Tag: Lord Touhig

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.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-07-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed 30 per cent reduction in Ministry of Defence civilian staff as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment they have made of the impact of that reduction on the formulation and delivery of policy.

Earl Howe

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to meeting its obligations set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, including the aim to reduce our civilian workforce by 30 per cent. The Chief of Defence People has been appointed Senior Responsible Owner, and work is in hand within the single Services, Joint Forces Command, and other organisations within the MOD to develop detailed plans. As we develop these plans we will continually assess their impact to ensure that the Department continues to have the skills and capabilities required to deliver our Defence outputs, including policy development and management of major programmes.

The Government will respond in due course to the report by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-01-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review their policy of not offering British passports to former members of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps and the Hong Kong Royal Naval Service.

Lord Bates

We have agreed to undertake a thorough assessment of the request that this group are offered right of abode in the United Kingdom, based on their employment in Hong Kong. This is under consideration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2016-07-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed 30 per cent reduction in Ministry of Defence civilian staff as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment they have made of the ability of the Ministry of Defence to deliver major programmes.

Earl Howe

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to meeting its obligations set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, including the aim to reduce our civilian workforce by 30 per cent. The Chief of Defence People has been appointed Senior Responsible Owner, and work is in hand within the single Services, Joint Forces Command, and other organisations within the MOD to develop detailed plans. As we develop these plans we will continually assess their impact to ensure that the Department continues to have the skills and capabilities required to deliver our Defence outputs, including policy development and management of major programmes.

The Government will respond in due course to the report by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.