had been made by the beginning of July and that, subsequently, approximately 950 additional awards have been approved; of these we believe that about 600 may have been sent out. I am confident that this number will increase significantly over the coming weeks and months.

  • Catherine West – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Catherine West – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any individuals other than those expressly intended to be the target of the RAF drone attack carried out in Syria on 21 August 2015 were killed or injured; and if he will make a statement.

    Michael Fallon

    I refer the hon. Member to the Statement my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister (David Cameron) made in the House on 7 September 2015 (Official Report, columns 23 to 27).

  • Catherine West – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Catherine West – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the legal basis was for the RAF drone attack carried out in Syria on 21 August 2015; and if he will publish the original legal guidance on which the decision to carry out the attack was made.

    Michael Fallon

    The Prime Minister made clear that the Attorney General had advised that the action we took would be lawful in self-defence of the UK. By long-standing convention, reflected in the Cabinet Manual, the content of the Law Officers’ advice is not disclosed outside government without the consent of the Law Officers. As the Attorney General explained in his oral evidence to the Justice Select Committee on 15 September 2015, the convention should be adhered to in this case.

  • Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many places of residence his Department has owned in each of the last five years.

    Mark Lancaster

    The total numbers of Service Family Accommodation properties owned by Ministry of Defence (MOD), has increased between April 2013 and October 2015 largely due to newly built homes in Wiltshire, Aldershot and Catterick in support of the moves back from Germany through the Army Basing Programme. We estimated we would provide around 1,200 new homes in the 2013 announcement. Properties owned by MOD are shown below.

    As of

    Total

    October 2015

    8,113

    April 2014

    7,480

    April 2013

    7,016

    April 2012

    6,697

    April 2011

    6,541

    April 2010

    6,570
  • Gareth Thomas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Gareth Thomas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military, (b) non-commercial civil and (c) commercial civilian flights flew (i) into or (ii) out of RAF Northolt in (A) 2013-14 and (B) 2014-15; how many such flights are expected to take place in (1) 2015-16 and (2) 2016-17; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Take-offs and landings are not recorded separately. The figures for aircraft movements (either a take-off or a landing) are as follows:

    Year

    Military

    Non-Commercial Civil

    Commercial Civilian (including commercial aeromed)

    London Air Ambulance

    Total Non-Military

    2013-14

    4,068

    14

    9,227

    847

    10,088

    2014-15

    4,023

    447

    9,366

    592

    10,405

    2015-16 (April to August)

    1,584

    139

    4,242

    289

    4,670

    The maximum number of commercial aircraft movements permitted per year at RAF Northolt is 12,000. However, given the other limitations on commercial traffic at the station (for example hours of operation, daily limits, etc.), totals for the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 are expected to be broadly similar to the previous two years (i.e. 4,000 to 5,000 military, 9,000 to 10,000 commercial civilian and 14,000 to 15,000 total).

    London Air Ambulance flights are recorded separately as they do not fit under any other category.

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

    Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many units of housing in the UK for military personnel are presently unoccupied in each local authority area.

    Mark Lancaster

    The number of Service Family Accommodation properties unoccupied in each area is shown below.

    Properties can be unoccupied for a number of reasons. These include:

    A margin of unoccupied properties is retained, in the short term, to ensure they are available when Service personnel apply for accommodation.

    A number of properties, which could otherwise be disposed of, are being retained pending the outcome of discussions on the future Defence requirement.

    Properties may show as being unoccupied during a gap between allocation to, and occupation by, a Service family.

    Where properties are leased from Annington Homes Ltd, not owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and when the MOD no longer requires those properties the lease is terminated and the properties are handed back to Annington Homes Ltd. Some properties will be awaiting completion of that process.

    A number of unoccupied properties are affected by dilapidations and await repair or disposal.

