Tag: Lord Touhig

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-03-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of the length of the current UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) contract, and how the length of that contract compares to previous contracts for the UKMFTS.

Earl Howe

The current UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) contract with Ascent Flight Training began in 2008 and will run for 25 years. Contract duration was a key user requirement and was endorsed prior to contract signature. Previous provision of military flying training was delivered through an array of contracts with multiple providers and varying lengths. As such, these contracts cannot be directly compared to the single tri-service training system partner model employed by UKMFTS.

The Ministry of Defence has not received any representations regarding the duration of the overarching UKMFTS contract.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-03-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received regarding the UK Military Flying Training System contract, in particular regarding the length of that contract.

Earl Howe

The current UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) contract with Ascent Flight Training began in 2008 and will run for 25 years. Contract duration was a key user requirement and was endorsed prior to contract signature. Previous provision of military flying training was delivered through an array of contracts with multiple providers and varying lengths. As such, these contracts cannot be directly compared to the single tri-service training system partner model employed by UKMFTS.

The Ministry of Defence has not received any representations regarding the duration of the overarching UKMFTS contract.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-03-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many service personnel they estimate will be trained under the UK Military Flying Training System contract, and how that number compares to previous programmes.

Earl Howe

The current contracted requirement is for 180 pilots and 110 rear crew to be trained as new entrants under the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS).

The UKMFTS solution has been designed to meet the training requirement agreed across all front line commands. This is the same process as employed for historic provision of military flying training, where the requirement has fluctuated over time. Pre-SDSR 2010, the new entrant training requirement was for 280 pilots and 170 rear crew.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2015-11-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of morale in the Defence Medical Services.

Earl Howe

The Defence Medical Services (DMS) Continuous Attitude Survey (CAS) was completed in June 2015 and contained specific questions about morale.

The survey included a question to personnel asking "What is the level of morale like where you work?" 35% of respondents reported that the level of morale is either ‘high’ or ‘very high’ with 34% reporting it as ‘neutral’.

The results of the CAS have been considered by the Surgeon General and DMS Board.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-04-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the annual operating cost of the Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College.

Earl Howe

The annual operating cost for the Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College for academic year 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016 is £14,532,603.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2015-11-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase staff retention in the Defence Medical Services.

Earl Howe

The Defence Medical Services (DMS) takes very seriously the issue of retention and ensures the views expressed by personnel in exit interviews, conducted when they leave the Service, inform policy in this area.

There are no Financial Retention Incentives for personnel within the DMS as a whole. However, the Royal Navy has introduced Financial Retention Incentives for Submariner Medical Assistants based on their Return of Service. In addition, Medical and Dental Officers, Nurses (Officers and Other Ranks) and Veterinary Officers have bespoke pay spines which are seen as retention positive. Specialist Nurses are also able to claim Recruitment and Retention Pay.

There are a number of non-remunerative incentives for DMS personnel and these include access to funded Continuing Professional Development courses; career opportunities outside the main clinical roles and responsibilities; inter trade transfers (predominantly from Combat Medical Technicians and Medical Assistants into an Allied Health Professional trade or Nursing) and the availability of post graduate training.

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the regular army annual recruitment target for each year from 2015–16 to 2020–21.

Earl Howe

The Army’s annual recruitment targets for regulars for each year from 2015 to 2021 are as follows:

*These figures do not include the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2015-11-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the relocation of families on staff retention in the Defence Medical Services.

Earl Howe

Based on the results of exit interviews, conducted when an individual leaves the Service, the majority of medical officers who choose to leave are citing stability as a reason.

The Surgeon General is aware of the reasons why medical officers are choosing to leave and is working with the heads of the single Service medical branches to address this.

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of recruits enlisting under the age of 18 in the past five years had at least one parent who was serving or had served in the armed forces.

Earl Howe

The information is not held in the format requested. Questions regarding details of parental and family links with the Armed Forces are not a mandatory part of the recruiting process and this information is not captured or collated centrally by each Service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2015-11-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any plans to increase the number of military doctors working less than full-time.

Earl Howe

While there are currently no plans to increase the numbers of military doctors, there are plans to provide a limited number of already serving regular medical officers the opportunity to be employed at reduced levels of obligation, for a number of days worked per year for a bounded period of time.

Applicants will shortly be invited to participate in this Flexible Duties Employment Trial, which is due to commence in early 2016.