Tag: Brendan O’Hara

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many additional Ministry of Defence Police Officers will be required to operate at full capacity in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20 as a consequence of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Mark Lancaster

As part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review we are reviewing a series of options that are expected to change the way we provide our policing and guarding at some sites. Work is under way to assess the feasibility and implication of these options. Estimates of numbers of total Ministry of Defence Police officers were provided in my answer to Question 18989 from the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Kevan Jones MP) on 10 December 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the country of (a) origin and (b) destination was of each flight in a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter carrying or transporting Defence Nuclear Materials in the last five years.

Penny Mordaunt

In the last five years, 23 flights carrying Defence Nuclear Materials (DNM) were undertaken. All flights were between the UK and the United States on fixed wing aircraft under the control of UK Armed Forces. No such flights passed over Scotland, or involved the use of helicopters.

I am withholding details of the physical state, mass and radiological quantity of DNM transported as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice national security.

The transport of DNM is carried out to the highest standard in accordance with stringent safety regulations. In over 50 years of transporting DNM in the UK, there has never been an incident that has posed any radiation hazard to the public or to the environment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much (a) government and (b) industry funding the UK Defence Solutions Centre received in the financial year 2015-16; and how much such funding is projected for 2016-17.

Jesse Norman

The Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) is an industry led group, established jointly by industry and government to deliver export-led growth within the Defence sector. It does not receive any public funding. Since 2014, it has enabled joint industry and government resource equivalent to £50 million over three years to achieve its agenda: £30 million for strengthening the UK Defence & Security Organisation and establishing the UK Defence Solutions Centre (UKDSC). The remaining £20 million is currently delivered through a number of initiatives supporting the DGP’s growth agenda: establishment of the Centre of Maritime Intelligent Systems (CMIS); Dual Use Technology Exploitation (DUTE) cluster and the MOD Innovation Challenge fund.

Government and industry have committed through a mix of cash and resource equivalent to £3.8m in 2015-16 to the UKDSC and a similar figure is predicted for 2016-17. As of 1 April 2016, there were 4 staff directly employed by the UKDSC and 28 secondees from across the 16 DGP Partner Companies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the UK is supporting the Iraqi government in its preparations to restore inclusive governance in Mosul after that city is removed from the control of IS.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are supporting the Iraqi government in its efforts to unite Mosul’s communities against Daesh and extremism, rebuild public trust in the Iraqi state and deliver the services and opportunities which all Maslawis want and deserve. Our goal is to liberate Mosul, in a way that protects civilians, minimises the humanitarian impact, and limits longer-term conflict by supporting political reconciliation.

The UK has pledged £9.25m to the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation, which is supporting the Iraqi government to stabilise areas recently liberated from Daesh and has so far helped 775,000 people return to their homes by re-establishing security, basic services and inclusive local governance. The Development Secretary announced a further £40 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq at the UN General Assembly on 21 September, specifically to support the response to Mosul.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to address the shortfall in personnel numbers within the Ministry of Defence Police; and when his Department plans to take such steps.

Mark Lancaster

The Ministry of Defence Police commenced a recruitment programme to bring new officers into the Force in late 2013. The Force is currently planning to recruit around 200 new officers during financial year 2016-17.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) commercial and (b) other economic benefits of the expansion of HMNB Clyde to the surrounding towns and communities.

Mr Philip Dunne

It is Ministry of Defence policy not to provide a breakdown by geographical or economic area of the potential commercial and economic benefits of Government expenditure. By 2020 Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde will become home to all the Royal Navy’s submarines. This will create a single integrated submarine operating base at HMNB Clyde with 8,200 personnel employed there by 2022. This will generate substantial local economic activity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff worked for the Defence and Security Organisation on 1 April 2016; and what the budget for that organisation is for 2016-17.

Dr Liam Fox

At 1 April 2016 the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation had 122 staff-in-post, with a 2016-17 budget of £9.73M NET.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps are being taken to attend to Iraqi civilians expected to be displaced as a result of a planned offensive on Mosul, Iraq.

Rory Stewart

On 21 September, the UK announced an extra £40 million of humanitarian funding to Iraq, taking our total commitment to £90 million this financial year and £169.5 million since June 2014. This new assistance will be targeted specifically to enable a scale up of humanitarian assistance ahead of the Government of Iraq-led Mosul operations. It will provide emergency life-saving assistance – such as food, shelter, medical and protection services – to civilians affected by Mosul operations, as well as continued support to displaced and vulnerable people across the country.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what definition his Department use of the term exigency of duty.

Mark Lancaster

The Ministry of Defence Police policy on overtime working states that:

"Exigencies of Duty should be interpreted as relating to situations where there is an unavoidable operational need, which necessitates a change of rostered duties".

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to accommodate the Blind Veterans Association based at the Braeholm Centre in Helensburgh when that facility closes in June 2016.

Mark Lancaster

The Braeholm facility in Helensburgh is not located in a Ministry of Defence establishment and its closure is a matter for the charity that runs the facility.

The Naval Service does recognise the support the facility has given to Service personnel and is in contact with the charity trustees to assess which of the services need to be replaced, how this will be achieved and what other future support is required, to improving the quality of life for naval personnel and their families.