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Bramall, Lord
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My Lords, does the Minister accept that the Defence Medical Services are still grossly understrength in surgeons, anaesthetists and other specialists, have been suffering actual cuts in vital clinical training and professional development and are excessively reliant on the National Health Service and the Reserve Forces for the comprehensive handling of battle casualties? All this is happening at a time when any surge in the numbers in Afghanistan is likely to make even greater demands on them.
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the Defence Medical Services are still grossly understrength in surgeons, anaesthetists and other specialists, have been suffering actual cuts in vital clinical training and professional development and are excessively reliant on the National Health Service and the Reserve Forces for the comprehensive handling of battle casualties? All this is happening at a time when any surge in the numbers in Afghanistan is likely to make even greater demands on them.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 November 2009
My Lords, I do not accept that there is an excessive reliance on the National Health Service; rather, there is a complementary relationship, which is the whole idea behind having reserves. It is true that there are pinch points in terms of some of the skills that are needed. For example, we have had to enter into a contract in order to provide a neurosurgeon. Perhaps that should not be surprising, because it would be difficult to provide every level of expertise in a field hospital without some additional help. No cuts have been made in the Defence Medical Services. The pressures have arisen out of the difficulties of recruiting and retaining the skills that are necessary. Significant steps have been taken to improve remuneration and pensions. Retention rates are improving. We are seeing some benefits and improvements, which should be reassuring, although it is not the end of the problem.
Subjects
Staff; Defence Medical Services
Date
25 November 2009
Reference
715 c358
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, and for reading out and honouring before us the large number of fallen in this campaign. I associate myself with that, as many of them were from my own regiment. Does she agree that, if our Armed Forces are highly relevant to our strategy, it is vital that the public are kept fully informed of the continuing purpose of those military operations and the progress being made? Otherwise they—particularly the bereaved—will find it so much harder to come to terms with the very considerable casualty list, which of course does not include all those seriously wounded? Can the Minister also assure the House that in the immediate future the Government will really give this campaign their very best shot in terms of resources, aid, intelligence, co-ordinated direction and dynamic diplomacy, so that before too long there can be a chance to achieve that extra stability to enable us to hand over the bulk of security to indigenous forces? As a famous Chief of the General Staff in the First World War once said, "I’ve ’eard different".
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, and for reading out and honouring before us the large number of fallen in this campaign. I associate myself with that, as many of them were from my own regiment. Does she agree that, if our Armed Forces are highly relevant to our strategy, it is vital that the public are kept fully informed of the continuing purpose of those military operations and the progress being made? Otherwise they—particularly the bereaved—will find it so much harder to come to terms with the very considerable casualty list, which of course does not include all those seriously wounded? Can the Minister also assure the House that in the immediate future the Government will really give this campaign their very best shot in terms of resources, aid, intelligence, co-ordinated direction and dynamic diplomacy, so that before too long there can be a chance to achieve that extra stability to enable us to hand over the bulk of security to indigenous forces? As a famous Chief of the General Staff in the First World War once said, "I’ve ’eard different".
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 October 2009
My Lords, I indeed think that the list of names is a salutary reminder of the price being paid. As the noble and gallant Lord says, it is important that we should remind the public from time to time exactly why we are there, which is why I mentioned the United Nations resolution and the fact that 40 other countries are also involved in the campaign in Afghanistan. We are there for our own security, because Afghanistan was the heart and centre for those who sought to participate in and plan terrorism, which has affected this country and many others. It is right that we should be totally committed to that campaign. The number of people that we have there and the resources that we are spending show that we have a very significant commitment. The absolute objective must be to get to a situation in which Afghans themselves can take control of a country that can be free from terrorism and not a safe haven for those who seek to do us harm.
