Tag: Maria Eagle

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time staff are based in the Kabul Intimidation Investigation Unit; and what the roles of those staff are.

Penny Mordaunt

The Intimidation Investigation Unit (IIU), based in Kabul, has six full time, in-theatre staff:

A Ministry of Defence (MOD) civil servant leads the team as the Scheme Manager, overseeing the investigation of intimidation cases, presenting cases at decision panels, and managing any policy issues which arise.

Another MOD civil servant, employed as the Policy and Secretariat Officer, manages the overall caseload appropriately and ensures that case records are maintained.

Two appropriately trained and experienced police officers, seconded from Home Office constabularies, are employed to conduct the investigations into intimidation claims. Their tasks include conducting interviews and assessing evidence.

Two British military interpreters, fluent in Pashtun and Dari, who provide support to interviews and translate documents that have been provided as evidence.

Though not members of the IIU staff, the IIU receives additional in-theatre support from a Danish legal adviser, and from staff within the Labour Support Unit.

The work of the IIU in-theatre is overseen by the Operation TORAL Civil Secretary, who dedicates the majority of their time to chairing the in-theatre decision panels and provides guidance should cases or issues need to be escalated.

Additional support is provided from the UK by a full-time policy officer based at Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), and by senior managers within PJHQ who oversee the whole of Operation TORAL.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons retired and out-of-date equipment, including FH70 howitzers and Jet Provost aircraft, were included in his Department’s Defence in Numbers publication of August 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Defence in Numbers booklet is a snap shot of the UK’s Defence capability and how we are spending the fifth largest Defence budget in the world. As well as giving details on civilian and personnel numbers and current operations, it also includes a list of the Ministry of Defence’s equipment holdings, the vast majority of which are in service and deployable or used for training (for example Jet Provost) or ceremonial (for example FH70 howitzers) purposes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to maximise the role that UK suppliers can play in the development of the Type 26 programme.

Mr Philip Dunne

In February 2015 the Government signed a £859 million Demonstration Phase contract for the Type 26 (T26) Global Combat Ship. Around 1,700 jobs in the UK will be sustained as a result with 600 of those jobs safeguarded in Scotland where T26 will be built.

The majority of sub-contractors to the T26 Global Combat Ship programme are selected by BAES through competition.

The use of competition remains the cornerstone of defence procurement and this approach has been successful in driving efficiency into the UK defence industry. UK suppliers have had an equal opportunity to bid for work on the T26 programme with selections based on cost and the ability of suppliers to meet the schedule and performance requirements.

To date BAES has placed eight design development agreements (DDAs) and six design and manufacture contracts with UK based companies. These are shown in the table below:

Design Development Agreements – UK based companies only

Company	Equipment supplying	Location
Cathelco	Hull preservation	Chesterfield
L3	Platform management system	Bristol
Marine Systems Technology Ltd	Doors, scuttles and hatches, X-Y crane	Middlewich
Rolls Royce	Steering Gear System	Derby
Rolls Royce	Stabilisers	Dunfermline
Salt Separations Ltd	Reverse osmosis plant	Rochdale
TOD	Sonar dome	Weymouth
Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions	Fixed fire fighting system	Reading

Design & Manufacture Contracts – UK based companies only

Company	Equipment supplying	Location
Babcock	Air weapons handling system	Leicester
BAE Systems	Meteorological and oceanic (METOC) sensors UK	Dorchester
David Brown Gear Systems	Propulsion gearbox	Huddersfield
GE Energy	Electronic integration test facility, Propulsion motor and drive system	Warwickshire
Rohde and Schwarz UK Ltd	Communications	Fleet
Rolls Royce	Gas Turbines	Derby

We anticipate that more UK based sub-contracts will be appointed as the programme progresses.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how his Department defines surplus land; and what land held by his Department’s non-departmental public bodies can be so described.

Dan Rogerson

The Department defines surplus land as land surplus to its business requirements.

The attached table sets out land held by the Department’s Non-departmental public bodies that is surplus as at 23 June 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has undertaken of the effect of the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project on the incidence of bovine TB in cattle.

George Eustice

The purpose of the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project is to learn lessons about the practicalities of deploying an injectable vaccine; provide training for others who may wish to apply for a licence to vaccinate badgers; and build farmer confidence in the use of badger vaccination. It was not designed as a scientific trial to assess the impact of vaccination on bovine TB in cattle and the scale of the project is insufficient to produce statistically reliable data on this.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to expand the training provided by the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project.

George Eustice

We are working with our Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to consider training needs and how these can be met, building on lessons from the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project. Announcements on this will be made in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department (a) has funded or (b) plans to fund badger vaccination against bovine TB in this calendar year.

George Eustice

In April 2013, as part of the Government’s Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free Status for England, the Secretary of State announced new support for privately led vaccination initiatives in the Edge Area. Building on ongoing work with stakeholders, including a key workshop held on 24 June, a new scheme will be launched shortly and will offer financial and other support, such as training and advice. Announcements about the future of the existing Badger Vaccination Fund, which has been available since 2012 and has offered more limited support, will also be made in due course. The total funds offered will be dependent on demand.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much resource his Department plans to provide as matched funding for badger vacination to tackle bovine TB in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

George Eustice

In April 2013, as part of the Government’s Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free Status for England, the Secretary of State announced new support for privately led vaccination initiatives in the Edge Area. Building on ongoing work with stakeholders, including a key workshop held on 24 June, a new scheme will be launched shortly and will offer financial and other support, such as training and advice. Announcements about the future of the existing Badger Vaccination Fund, which has been available since 2012 and has offered more limited support, will also be made in due course. The total funds offered will be dependent on demand.