Tag: Maria Eagle

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-05-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 50 of the White Paper, A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction, published in May 2016, if he will publish details of the public appointments process for the chair, deputy chair and non-executive members from the four nations of the UK for the new BBC unitary board.

Mr Edward Vaizey

As a result of the proposals set out in the White Paper the BBC, for the first time, will be responsible for appointing at least half of its own board members. This approach will enhance the independence of the BBC and its Board. For the public appointments to the new Unitary Board, these will be made in line with OCPA processes. With particular reference to the appointment of the four national representatives the Government’s intention is to follow the existing protocol of involving each of the devolved administrations in the process for the relevant representative.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost per unit of each Boeing P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Mr Philip Dunne

We are unable to release this information publicly while commercial negotiations are continuing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of his Department’s receipts from land sales in each year until 2020.

Mark Lancaster

As stated in the Spending Review 2015 the Ministry of Defence expects to dispose of sites generating £1 billion of receipts in the financial years 2016-17 to 2020-21.

The Department does not disclose annual breakdowns due to the potential for prejudice to its commercial interests.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department plans to spend on new precision weapons systems in each year from 2015 to 2020.

Mr Philip Dunne

Over the next five years, the Department plans to spend around £6.5 billion on the procurement, support and testing of sophisticated weapons systems.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for the first of the Successor submarines to enter service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

As stated in paragraph 4.76 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 15 (Cm9161), we expect the first Successor submarine to enter service in the early 2030s.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what timetable he has set for phasing out the commitment bonus for members of the armed forces.

Mark Lancaster

Commitment Bonuses are being phased out over the next five years as there is insufficient evidence they significantly influence retention in the Armed Forces.

In Financial Year 2014-15 approximately 14,000 Service personnel claimed a Commitment Bonus payment. Eligibility for Commitment Bonuses ceases with effect from 1April 2021, providing eligible Other Ranks with the opportunity to claim any payments they might have already included in their financial plans.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to change the payment of annual increments to military staff between 2015-16 and 2020-21.

Penny Mordaunt

This Government has no plans to remove incremental pay or annual pay increases for serving members of the Armed Forces.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on the veterans’ accommodation fund in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster

The £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund was open for applications in 2014 using LIBOR money to support projects providing veterans accommodation. Successful projects were announced between July 2014 and July 2015, with a total of 16 projects supported. For details of the funding allocated to the successful projects I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 2 June 2015 and 23 November 2015 to the hon. Member for St. Helens North (Mr McGinn) to Questions 428 and 16834.

In addition, the Chancellor announced in March 2015 a new £25 million Aged Veterans Fund staged over five years; this is also provided from LIBOR fines and charities can apply for funding to help veterans born before 1950. The Aged Veterans Fund is now closed for applications, but it will reopen in 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-12-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many bids his Department received under its proposal to make the Defence Infrastructure Organisation government-owned contractor-operated.

Mark Lancaster

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has been led by a Strategic Business Partner (SBP) since September 2014. The SBP contract allowed for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to instruct the incorporation of DIO as a Government-owned company (GovCo), subject to a value for money review.

I announced the conclusions of the review in my written statement of 10 December 2015 (Official Report, columns 55-56WS). The GovCo model would have been led by the SBP but 100% owned by the Secretary of State for Defence. A GovCo is distinct from a Government-owned contractor-operated organisation (GOCO) which has a different legal construct. The MOD has never proposed for the DIO to become a GOCO.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his Department’s planned expenditure on the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit is for (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2018-19 and (d) 2019-20.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Intellectual Property Office has committed to provision of £1.5m funding for the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in 2016-17. Funding beyond that period is still to be determined.