Subjects
Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
12 October 2009
Reference
713 c8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how Her Majesty’s Armed Forces are contributing to the overall strategy in Afghanistan; and what progress their military action is making to that end.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how Her Majesty’s Armed Forces are contributing to the overall strategy in Afghanistan; and what progress their military action is making to that end.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Baroness Taylor of Bolton
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
12 October 2009
Answered on
12 October 2009
My Lords, before turning to the Question, I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in offering sincere condolences to the families and friends of those killed in operations since the House last met: Guardsman Christopher King, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards; Bombardier Craig Hopson, 40th Regiment Royal Artillery; Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, 5th Regiment Royal Artillery; Trooper Phillip Lawrence, Light Dragoons; Craftsman Anthony Lombardi, The Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers; Private Kyle Adams, The Parachute Regiment; Lance Corporal Dale Thomas Hopkins, The Parachute Regiment; Corporal Kevin Mulligan, The Parachute Regiment; Private Jason George Williams, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment; Rifleman Daniel Wild, 2nd Battalion The Rifles; Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 40th Regiment Royal Artillery; Captain Mark Hale, 2nd Battalion The Rifles; Private Richard Hunt, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh; Sergeant Simon Valentine, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; Fusilier Louis Carter, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; Fusilier Simon Annis, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; Lance Corporal James Fullarton, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; Private Johnathon Young, 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment; Serjeant Paul McAleese, 2nd Battalion The Rifles; Fusilier Shaun Bush, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; Sergeant Lee "Andy" Houltram, of the Royal Marines; Private Kevin Elliott, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland; Sergeant Stuart "Gus" Millar, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland; Lance Corporal Richard Brandon, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; Private Gavin Elliott, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment; Corporal John Harrison, The Parachute Regiment; Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment; Trooper Brett Hall, 2nd Royal Tank Regiment; Acting Serjeant Stuart McGrath, 2nd Battalion The Rifles; Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment; Private James Prosser, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh; Acting Corporal Marcin Wojtak, 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment; Guardsman Jamie Janes, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards; Lance Corporal James Hill, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.
I am sure that the thoughts of all of us are with their families and friends and with all those serving in that conflict on our behalf.
Our Armed Forces in Afghanistan are operating under United Nations resolutions and with over 40 other nations in support of and alongside the Afghan national security forces against the insurgency as part of a wider international civil-military effort to help Afghanistan become an effective and accountable state. To this end, over the summer, British forces along with Afghan and ISAF allies undertook Operation Panther’s Claw, which extended governance into the Babiji area of central Helmand.
Subjects
Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan
Date
12 October 2009
Reference
713 c7-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I add my tribute to the soldiers who have lost their lives, many of them recently having been in my own regiment. Does the Minister not agree that what Parliament and the public expect of their military leaders is professional competence, honesty, integrity and a concern for their men? Would she not accept that, if a senior military officer is asked a straight question on a purely military matter, he is entitled to give—even publicly—a straight, honest, wholly professional answer that yes, in the current war situation, more of this or that is required if the overall aims are to be achieved and casualties restricted? If the press and sometimes politicians have contrived to make some of these things political rather than national, surely that should not inhibit the military leader doing his duty as he thinks fit.
My Lords, I add my tribute to the soldiers who have lost their lives, many of them recently having been in my own regiment. Does the Minister not agree that what Parliament and the public expect of their military leaders is professional competence, honesty, integrity and a concern for their men? Would she not accept that, if a senior military officer is asked a straight question on a purely military matter, he is entitled to give—even publicly—a straight, honest, wholly professional answer that yes, in the current war situation, more of this or that is required if the overall aims are to be achieved and casualties restricted? If the press and sometimes politicians have contrived to make some of these things political rather than national, surely that should not inhibit the military leader doing his duty as he thinks fit.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 July 2009
My Lords, the noble and gallant Lord is emphasising what General Dannatt said about overpoliticisation, misconstruction and being misinformed by the reporting in the press. General Dannatt was returning from a normal visit to operations and was reinforcing the priorities that we have heard from commanders on the ground—the priorities to which we are responding, as the Prime Minister pointed out in his Statement in April, when he emphasised the need to do more to counter the increasing threat of IEDs.
Subjects
Armed forces; Media
Date
21 July 2009
Reference
712 c1524-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 19 May (WA 295) on the report of the Congressionally-mandated United States Research Advisory Committee's Inquiry into Gulf War illnesses, whether they have now checked the accuracy of Lord Tunnicliffe's Statement on 27 April...
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 19 May (WA 295) on the report of the Congressionally-mandated United States Research Advisory Committee's Inquiry into Gulf War illnesses, whether they have now checked the accuracy of Lord Tunnicliffe's Statement on 27 April...
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Baroness Taylor of Bolton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 June 2009
Government answers on the US Research Advisory Committee report have been accurate and reflect what the US authorities have publicly stated. There is no requirement for an amendment taking into account the information that has currently been made available to the Government. We have not seen the letter dated 24 April referred to by Lord Morris during the Answer given by Lord Tunnicliffe on 27 April (Official Report, col. 8-10) but we have requested a copy. If the letter dated 24 April provides further information on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) review then we will take this into account. However, we do not believe that this will alter the position that the IOM is due to publish its findings in February 2010, having been asked to review the report and make recommendations. Further information on the IOM review, provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), can be found by accessing the US House Committee on Veterans Affairs website at http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?NewsID=394.
