Tag: Lord Moonie

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-04-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many male and female enlistments in the armed forces there were in the past year.

Earl Howe

In the 12 months to 30 September 2015, 12,250 males and 1,330 females joined the UK Regular Armed Forces. In the same period, 380 males and 30 females aged under 18 years left the UK Regular Armed Forces.

A full breakdown of these figures can be found in, respectively, tables six and 11 of our Biannual Diversity Statistics publication (the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) at the following address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2015

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will release details of each weapons release over Syria so that they can be correlated against any reports of civilian casualties.

Earl Howe

As at 18 December 2015, the UK had released 21 weapons against targets in Syria since the vote on airstrikes. There have been no reports of civilian casualties as a result.

The weapons have all been Paveway IV guided bombs from RAF Tornado GR4 and Typhoon aircraft. The UK released six Paveway IV on 2 December, one on 3 December, eight on 4 December and six on 6 December. These have all been against targets in the Daesh-controlled Omar oilfield in eastern Syria.

We will not release the exact location and timing of each strike as this could compromise our operational capabilities. All UK airstrikes are conducted in accordance with Rules of Engagement and International Humanitarian Law. Targets are selected with the utmost care; the risks of collateral damage or civilian casualties are assessed and mitigated based on intelligence and the use of precision guided weapons.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-04-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many males and females left the armed forces in the last year before reaching the age of 18.

Earl Howe

In the 12 months to 30 September 2015, 12,250 males and 1,330 females joined the UK Regular Armed Forces. In the same period, 380 males and 30 females aged under 18 years left the UK Regular Armed Forces.

A full breakdown of these figures can be found in, respectively, tables six and 11 of our Biannual Diversity Statistics publication (the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) at the following address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2015

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-01-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of HM Armed Forces are currently serving in Afghanistan; how many are female, and what roles they are fulfilling.

Earl Howe

As of 18 January 2016, there were 458 members of HM Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan under Operation TORAL. Routine movements and minor changes in requirements mean that this number will vary over time. The UK’s commitment to Operation TORAL nevertheless remains in line with the figure of around 450 personnel announced by the Defence Secretary in his statement of 27 October 2015 ( Ref: UK Military Support to Afghanistan:Written statement – HCWS273).

Out of the 458 personnel, 33 are female. There are 10 UK female officers and 23 other ranks. These personnel undertake a wide range of roles including: medical, force protection, mentors, police, logistics, communications, human resources and administration, and engineering and technical support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-04-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of the armed forces left or were discharged in the last year on mental health grounds.

Earl Howe

In the 12 months to 31 March 2015, 359 UK Regular Armed Forces personnel were medically discharged with a principal cause of Mental and Behavioural Disorders.

Comprehensive statistical information on medical discharges among UK Regular Armed Forces personnel is published on an annual basis. The latest report, covering medical discharges during the five Financial Years 2010-11 to 2014-15 can be found at the following address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-discharges-among-uk-service-personnel-statistics-index

Information covering Financial Year 2015-16 is scheduled for publication on 14 July 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-01-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Hellfire missiles were fired (1) in training, and (2) on operations, in each year from 2008 to 2015, and what platforms they were mounted on.

Earl Howe

Hellfire missiles are used by RAF Reaper Remotely Piloted Air Systems and Army Air Corps Apache helicopters.

For the Reaper Force, the Air Vehicles have been continuously deployed on Operations over the requested timescale. Consequently, there have been no missile rounds fired in Training from RAF Reaper. The following table details Hellfire missile firings from RAF Reaper on Operations in Afghanistan
(2008-14) Iraq (2014-15) and Syria (2015).

Year (Jan-Dec)	UK Reaper Hellfire rounds fired on Operations
2008	16
2009	32
2010	58
2011	100
2012	104
2013	94
2014	93
2015	258

For the Apache Force the following table details Hellfire missile rounds fired by Financial Year from Apache Helicopters in Training.

Year (Jan-Dec)	UK Apache Hellfire consumption in Training
Apr 07 – Mar 08	14
Apr 08 – Mar 09	18
Apr 09 – Mar 10	32
Apr 10 – Apr 11	48
Apr 11 – Mar 12	26
Apr 12 – Mar 13	37
Apr 13 – Mar 14	16
Apr 14 – Mar 15	29

The Apache Force have fired a total 1578 Hellfire missiles on Operations in Afghanistan (FY 07-08 to 14-15) and Libya (FY11-12). However, the nature of the records held means that this total number cannot be accurately broken down by Financial Year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-06-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the Watchkeeper Programme to achieve Initial Operating Capability 2, previously expected to be achieved by April, and when they now expect Equipment Support Systems to be released to service.

Earl Howe

It is expected that the Watchkeeper programme will declare Initial Operating Capability 2 standard by July 2016. An initial set of release to service recommendations for the Watchkeeper system at Equipment Standard 2 should be provided by March 2017. This will provide sufficient clearance for the Army to fly the Watchkeeper system in that configuration and support delivery of Full Operating Capability by the target date of April 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-01-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK civil servants are seconded to the European Commission.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

There are a total of 156 UK secondees working across the EU institutions, as either Seconded National Experts or National Experts in Professional Training. 127 of them are currently working in the European Commission.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consular offices remain in Italy at which UK citizens can renew their passports, and what plans they have for those that still provide this service.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

British nationals cannot renew full validity passports at consular offices in Italy. Passport applications are made online and documentation is sent to Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the UK. British nationals can get an Emergency Travel Document at the British Embassy in Rome or at the British Consulate General in Milan when they have an urgent need to travel and meet the necessary criteria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers have sufficient network bandwidth capabilities to make full use of the situational awareness and tactics which the F-35 can offer the Royal Navy; and what plans they have to enhance that use.

Earl Howe

The current network bandwidth installed on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is sufficient to carry out the endorsed scope of carrier strike operations. As with all programmes, requirements and opportunities are kept under constant review and amended where necessary.