Tag: Kirsten Oswald

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-06-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered purchasing the AeroVironment Blackwing miniature tube-launched drone.

Mr Philip Dunne

Representatives of the Department meet AeroVironment representatives on a regular basis to discuss current and potential future capabilities, and the Department is aware of the capabilities of the Blackwing Reconnaissance System. However, the Department has no capability requirement to procure an underwater launched Unmanned Aerial System at this stage, and, as such, there have not been any formal discussions with AeroVironment on a possible procurement of Blackwing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing domestic Remotely Piloted Aircraft System pilot training capability.

Mike Penning

The Armed Forces continually assesses aircrew training requirements and the efficacy of its training capability to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Specialist flying training for RAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) pilots who are not previously qualified and experienced military pilots starts with a bespoke version of Elementary Flying Training on the Tutor aircraft. All pilots then conduct MQ-9 Reaper-specific conversion training and qualifications in the USA. Once this training is completed pilots in the RPAS Pilot branch are awarded their wings. MQ-9 Reaper conversion training is currently conducted at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and Creech Air Force Base, Nevada using a mix of US and UK facilities and instructors.

Watchkeeper training is conducted in both the UK mainland and at the British base on the British Overseas Territory of Ascension Island. All basic manned flying training, theory training and simulator training is conducted in mainland UK, students then deploy to Ascension Island for the live flying elements of their course.

Desert Hawk 3 training is conducted in both the UK and USA. All theory training is conducted in the UK but some live flying is conducted in Camp Roberts California.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-09-02.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many widowed parents and bereaved cohabiting parents will be financially worse off as a result of the planned changes to the widowed parent’s allowance.

Mr David Gauke

The new Bereavement Support Payment will be introduced from April 2017 for new claimants only. Existing claimants of Widowed Parent’s Allowance and Bereavement Allowance will remain on those benefits for the lifetime of their awards, so there will be no impact on them or their families.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-11-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress there has been in holding to account directors responsible for promoting, managing and supervising Connaught Asset Management.

Harriett Baldwin

This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government.

These questions have been passed on to the FCA. They will reply directly to the Honorable Member Kirsten Oswald by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-12-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of and outcomes achieved by (a) Connaught Fund investors and (b) other investors who have sought payment from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme when their independent financial adviser has declared a default on an award of compensation by the Financial Ombudsman’s Service; and if he will publish that assessment.

Harriett Baldwin

Her Majesty’s Treasury does not keep records of cases of investors who have sought compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The Honourable Member should contact the Financial Services Compensation Scheme directly with inquiries relating to compensation claims.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff vacancies there are at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the level of those vacancies on (a) staff workloads, (b) staff morale and (c) relations between staff and management.

Andrew Jones

The planned target for staff numbers, published in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency business plan, is no more than 4470 full time equivalent (FTE) staff by 31 March 2016. The DVSA FTE as at 30 November was 4,396.59 with a difference of 73.41 FTE (vacant posts).

DVSA is aware that the level of change ongoing within the agency may have impacted on staff, their workloads and their relationships with management.

A) The select use of temporary promotion and contingent labour has mitigated most of the impact on the workload of staff.

B) While the results of the recent Civil Service staff engagement survey has shown that staff morale is lower than in previous years, this cannot clearly be linked to the level of vacancies. DVSA has been through a period of significant change which Senior Management believe is more likely to have had an impact on morale. A number of initiatives are being put in place to address levels of staff engagement and morale.

C) The Civil Service staff engagement survey did show that relations between managers and staff at the local level were good. However, staff were less content with managers at senior levels who were more likely to be associated with issues of concern to many staff, such as the merger, restructuring and modernised terms and conditions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-02-29.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what issues were discussed at the meeting that took place between Ministers of his Department and representatives of the Financial Conduct Authority on 5 August 2015; and who the attendees were at that meeting.

Harriett Baldwin

Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Financial Conduct Authority to discuss relevant regulatory issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost is of closing the Green Deal Finance Company in (a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

Andrea Leadsom

DECC has made no payments to consultants in establishing the Green Deal Finance Company, but in other costs payments of £10,294.26 in legal support were made in 2014/15.

The Green Deal Finance Company has not been closed. It is not currently issuing new loans, but continues to collect repayments from its existing loan book. In July 2015, DECC took the decision that the case for further investment was not strong enough in terms of value for money. This decision has no impact on existing Green Deal Finance Plans or existing Green Deal Home Improvement Fund applications and vouchers.

The Green Deal Finance Company is a private company and has its own internal costs which are not included in this estimate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the findings of the Annual Report 2015 of the Service Complaints Ombudsmen for the Armed Forces, what steps he is taking to raise awareness of the Service Complaints Commissioner among junior members of the armed forces.

Mark Lancaster

The Service Complaints Ombudsman’s annual report for 2015 was published on 25 April 2016. Whilst there are no recommendations in this year’s report, given the introduction of a reformed complaints system and a fundamentally new Ombudsman role, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is curently considering the report in detail to see what lessons there are for the complaints process or wider policies.

The aim of the reforms introduced on 1 January 2016 is to address long-standing concerns raised by the Service Complaints Commissioner that confidence in the system has been affected by complexity which has led to delay and by a lack of strong independent and effective oversight. Such a lack of confidence can in turn leave our personnel reluctant to raise issues and so have them resolved. The new process is streamlined, and Service personnel will now be able to approach the new Service Complaints Ombudsman if they are dissatisfied, which will make a real difference for individuals. The Ombudsman has significant new powers to hold the MOD to account for fair, effective and efficient complaints handllng. The Ombudsman comments in her report that she is hopeful that the new system will make a real impact on confidence levels. The MOD shares that view, and looks forward to the Ombudsman’s 2016 report for her assessment of whether the aims are being achieved.

It is important that all Service personnel know where to get information about how to make a service complaint, as well as about the role of the new Service Complaints Ombudsman and how to contact her. We will take further steps to communicate as widely as possible through appropriate channels the role of the new Ombudsman, particularly to junior personnel, which will supplement and support the visits undertaken and communication material produced by the Ombudsman.

Bullying, harassment and discrimination are not tolerated in the Armed Forces. Tackling such behaviour depends on our Service personnel having confidence that the complaints system will deal with their concerns appropriately and will treat them fairly. The Service Complaints Ombudsman will hold the MOD to account for how it handles complaints and how it treats its Service personnel under the complaints process. It is by raising complaints and approaching the Ombudsman if they are dissatisfied that complainants can ensure that the MOD is openly held to account. It is also through the Ombudsman’s recommendations that the MOD can identify where action needs to be taken to improve.

The finding by the Service Complaints Ombudsman that proportionately more women feel moved to make a Service complaint than their male colleagues is a concern. The Ombudsman goes on to commend the work that is being done by the Army in particular, where the issue is the most acute, to tackle this. The initiatives that she sets out in the report are continuing.

It is the responsibility of all those involved in the service complaints process to ensure complaints are handled effectively and efficiently. All complaints are to be dealt with promptly but fairly, regardless of the complainant’s rank or whether they are still serving. There have been no discussions with the Chief of the Defence Staff on the issues raised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many medical staff assisting armed forces personnel with stress and other mental health issues are authorised to deal with personnel at each level of security clearance.

Mark Lancaster

All Ministry of Defence mental health staff have security clearance sufficient to enable them to provide appropriate mental healthcare to any member of the armed forces who requires it. If it were ever assessed that the attendance was required of medical personnel with a specific level of security clearance, arrangements would be made to provide this.