Subjects
Iraq-Kuwait conflict; Research; USA; Gulf War syndrome; US Institute of Medicine; Veterans
Date
18 June 2009
Reference
4180; 711 c226WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 27 April (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 9), whether and on what dates invitations to the symposium held in the House of Lords on 24 March on the Congressionally-mandated Research Advisory Committee's inquiry into Gulf War...
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 27 April (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 9), whether and on what dates invitations to the symposium held in the House of Lords on 24 March on the Congressionally-mandated Research Advisory Committee's inquiry into Gulf War...
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Baroness Taylor of Bolton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
20 May 2009
The Ministry of Defence was not represented at the symposium held in the House of Lords on 24 March. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans received an invitation three days before the event was due to take place but was already committed to another long-standing engagement overseas. My own private office did not receive an invitation.
Subjects
Attendance; House of Lords; Ministers; Gulf War syndrome; Conferences
Date
20 May 2009
Reference
3699; 710 c323WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answers by Lord Tunnicliffe on 27 April (Official Report, House of Lords, cols 8-10), whether his statement that the United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) was then reviewing the findings of the Congressionally-mandated US Research Advisory Committee's inquiry into Gulf War Illnesses...
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answers by Lord Tunnicliffe on 27 April (Official Report, House of Lords, cols 8-10), whether his statement that the United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) was then reviewing the findings of the Congressionally-mandated US Research Advisory Committee's inquiry into Gulf War Illnesses...
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Baroness Taylor of Bolton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 May 2009
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) issued a press release on 1 December 2008 which states: ""The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has sent the October 2008 report from the VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) for review and recommendations"."
At this time the MoD is not aware of any plans by the DVA to reissue or update its statement on this matter.
Subjects
Iraq-Kuwait conflict; Research; USA; Gulf War syndrome; US Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; US Institute of Medicine; Veterans
Date
19 May 2009
Reference
3698; 710 c295-6WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I have two questions for the noble Baroness. Is it true that there are 3,000 people in the pipeline, waiting to be recruited and, if so, what is the hold-up in getting them into training and then into units for active service? Secondly, does she agree that one great advantage of having larger infantry regiments—some of them quite large, with five battalions—is that, if any battalion about to go on active service is below establishment strength, it can quickly be made up from other battalions of the same regiment, with the same cap badge?
My Lords, I have two questions for the noble Baroness. Is it true that there are 3,000 people in the pipeline, waiting to be recruited and, if so, what is the hold-up in getting them into training and then into units for active service? Secondly, does she agree that one great advantage of having larger infantry regiments—some of them quite large, with five battalions—is that, if any battalion about to go on active service is below establishment strength, it can quickly be made up from other battalions of the same regiment, with the same cap badge?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 March 2009
My Lords, on the last point, of course I agree with the noble and gallant Lord, which is not surprising given his experience in these matters; he has far more experience than I have and his words should be listened to very carefully. As for how rapidly we can deploy new recruits, there is always a balance to be struck, whether with personnel or with equipment. We have to ensure that the people and equipment that we send into operations are fully ready for the task that they have. Therefore, it can take longer than some people would think ideal, but it would be wrong to try to hasten that process if it put anybody at risk.
Subjects
Army; Deployment; Staff
Date
19 March 2009
Reference
709 c327-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Congressionally-mandated United States Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses to peer review the work and findings of the Medical Research Council on Gulf War illnesses.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Congressionally-mandated United States Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses to peer review the work and findings of the Medical Research Council on Gulf War illnesses.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Baroness Taylor of Bolton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 February 2009
The 2003 Medical Research Council (MRC) review of research into UK Gulf veterans' illnesses was carried out by the Military Health Research Advisory Group (MHRAG), an independent group of experts in the area. Its aim was to review the published and emerging scientific findings and to advise on areas for future research. In carrying out its work, the MHRAG conducted a series of workshops to consult directly with the wider scientific community and parties interested in the field.
The primary research assessed by the MRC in its 2003 review of UK Gulf veterans' illnesses has already been peer reviewed. No further peer review of the MRC review itself is required.
Subjects
Health hazards; Iraq-Kuwait conflict; Research; USA; Gulf War syndrome; Medical Research Council; US Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; Veterans
Date
23 February 2009
Reference
708 c15WA; 1499
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:When Sir Robert Carnwath's term of office as senior president of tribunals is due to expire.
asked Her Majesty's Government:When Sir Robert Carnwath's term of office as senior president of tribunals is due to expire.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 September 2008
The right honourable Lord Justice (Robert John Anderson) Carnwath was appointed as senior president of tribunals for three years from 12 November 2007.
