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  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many community grant applications have been received from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade in Northern Ireland; how many such applications were successful; and how much was disbursed in respect of those applications in each year since the inception of that scheme.

    Anna Soubry

    The first community grant application from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade was submitted in January 2015. There have been no previous applications submitted because there have been no Community Covenants signed in Northern Ireland.

    Despite this, good progress has been made on Covenant issues during 2014 with nearly all of the measures in the Covenant now extending to Northern Ireland. HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade provides a focus for taking Covenant issues forward in the region. The Armed Forces Covenant annual report, laid before the House on 16 December 2014, highlights this progress. I am planning to visit Northern Ireland soon, and I will take the opportunity to see for myself the progress that has been made and its effect on the Armed Forces Community in the Province.

    We will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces community are met.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic, humanitarian or consular assistance his Department has provided to Ms Maud Kells, the missionary from County Tyrone who was shot and wounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Mr David Lidington

    I was very concerned to hear the reports of a British national hospitalised after this shooting. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and the Democratic Republic of Congo are providing consular assistance through direct contact with her, the charity she works for and the local doctors to ensure that she is being provided with medical treatment and support. We understand that the matter is being investigated by the local authorities. Background Ms Maude Kells a 75 year old Christian charity worker (WEC International) was shot in the shoulder on Sunday 4 January currently being treated in Nyunkunde Hospital, DRC. Post are in contact with Ms Kells, doctors and WEC International. The hospital has reported that Ms Kells is recovering well considering her injuries and she may be discharged in a few days time. Post confirm local authorities investigating. Press lines -“We can confirm the hospitalisation of a British national in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are providing consular assistance.”

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when responsibility for the risk of Typhoon mid-air collision was passed from Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group to the Chief of the Air Staff; and for what reason that change was made.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Typhoon mid-air collision risk with commercial air transport was elevated to the Chief of the Air Staff in June 2014 following the conclusion of further risk analysis work conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). This analysis concluded that the risk level was unchanged but highlighted the potential for societal concern in the event of a collision.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which posts have held responsibility and for how long for the risk of mid-air collisions on each fast jet type in each of the last five years; and what the reason was for the change of ownership in each case.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Operating Duty Holder, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group has and continues to own all frontline fast jet mid-air collision risk except in the following two circumstances:

    The mid-air collision risk for Tornado GR4 was held by the RAF’s Senior Duty Holder, Chief of the Air Staff in 2011, and then further elevated to the Secretary of State in June 2011. On commencement of the current Tornado Collision Warning System programme later that same month the risk was transferred back to Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group due to the programme mitigating the risk.

    The Typhoon mid-air collision risk with commercial air transport was elevated to the Chief of the Air Staff in June 2014 following the conclusion of further risk analysis work conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). This analysis concluded that the risk level was unchanged but highlighted the potential for societal concern in the event of a collision.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 7 of Director General, Military Aviation Authority, Air Safety Annual Report, August 2013-August 2014, published in January 2015, what assessment he has made of the implications of the conclusions of that report on his policy on mitigating mid-air collisions; and if he will require a full Airborne Collision Avoidance System to be fitted in all operational Typhoon aircraft.

    Mr Mark Francois

    Mid-air collision remains the top air safety risk. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made considerable progress in reducing the risk of Mid-Air Collision, as the report highlights. Operating Duty Holders are well focused on the risk and are working hard to develop and evolve further mitigations.

    Avoidance of collision in the air requires a multi-layered approach, including effective de-confliction planning; supervision of flying and equipment fitted to aircraft to aid situational awareness; employment of suitable radar services; and ultimately an effective lookout from the aircraft to "see and avoid" each other. A wide range of technical and non-technical mitigations are used to reduce the risk to a tolerable level which is as low as reasonably practicable. The risk analysis and associated mitigations are regularly reviewed and adjusted where required in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations. The procurement of a collision warning system for UK Typhoon is ongoing with a number of options being assessed using the extant MOD procurement process.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chief of the Air Staff on transferring responsibility for the risk of Typhoon mid air collision to that role.

    Mr Mark Francois

    In line with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) Regulatory Articles, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) briefed the Secretary of State in October 2014 that the Typhoon mid-air collision risk with commercial air transport aircraft had been elevated to CAS since June 2014.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the environmental effect of the Government’s road investment strategy announced on 1 December 2014.

    Mr John Hayes

    Environmental appraisals of each individual scheme announced on 1 December will be brought forward as part of the standard scheme development process. Separate to this, the Road Investment Strategy also includes commitments to over £500m of environmental spending through a series of ring-fenced ‘designated funds’, which will bring about real improvements to the existing network.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances disability living allowance is payable for a child who has dyslexia.

    Mr Mark Harper

    Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance is not linked to particular conditions such as dyslexia but is assessed on the extent to which an individual person has personal care needs and/or mobility difficulties as a result of their disability.

  • Chris Skidmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Skidmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Skidmore on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the per capita spend on NHS services was in Kingswood constituency in (a) 2010 and (b) 2015.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.

    South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) programme allocations and per capita funding for 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16.

    Financial year

    Programme allocation (£ million)

    Funded £ per head of population

    2013/14

    239

    921

    2014/15

    249

    946

    2015/16

    263

    997

    Source: South Gloucestershire CCG

  • Chris Skidmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Skidmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Skidmore on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding was allocated for the NHS in Kingswood constituency in (a) 2010 and (b) 2015.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.

    South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) programme allocations and per capita funding for 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16.

    Financial year

    Programme allocation (£ million)

    Funded £ per head of population

    2013/14

    239

    921

    2014/15

    249

    946

    2015/16

    263

    997

    Source: South Gloucestershire CCG