Tag: Alex Cunningham

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is giving to the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict for the campaign to eradicate the recruitment of children by government armed forces by 2016.

Anna Soubry

The Ministry of Defence provides no formal support to the UN Special Representative, but is taking steps to ensure that our recruitment activities are in accordance with Article 38 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as stated in the answer given on 13 May 2013, (Official Report, column 98W) to the hon Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Cathy Jamieson).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in preparing a cost-benefit analysis of the recruitment and training of minors; and when he expects to publish a report on that issue.

Anna Soubry

The report has been submitted by the Army to Ministry of Defence (MOD) HQ, for consideration. It is not possible to provide a publication date for the report until the report’s findings have been considered.

The terms of reference of the report are as follows:
Question – “What is the cost overhead to MOD of Phase 1 training for Junior Entry (JE) soldiers versus Standard Entry (SE) soldiers joining the Army?”

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) refuse-derived fuel and (b) solid recovered fuel produced in the UK exported annually for use in energy from waste plants overseas.

Dan Rogerson

In 2012 (the most recent year for which definitive figures are available), 977,452 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel and 7,783 tonnes of solid recovered fuel were exported from England and Wales for use in energy from waste plants. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland is collected separately and falls under the responsibility of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive respectively.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) refuse-derived fuel and (b) solid recovered fuel produced annually in the UK.

Dan Rogerson

Data cannot be obtained on the amount of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel produced annually in the UK. The amount of refuse-derived fuel received at incineration plants in England in 2012 was 768,173 tonnes and the amount of refuse-derived fuel exported from England and Wales in 2012 was 977,452 tonnes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the export of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel for use in energy from waste plants overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson

We published a call for evidence on the refuse-derived fuel market in England on 12 March. This included a request for evidence on the effect that exports of refuse-derived fuel had on its availability on the domestic market. The call for evidence closed on 9 May. We are currently analysing the evidence submitted, which will aid our understanding of the situation, help us to determine whether there is a need for some form of intervention and, if so, help us to develop policy options.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the effect of export of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel for use in energy from waste plants overseas has on the ability of the UK to meet renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker

DECC has not made an assessment of the effect of export of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel may have on the ability to meet renewable energy targets.

We are making good progress towards meeting our 2020 target. In 2012 4.2% of UK energy consumption was met by renewables, up from 3.8% in 2011. Our latest estimates suggest that the UK is currently on course to meet our next interim renewable target of 5.4% for 2013/2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of export of refuse-derived fuel and solid recovered fuel for use in energy from waste plants overseas on the availability of such fuel for similar plants in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson

We published a call for evidence on the refuse-derived fuel market in England on 12 March. This included a request for evidence on the effect that exports of refuse-derived fuel had on its availability on the domestic market. The call for evidence closed on 9 May. We are currently analysing the evidence submitted, which will aid our understanding of the situation, help us to determine whether there is a need for some form of intervention and, if so, help us to develop policy options.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers who enlisted in the Army aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and above dropped out before completing phase two training in the last 10 financial years.

Mr Mark Francois

‘Enlistment’ has been interpreted as those who joined the untrained strength, for example those that begin Phase 1 training. Totals for the period between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2014 are shown below:

Age on Entry	Untrained Strength
	Intake Outflow
Under 18	35,190 12,300
18 and over	64,950 17,250
Unknown	430 430
Total	100,570 29,980

Source: Defence Statistics (Army).

Personnel may leave the Army for a number of reasons, including medical and fitness factors, disciplinary reasons, or voluntary withdrawal. Those who join-up under 18 years of age have a statutory right to discharge from the Armed Forces within six months if they feel they are unsuited to service life.

The figures in the table exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves.

Where an individual’s entry date is blank on the records, the age on entry has not been able to be calculated and is shown as ‘unknown’.

Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in ‘5′ have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not be the sum of their parts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 809W, on Army: length of service, on how many soldiers in each regiment or corps the figures are based.

Anna Soubry

The average strength by Regiment or Corps is shown in the following table.



Regiment/Corps Regiment/Corps Average Strength

Household Cavalry & Royal Armoured Corps 1,860

Royal Artillery 2,210

Royal Engineers 2,830

Royal Signals 1,830

Infantry 8,700

Army Air Corps 370

Royal Logistic Corps 4,560

Royal Army Medical Corps 560

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 2,670

Adjutant General’s Corps (Provost) 400

Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support) 870

Royal Army Veterinary Corps 80

Small Arms School Corps 20

Royal Army Dental Corps 60

Intelligence Corps 240

Royal Army Physical Training Corps 110

Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps 140

Corps of Army Music 180

Senior Soldier Continuity Posts (Long Service) 140

Source: Defence Statistics (Army)

Notes/Caveats:

The figures are based on the outflow of Army personnel between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2013.

Underlying outflow figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.