Notes
Answer received between Tuesday 19 August and Tuesday 26 August 2008
Subjects
Public appointments; Tribunals Service
Date
29 September 2008
Reference
5132; 703 c373WA
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect the Bloody Sunday inquiry, chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate, to report.
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect the Bloody Sunday inquiry, chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate, to report.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
14 July 2008
Lord Saville has advised that the tribunal hopes to submit its report to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by the end of this year or shortly thereafter.
Subjects
Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry
Date
14 July 2008
Reference
4470; 703 c105WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the present arrangements for belated inquests on those killed on operations, with coroners who have little military knowledge speculating on what might have been done in equipment or command terms to avoid the death, are both misleading and very distressing for the families concerned? Why can there not be a roving coroner with some specialist knowledge who goes to the area of operations and, where appropriate, records a verdict of killed on active service?
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the present arrangements for belated inquests on those killed on operations, with coroners who have little military knowledge speculating on what might have been done in equipment or command terms to avoid the death, are both misleading and very distressing for the families concerned? Why can there not be a roving coroner with some specialist knowledge who goes to the area of operations and, where appropriate, records a verdict of killed on active service?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 March 2008
My Lords, the noble and gallant Lord raises a matter of considerable interest. He will know that there has been concern about the delays in the holding of a number of military inquests. We have taken action. We have provided extra funding to the coroners that are particularly concerned and we have worked very closely with the organisations representing families. There has been a big improvement in the progress of those inquests. I think the noble and gallant Lord is suggesting the creation of specialist military coroners. We are not persuaded that that is a route down which we should go. We believe that all coroners ought to be able to deal with all inquests. Our understanding is that coroners around the country have been handling these inquests effectively and quickly. The development of a national service with a chief coroner will enable there to be much greater consistency and professional leadership in the future.
Subjects
Coroners; Reform
Date
27 March 2008
Reference
700 c624-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will continue the practice of attaching members of the diplomatic service to the instructional and student body of the Royal College of Defence Studies.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will continue the practice of attaching members of the diplomatic service to the instructional and student body of the Royal College of Defence Studies.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
20 February 2008
We continue to be committed to supporting the college's aims and objectives. The secondee position in the senior directing staff, which was last filled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), was offered to the Ministry of Defence this year as it had identified a strong candidate. However, FCO interest in the job for the future remains. Although the FCO has not recently taken up a full-time student place, we continue to look at ways to ensure future FCO participation.
Subjects
Diplomatic service; Teachers; Students; Royal College of Defence Studies
Date
20 February 2008
Reference
1859; 699 c65WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, following on from what my noble and learned friend Lord Lloyd said, does the Minister not agree that it is entirely wrong that, as things stand, someone who in the line of duty kills another person because of a perceived split-second error of judgment can, if found guilty, be guilty only of murder, with an inevitable mandatory life sentence?
My Lords, following on from what my noble and learned friend Lord Lloyd said, does the Minister not agree that it is entirely wrong that, as things stand, someone who in the line of duty kills another person because of a perceived split-second error of judgment can, if found guilty, be guilty only of murder, with an inevitable mandatory life sentence?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
15 January 2008
My Lords, the noble and gallant Lord raises a very important matter. The Law Commission argued that the law should make provision for those whose killings are judged to be an over-reaction in self-defence, and that a partial defence should be available in such cases to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter. The commission proposed to address this by widening the provocation defence to include cases where the defendant killed in response to a fear of serious violence. That is one of the matters that we will be looking at very carefully.
Subjects
Criminal law; Homicide; Law Commission; Reform
Date
15 January 2008
Reference
697 c1180
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister agree that in the Basra area by far the greatest proportion of the violence is directed at coalition forces? If the forces were to withdraw, presumably the violence—in that area, at any rate—would diminish and not increase. If there is still a job to do, of course the forces must stay and accept the risks, which are becoming considerable, but what exactly is their job today in Basra?
