The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 33 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, how many posts he plans to lose in each section of his Department.
Mark Lancaster
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 30 November 2015 to Questions 17752, 17733 and 17735.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons it is proposed to retire HMS Ocean in 2018; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Philip Dunne
When HMS OCEAN entered service in 1998 she had a specified service life, based on her build specification, of 20 years.
The decision to retire HMS Ocean is consistent with the intent expressed in paragraph 2.A.5 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010. As part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 the Royal Navy will retain two landing Platform Dock vessels in the fleet.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Joint Security Fund; and how much his Department may draw from that fund in each year from 2015 to 2020.
Michael Fallon
It has been agreed with Her Majesty’s Treasury that the Ministry of Defence will be able to draw down £2.1 billion from the Joint Security Fund over the remainder of this Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how he plans to reinvest the savings achieved by phasing out the commitment bonus for members of the armed forces in the armed forces.
Mark Lancaster
The savings generated by the decision to phase out commitment bonuses for the Armed Forces form part of the overall Ministry of Defence efficiency package for this Parliament.
As detailed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (Cm 9161), efficiency savings will enable investment in a broad range of high-priority capabilities such as counter-terrorism and military surveillance to help protect the UK and our interests abroad, the procurement of a fleet of maritime patrol aircraft to increase further the protection of our nuclear deterrent and our new aircraft carriers, and funding to ensure our Armed Forces continue to be provided with the equipment they need and force protection when they are deployed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department’s planned savings in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, what plans he has to reduce the number of civilian staff in his Department.
Mark Lancaster
The civilian staff reductions announced as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review will be managed in a number of different ways. In the short term, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to make further savings and adjustments in this current financial year as part of the Government’s commitment to reducing the deficit. This is still on-going and may mean restrictions on recruitment.
Over the longer term, a number of change programmes already under way across the Department are reducing our civilian workforce. These programmes will continue, and individuals are already aware if they are affected. We will also drive forward programmes to consider better ways of delivering services, and explore opportunities to deliver outputs in more efficient or innovative ways.
We are confident these programmes will deliver the required reductions to meet the efficiency and reform savings announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many early service leavers received the basic settlement package in each year since 2010.
Mark Lancaster
We do not recognise the term basic settlement package, but have interpreted this as meaning the Early Service Leaver provision prior to October 2013. Data is not held as there was no requirement to collate this information prior to October 2013. However all Early Service Leavers prior to October 2013 were entitled to unit level support as part of standard Ministry of Defence policy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what programmes he plans to fund from the Joint Security Fund; and how much each such programme will receive in each year up to 2020.
Michael Fallon
Decisions on programmes to be funded in part or in whole from the Joint Security Fund will be finalised on receipt of the Chancellor’s formal Spending Review settlement for Departments expected shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent (a) in real terms and (b) as a share of departmental spending on (i) temporary agency staff, (ii) consultants, (iii) non-payroll staff, (iv) administration and (v) marketing and advertising for (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12, (C) 2012-13 and (D) 2014-15.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Figures on DCMS spend on temporary agency staff, consultants, administration for 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2014-15 can be found in the relevant DCMS Annual Reports and Accounts, which can be found here:
2010-11: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-annual-report-and-accounts-2010-11
2011-12: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-annual-report-and-accounts-2011-12
2012-13: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-14
2014-15: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-15
No separate analysis is available for non-payroll staff.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he will implement section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 on awards of costs; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Vaizey
As the Secretary of State said on his speech to the Society of Editors on 19th October 2015, "I am not convinced the time is right for the introduction of these costs provisions. Given the changes under way within the industry, the introduction of the new exemplary damages provisions, and the pressures on the industry, I question whether this additional step, now, will be positive and will lead to the changes I want to see". The Government is continuing to consider the matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-03-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 91 of the Budget 2016, what steps he is taking to respond to planned changes to his Resource DEL in 2019-20.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Budget sets out that the government will find a further £3.5 billion of savings from public spending in 2019-20, building on the plans set out at Spending Review 2015. To inform future spending decisions and the delivery of these savings, the government is launching an efficiency review. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, with the support of the Paymaster General, will lead this efficiency review, which will report in 2018. The Department for Culture Media and Sport will actively support this review.