    Local Authority

    Unoccupied Service Family Accommodation

    ABERDEEN CITY

    3

    ABERDEENSHIRE

    2

    ANGLESEY, ISLE OF

    25

    ANGUS

    20

    ANTRIM AND NEWTOWNABBEY

    137

    ARDS AND NORTH DOWN

    178

    ARGYLL AND BUTE

    235

    ASHFIELD

    25

    ASHFORD

    26

    AYLESBURY VALE

    56

    BABERGH

    48

    BARNET

    28

    BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET

    1

    BIRMINGHAM

    13

    BLAENAU GWENT

    5

    BRACKNELL FOREST

    57

    BRAINTREE

    5

    BRECKLAND

    90

    BRIGHTON AND HOVE

    2

    BRISTOL, CITY OF

    3

    BROADLAND

    4

    BROMLEY

    21

    BROXTOWE

    12

    CAMBRIDGE

    1

    CAMDEN

    16

    CANTERBURY

    181

    CARDIFF

    14

    CARLISLE

    17

    CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE

    194

    CHARNWOOD

    13

    CHERWELL

    68

    CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER

    50

    CHICHESTER

    35

    CITY OF EDINBURGH

    152

    COLCHESTER

    124

    CORNWALL

    61

    COTSWOLD

    30

    COUNTY OF HEREFORDSHIRE

    15

    CROYDON

    3

    DARLINGTON

    16

    DOVER

    117

    DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

    3

    DUNDEE CITY

    2

    EAST DEVON

    9

    EAST DORSET

    14

    EAST HAMPSHIRE

    303

    EAST LINDSEY

    16

    EAST RENFREWSHIRE

    3

    EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

    34

    EILEAN SIAR

    1

    EXETER

    12

    FAREHAM

    25

    FIFE

    258

    FOREST OF DEAN

    52

    FYLDE

    74

    GEDLING

    10

    GLASGOW CITY

    6

    GLOUCESTER

    32

    GOSPORT

    122

    GREENWICH

    38

    GUILDFORD

    91

    GWYNEDD

    4

    HAMBLETON

    115

    HARROGATE

    196

    HARROW

    30

    HART

    68

    HAVANT

    2

    HERTSMERE

    43

    HIGHLAND

    59

    HILLINGDON

    113

    HOUNSLOW

    25

    HUNTINGDONSHIRE

    260

    KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA

    1

    KING’S LYNN AND WEST NORFOLK

    108

    KINGSTON UPON THAMES

    24

    LICHFIELD

    13

    LINCOLN

    1

    LISBURN AND CASTLEREAGH

    184

    MAIDSTONE

    19

    MEDWAY

    134

    MELTON

    16

    MERTON

    5

    MID AND EAST ANTRIM

    325

    MID SUFFOLK

    69

    MIDLOTHIAN

    30

    MOLE VALLEY

    8

    MORAY

    100

    NEW FOREST

    18

    NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

    2

    NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN

    199

    NORTH AYRSHIRE

    11

    NORTH DEVON

    57

    NORTH DORSET

    67

    NORTH KESTEVEN

    179

    NORTH LANARKSHIRE

    3

    NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE

    3

    NORTH SOMERSET

    2

    NORTHUMBERLAND

    61

    NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH

    7

    OADBY AND WIGSTON

    2

    ORKNEY ISLANDS

    1

    PEMBROKESHIRE

    48

    PERTH AND KINROSS

    2

    PETERBOROUGH

    142

    PLYMOUTH

    97

    POOLE

    23

    PORTSMOUTH

    70

    POWYS

    75

    PRESTON

    2

    PURBECK

    39

    RENFREWSHIRE

    11

    RICHMOND UPON THAMES

    7

    RICHMONDSHIRE

    72

    RUGBY

    21

    RUNNYMEDE

    8

    RUSHMOOR

    135

    RUTLAND

    113

    SCARBOROUGH

    5

    SEVENOAKS

    7

    SHEFFIELD

    2

    SHEPWAY

    90

    SHROPSHIRE

    129

    SOMERSET

    19

    SOUTH AYRSHIRE

    7

    SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE

    136

    SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

    29

    SOUTH HAMS

    17

    SOUTH KESTEVEN

    15

    SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE

    108

    SOUTH SOMERSET

    57

    SPELTHORNE

    20

    ST. EDMUNDSBURY

    61

    STAFFORD

    71

    STIRLING

    1

    STRATFORD-ON-AVON

    29

    SUFFOLK COASTAL

    53

    SURREY HEATH

    80

    SWINDON

    25

    TAUNTON DEANE

    11

    TEIGNBRIDGE

    1

    TELFORD AND WREKIN

    54

    TEST VALLEY

    63

    TEWKESBURY

    32

    THANET

    1

    THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN

    66

    THREE RIVERS

    19

    UTTLESFORD

    20

    VALE OF WHITE HORSE

    184

    WANDSWORTH

    13

    WEST BERKSHIRE

    50

    WEST DEVON

    3

    WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

    4

    WEST LINDSEY

    16

    WEST OXFORDSHIRE

    76

    WESTMINSTER

    14

    WILTSHIRE

    1117

    WINCHESTER

    61

    WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD

    70

    WOKING

    7

    WOKINGHAM

    141

    WREXHAM

    1

    WYCOMBE

    145

    YORK

    37

  • Chris Stephens – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Chris Stephens – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what meetings his Department has had with representatives of (a) the Taxpayers’ Alliance, (b) the Confederation of British Industry, (c) the Institute of Economic Affairs, (d) the Adam Smith Institute, (e) the Freedom Association, (f) the Politics and Economic Research Trust and (g) the Midlands Industrial Council in the last 12 months.

    Michael Fallon

    None.

  • Brendan O’Hara – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Brendan O’Hara – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release of 31 August 2015, £500 million for Faslane, announced by the Chancellor, what provision has been made within that funding for investment in (a) roads, signage and communication links and (b) other surrounding infrastructure to support increased vehicular and personnel traffic on (i) the A814 and other roads leading to and from the Glen Douglas Munitions Depot and (ii) other roads in and around HM Naval Base Clyde.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The project to make the necessary infrastructure adaptations to update the facilities at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde and Royal Naval Armament Depot Coulport to support all Royal Navy submarines is in its Assessment Phase. Until the assessments are completed it is not possible to give the level of detail requested.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps with his EU partners and the US Department of Defense to improve the traceability and tracking of small arms and light weapons provided to the Kurdish Regional government for use in fighting against ISIS.

    Michael Fallon

    All military equipment exported from the UK, including the gifting of small arms to the Kurdistan Regional Government is subject to stringent assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. This includes assessment of the end-use and likelihood of the equipment being diverted. As part of the provision of small arms to the Kurdistan Regional Government, the UK also requested and received assurances on handling, secure storage and useage from the Ministry of Peshmerga as the responsible Government authority in charge of end-use.

    The Government is committed to the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). This is a core international instrument for tackling these issues and the Government is committed to its full implementation. The Government also supports the work carried out by the EU as part of its Small Arms and Light Weapons Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.