My Lords, does the Minister agree that in the Basra area by far the greatest proportion of the violence is directed at coalition forces? If the forces were to withdraw, presumably the violence—in that area, at any rate—would diminish and not increase. If there is still a job to do, of course the forces must stay and accept the risks, which are becoming considerable, but what exactly is their job today in Basra?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 July 2007
My Lords, the noble and gallant Lord is absolutely right: our forces are increasingly the target for the militias. The reason is that the militias want to take credit, as they see it, for forcing us out of Basra. However, we have shown our strategy to be successful in the other provinces that we have handed over—for example, Al Muthanna province. Once the Iraqi security forces, in particular the Iraqi army, have the capability to take over responsibility for security, our forces are then able to withdraw and the level of violence decreases. So the solution to the problem in Basra—the last province, for which we hope to see transition later this year—is to get the Iraqi forces trained up and with the strength and capability to take over responsibility, and to make the transition at that point.
Subjects
Armed forces; Deployment; Iraq; Peacekeeping operations
Date
18 July 2007
Reference
694 c253
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that helpful and fairly positive reply, albeit invoking some concern over what has happened hitherto. Does she agree that the root of the problem lay 10 years ago when the Ministry of Defence, under excessive Treasury pressure, forced through a daft plan to sell off and lease back a large part of the defence estate and hand over its upkeep to an impersonal and progressively underfunded agency, which, as a result, manifestly performed less effectively than the chain of command used to do? As this has not been corrected, can the Minister assure the House that when sufficient funds are produced to carry out the improvements and modernisations, which she has more or less promised as necessary, these will be ring-fenced? Otherwise, they will be vulnerable to the inevitable cash squeezes that invariably hit first the administrative tail, and the present lamentable and totally unacceptable state of affairs will merely linger on.
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that helpful and fairly positive reply, albeit invoking some concern over what has happened hitherto. Does she agree that the root of the problem lay 10 years ago when the Ministry of Defence, under excessive Treasury pressure, forced through a daft plan to sell off and lease back a large part of the defence estate and hand over its upkeep to an impersonal and progressively underfunded agency, which, as a result, manifestly performed less effectively than the chain of command used to do? As this has not been corrected, can the Minister assure the House that when sufficient funds are produced to carry out the improvements and modernisations, which she has more or less promised as necessary, these will be ring-fenced? Otherwise, they will be vulnerable to the inevitable cash squeezes that invariably hit first the administrative tail, and the present lamentable and totally unacceptable state of affairs will merely linger on.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 February 2007
My Lords, I say to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Bramall, that we are concerned. We ask a great deal of our service men and women. It is right that they should expect the very highest standard of accommodation when they come back from various theatres and, of course, while their families remain in that accommodation. We have spent and are spending more than £1.3 billion on modern, en-suite, single-bed spaces for our service personnel, which is just part of the £5 billion that we plan to spend on service accommodation in the next decade. The noble and gallant Lord talked about the sale to Annington Homes 10 years ago. He is right that that was, in effect, a privatisation measure. It meant that we were tied into a contract that perhaps if we had been in power we might not have made, but we are where we are. We must now make sure that we do our very best by our service personnel.
Subjects
Armed forces; Housing; Finance; Standards; Sales; Repairs and maintenance; Annington Homes
Date
7 February 2007
Reference
689 c701-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
What assessment they have made of the quality of British Armed Forces accommodation; and whether any further action is necessary.
What assessment they have made of the quality of British Armed Forces accommodation; and whether any further action is necessary.
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Baroness Crawley
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
7 February 2007
Answered on
7 February 2007
My Lords, I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in offering our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Second Lieutenant Bracho-Cooke, who was killed in Iraq on Monday.
In each of the past two financial years, around £500 million has been spent on the maintenance and improvement of service accommodation. In the next decade, we plan to spend a total of more than £5 billion on the defence estate. Even so, we recognise that much still needs to be done to meet the needs of our service men and women and their families.
Subjects
Armed forces; Housing; Finance; Standards
Date
7 February 2007
Reference
689 c701
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, following on from the question from the noble Lord, Lord Howell, will the noble Baroness at least accept that we should be offering some help in the monitoring force, in view of the fact that we can produce a great number of people who can speak Nepali or Gurkhali, which is the language of the hills?
My Lords, following on from the question from the noble Lord, Lord Howell, will the noble Baroness at least accept that we should be offering some help in the monitoring force, in view of the fact that we can produce a great number of people who can speak Nepali or Gurkhali, which is the language of the hills?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 December 2006
My Lords, I certainly accept that fact. Our clear intention is to provide as many people as possible within the monitoring force. We have offered that help to the UN.
Subjects
Democracy; Politics and government; Peace negotiations; Nepal
Date
19 December 2006
Reference
687 c1887
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the operation in Helmand province, as distinct from the improvements around Kabul, was entered into without sufficient forethought or consideration of the threat inevitable with the consistently turbulent history of that area, initially without enough troops on the ground, and with an ongoing shortage of helicopters and logistic backing to allow even those the requisite flying hours? Is it not clear that those shortages have been the result of cut-backs made over the past five years? Will the Minister, with all his expert knowledge of funding and procurement, tell us how soon—when the right honourable gentleman the Prime Minister airily promises everything that the troops want—these blockages and shortages can be corrected, provided and deployed in the operational area where they are so badly needed?
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the operation in Helmand province, as distinct from the improvements around Kabul, was entered into without sufficient forethought or consideration of the threat inevitable with the consistently turbulent history of that area, initially without enough troops on the ground, and with an ongoing shortage of helicopters and logistic backing to allow even those the requisite flying hours? Is it not clear that those shortages have been the result of cut-backs made over the past five years? Will the Minister, with all his expert knowledge of funding and procurement, tell us how soon—when the right honourable gentleman the Prime Minister airily promises everything that the troops want—these blockages and shortages can be corrected, provided and deployed in the operational area where they are so badly needed?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 October 2006
My Lords, I recognise the noble and gallant Lord’s experience in this area. Earlier this year we discussed the concerns that he and other experienced ex-chiefs had about this operation. I do not believe that the planning for the operation was done incorrectly. I was there at the time and saw the way in which it was done. I do not believe that there was a deficiency on the part of the Ministry of Defence. I believe that we have been up against a more determined and persistent enemy and, despite that, that we have inflicted a tactical defeat on it. It is not about cut-backs. As I have said, the budget is provided from the Treasury reserve.
In response to the noble and gallant Lord’s question about how soon, I can say that the next roulement will be in May of next year. It is my focus as the Minister for Defence Procurement to make absolutely sure that the force generation and equipment needed by May next year is provided.
Subjects
Peacekeeping operations; Afghanistan; NATO; ISAF
Date
12 October 2006
Reference
685 c359-60
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that optimistic statement—or overoptimistic, as some might think. As a famous Chief of the Imperial General Staff from World War I said, ““I’ve ’eard different””. The centre was described by a Minister six and a half years ago as a key element in the regeneration of defence medical services, which another Minister openly admitted were suffering a crisis of morale. As the Minister said, it opened in 2001 boasting the title ““centre of excellence””. Does the Minister not find it slightly shameful, therefore, that it has never in fact properly got off the ground to correct those ills because of lack of Treasury funding?
There are strong rumours, which the Minister may wish to comment on, that the centre is shortly to be dispersed. Will he not recognise that failing to allow the centre to live up to its promised expectations, particularly in teaching—all its specialists get whipped off to Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan—is contributing to the Government’s overdependence on the National Health Service and on their continual inability to provide regulars and reservists with the full comprehensive and appropriate medical cover that they so richly deserve, including, of course, the aftercare?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that optimistic statement—or overoptimistic, as some might think. As a famous Chief of the Imperial General Staff from World War I said, ““I’ve ’eard different””. The centre was described by a Minister six and a half years ago as a key element in the regeneration of defence medical services, which another Minister openly admitted were suffering a crisis of morale. As the Minister said, it opened in 2001 boasting the title ““centre of excellence””. Does the Minister not find it slightly shameful, therefore, that it has never in fact properly got off the ground to correct those ills because of lack of Treasury funding?
There are strong rumours, which the Minister may wish to comment on, that the centre is shortly to be dispersed. Will he not recognise that failing to allow the centre to live up to its promised expectations, particularly in teaching—all its specialists get whipped off to Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan—is contributing to the Government’s overdependence on the National Health Service and on their continual inability to provide regulars and reservists with the full comprehensive and appropriate medical cover that they so richly deserve, including, of course, the aftercare?
Asked by
Lord Bramall
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
10 October 2006
My Lords, the noble and gallant Lord with his deep knowledge of military matters will recognise the importance of morale. Having been to the Selly Oak centre myself and spoken to the staff, I know that they are quite upset about what they regard as truly unfounded criticisms of the centre at Selly Oak. They asked me to extend an invitation to any noble Lords who wish to visit the centre and to see for themselves the excellent conditions under which we care for our military personnel. The investment is being made in the development of the centre to make it a centre of excellence, as I described, and the level of care that we provide for our service people is admirable.
Subjects
Armed forces; Health services; Defence Medical Services; Selly Oak Hospital
Date
10 October 2006
Reference
685 c120-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords