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That this House congratulates The Wee Play Place in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, on being awarded the Children’s Play Centre of the Year at the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2024; notes that the venue was highly commended in the Best Entertaining Team category; believes that this recognition is well deserved for the hard working, dedicated team at The Wee Play Place who have a strong connection with the local community and a loyal customer base; and wishes them continued success for the year ahead.
That this House congratulates The Wee Play Place in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, on being awarded the Children’s Play Centre of the Year at the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2024; notes that the venue was highly commended in the Best Entertaining Team category; believes that this recognition is well deserved for the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to (a) reduce and (b) prevent sexual harassment and assault of women serving in the armed forces.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to (a) reduce and (b) prevent sexual harassment and assault of women serving in the armed forces.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 March 2024 to Question 13252 to the hon. Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood).
https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2286289/details
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that Armed Forces Compensation payments are processed before applicants die.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that Armed Forces Compensation payments are processed before applicants die.
The Ministry of Defence MOD aims to consider all claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) as efficiently as possible. Once officials are made aware that an AFCS claimant is terminally ill, their case is afforded top prioritisation across all stages of the consideration and notification process.
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are evidence-based, with the majority of evidence-gathering undertaken on the individual's behalf. Complex cases can require extensive Service and medical evidence to be obtained and investigated. Complex cases and all claims for mental health conditions require medical consideration by a Medical Adviser (MA), whose role is to provide advice and guidance based upon pre-existing medical evidence to determine the level of disablement in accordance with the relevant scheme's rules.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that any evidence of war crimes being committed in Gaza witnessed by UK armed forces surveillance is (a) documented and (b) investigated.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that any evidence of war crimes being committed in Gaza witnessed by UK armed forces surveillance is (a) documented and (b) investigated.
The unarmed UK reconnaissance aircraft are employed solely for the purpose of increasing our chances of locating the hostages.
The UK remains committed to holding perpetrators of war crimes to account, including through our support to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UK would consider any formal request from the ICC for information and act in accordance with its international obligations under the Rome Statute and through the framework in the ICC Act 2001.
As signatories to the Rome Statute, the Genocide Convention and the Convention on Torture, the UK has a responsibility to investigate and prosecute those who have committed core international crimes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of deploying armed forces personnel to help facilitate the medical evacuation of civilians in Gaza.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of deploying armed forces personnel to help facilitate the medical evacuation of civilians in Gaza.
The Ministry of Defence continuously assess medical support options in our response to the Israel/Gaza conflict.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in the number of civil servants on the (a) capacity and (b) efficiency of the Civil Service.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in the number of civil servants on the (a) capacity and (b) efficiency of the Civil Service.
The Prime Minister’s announcement of longer term reductions in Civil Service numbers is a reiteration of the policy announced by the Chancellor in October 2023. The longer term reductions will build on the shorter term headcount cap put in place through to March 2025, and the detail of how individual organisations will be affected by the return to pre-pandemic numbers will form a key part of the next comprehensive spending review.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase representation of women in veteran support services.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase representation of women in veteran support services.
This Government understands that, whilst the majority of women veterans go on to lead successful post-service lives, and the challenges they face are often the same as for men, the experiences and needs of women are sometimes different.
That is why we are developing the Government’s first Women Veterans’ Strategy, which will celebrate the successes of women veterans, but will also look at specific challenges they may face, in order to better address their needs.
As well as looking at the experiences of women who have served in the UK Armed Forces, the Strategy will recognise their contribution to society and identify what further tailored support could be provided, which includes considering the accessibility of support services.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of his Department's expenditure on a replacement nuclear deterrent on the non-nuclear equipment budget.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of his Department's expenditure on a replacement nuclear deterrent on the non-nuclear equipment budget.
Funding for programmes in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise is now ringfenced within the Defence budget. This will help to protect the wider Equipment Plan budget from any financial pressures in nuclear programmes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusions of the First Report of the Defence Committee, Ready for War?, HC 26, the Eighth Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, Improving Defence Inventory Management, HC 66,...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusions of the First Report of the Defence Committee, Ready for War?, HC 26, the Eighth Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, Improving Defence Inventory Management, HC 66,...
We welcome each of the reports on our Armed Forces Readiness, Inventory Management and the Equipment Plan. We are in the process of reviewing all the recommendations and formulating our responses to the reports.
That this House notes that 17 March each year marks St Patrick's Day; recognises that 17 March is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures and heritage of the island of Ireland, as well as celebrating the contribution that Ireland and its diaspora has made in shaping nations across the globe; understands that the people of Scotland, England and Wales, and in particular those within the village of Old Kilpatrick, West Dunbartonshire, have a strong connection to St Patrick as Old Kilpatrick, the most westerly fort of the Roman Antonine Wall, is believed to be Patrick's birthplace as denoted by the county and subsequent local authorities’ use of the St Patrick's Saltire emblem, and that this represents just one of the many bonds that unite the people of these islands in friendship; and wishes all those in the isle of Ireland and the diaspora across the world health, happiness and peace as they celebrate St Patrick's Day.
That this House notes that 17 March each year marks St Patrick's Day; recognises that 17 March is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures and heritage of the island of Ireland, as well as celebrating the contribution that Ireland and its diaspora has made in shaping nations across the...
That this House commemorates the 83rd anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz, which commenced on 13 March 1941 for two nights; notes that it was proportionally the heaviest aerial bombardment inflicted on any civilian population in the UK during World War II; recognises the official record of deaths caused by the two nights of bombing and those who died as a result of their injuries in the days, weeks and months that followed; further recognises the profound mental trauma inflicted on the population which remained untreated; salutes the courage of those in the fire, ambulance, military and civilian services who acted so bravely, including the miners of Scotland who travelled from far and wide to dig for survivors; and acknowledges the work of the people of Clydebank who through 83 yearly acts of remembrance have sought to remind the world of the horrors of war, the devastation of aerial bombardment and the need for peace and reconciliation between all nations.
That this House commemorates the 83rd anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz, which commenced on 13 March 1941 for two nights; notes that it was proportionally the heaviest aerial bombardment inflicted on any civilian population in the UK during World War II; recognises the official record of deaths caused by the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether training for Chinook helicopters will be moved to RAF Odiham.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether training for Chinook helicopters will be moved to RAF Odiham.
A number of options are being explored, and no decisions have been taken as to where training to operate Chinook helicopters will take place.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the successful applicant for the New Medium Helicopter contract will have use of a purpose-built facility for aircrew training.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the successful applicant for the New Medium Helicopter contract will have use of a purpose-built facility for aircrew training.
As announced at the International Military Helicopters conference on 27 February 2024, we have now launched the next stage of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) competition.
Aircrew training for NMH will integrate with the existing UK Military Flying Training System, which aircrew will continue to utilise to undertake their initial flying training, with Conversion to Type (CTT) training being provided using an Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Benson.
Infrastructure assessment work at RAF Benson is ongoing, therefore it is too early to comment on the facilities that will be provided for NMH CTT training.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where aircrew training for the New Medium Helicopter will take place.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where aircrew training for the New Medium Helicopter will take place.
As announced at the International Military Helicopters conference on 27 February 2024, we have now launched the next stage of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) competition.
Aircrew training for NMH will integrate with the existing UK Military Flying Training System, which aircrew will continue to utilise to undertake their initial flying training, with Conversion to Type (CTT) training being provided using an Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF Benson.
Infrastructure assessment work at RAF Benson is ongoing, therefore it is too early to comment on the facilities that will be provided for NMH CTT training.
On 17 February, at the Munich conference, Prime Minister Frederiksen of the Kingdom of Denmark said:
“If you ask Ukrainians, they are asking for ammunition now, artillery now. From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery.”
Does the Minister not agree that allies should be a little more like Denmark when it comes to recognising the consequences of not meeting Ukraine’s needs?
On 17 February, at the Munich conference, Prime Minister Frederiksen of the Kingdom of Denmark said:
“If you ask Ukrainians, they are asking for ammunition now, artillery now. From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery.”
Does the Minister not agree that allies should be a little more like Denmark when it comes to recognising the consequences of not meeting Ukraine’s needs?
We are full of admiration for our Danish colleagues, but the reality is that the UK has provided almost its entire heavy artillery capability, in terms of AS-90s. Those that we have held on to are
those that service the battlegroup in Estonia and the very high readiness armoured battlegroup. Similarly, we have been generous with our ammunition stocks, while retaining those that we need for our very high readiness forces. More than that, we have catalysed the production of 155 mm ammunition in the UK, and even further, we have been buying up as much 152 mm and 122 mm ammunition around the world as we possibly can. The UK’s contribution to the Ukrainian artillery fight is not confined to what we have in our own ammunition stockpiles; it is much, much bigger, and amounts to hundreds of thousands of rounds.
To paraphrase a former Member, the Government’s response has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Given the Czech Republic’s profound donations of artillery and shells, on top of the Danish donation, as well as a commitment of over 1 million shells from the EU, I hope the Minister can come to the Dispatch Box and correct the balance. Can he advise the House on how much of this new investment, which is welcome, is in tactical armaments and artillery?
To paraphrase a former Member, the Government’s response has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Given the Czech Republic’s profound donations of artillery and shells, on top of the Danish donation, as well as a commitment of over 1 million shells from the EU, I hope the Minister can come to the Dispatch Box and correct the balance. Can he advise the House on how much of this new investment, which is welcome, is in tactical armaments and artillery?
The overseas ammunition acquisition plan from previous years remains broadly as it was, which amounts to about 300,000 rounds bought on international markets and provided to Ukraine. The 155 mm manufacture acceleration is subject to a different funding package that the Secretary of State and his Ukrainian counterpart have been working on. It is important to note that the £200 million additional money from last year to this is focused on the provision of drones, and those tactical drones are proving to be most significant, in terms of their impact in the battle space.
That this House notes that Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist and resident of Dumbarton, will be marking his 37th birthday on 9 February, his sixth in arbitrary detention in India since being abducted from the street during his honeymoon by unidentified assailants who turned out to be undercover police agents on 4 November 2017; notes that during his incarceration it is alleged that he was tortured both physically and through electric shocks to his nipples and genitals, something which led him to signing a confession, a confession that has subsequently been used when filing charges against him; supports the ruling of the UN Working Group on arbitrary detention which in May 2022 gave its opinion that Jagtar’s detention was an arbitrary one; urges the Government to also support this opinion and do what it can to achieve Jagtar’s immediate release to ensure that his birthday will be marked, in person, at home with his family.
That this House notes that Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist and resident of Dumbarton, will be marking his 37th birthday on 9 February, his sixth in arbitrary detention in India since being abducted from the street during his honeymoon by unidentified assailants who turned out to be undercover police...
That this House notes the new campaign launched by the UK Mortgage Prisoners Action Group which calls for urgent and sweeping legislative reforms to mortgages to avert further homeowner crises and go some way to righting the current wrongs; understands that there are nearly 200,000 mortgage prisoners who are still suffering severe financial hardship due to decisions made by the Government and regulator in the course of bailing out the banks following the 2008 global financial crash; and believes urgent action must be taken to address the injustice that so many have suffered through no fault of their own and rather as a consequence of sales of mortgages to non lenders, repeated securitisation and regulatory changes further trapping many thousands of historic interest only customers.
That this House notes the new campaign launched by the UK Mortgage Prisoners Action Group which calls for urgent and sweeping legislative reforms to mortgages to avert further homeowner crises and go some way to righting the current wrongs; understands that there are nearly 200,000 mortgage prisoners who are still...
That this House pays tribute to Hope Robertson, the prominent campaigner against the use of asbestos, and champion for people suffering at home and abroad due to exposure to asbestos, who died on Saturday 27 January 2024; recognises that, as the former Secretary, stalwart supporter and contributor to the work of Clydebank Asbestos Group, Hope ensured that, across the political and health spectrum, the campaign to end the ongoing exposure of people to asbestos remains a key commitment for many; and sends its deepest condolences to Hope's family, friends and fellow campaigners.
That this House pays tribute to Hope Robertson, the prominent campaigner against the use of asbestos, and champion for people suffering at home and abroad due to exposure to asbestos, who died on Saturday 27 January 2024; recognises that, as the former Secretary, stalwart supporter and contributor to the work...
I am grateful for that answer. Although much attention has rightly been paid to the Post Office-Horizon scandal, there is another shocking example of Government and private sector collusion that began under the last Labour Administration and has continued under the Tories. Almost 200,000 mortgage prisoners who borrowed with high street lenders such as Northern Rock have become trapped after the portfolio
was sold off to foreign entities including Topaz Finance and Heliodor, who have been creaming off extortionate standard variable rates since 2008, leaving even those who kept up with payments in danger of having their homes repossessed. Some 200,000 aspirant homeowners have had their dream taken away from them. Will the Prime Minister, instead of playing catch-up as he is with the Post Office scandal, meet me and campaigners to discuss what more can be done for mortgage prisoners?
I am grateful for that answer. Although much attention has rightly been paid to the Post Office-Horizon scandal, there is another shocking example of Government and private sector collusion that began under the last Labour Administration and has continued under the Tories. Almost 200,000 mortgage prisoners who borrowed with high street lenders such as Northern Rock have become trapped after the portfolio
was sold off to foreign entities including Topaz Finance and Heliodor, who have been creaming off extortionate standard variable rates since 2008, leaving even those who kept up with payments in danger of having their homes repossessed. Some 200,000 aspirant homeowners have had their dream taken away from them. Will the Prime Minister, instead of playing catch-up as he is with the Post Office scandal, meet me and campaigners to discuss what more can be done for mortgage prisoners?
I am familiar with the situation for mortgage prisoners, and it was something that I worked on as Chancellor. The Treasury and the current Chancellor have been engaging with campaign groups and others to find ways to resolve it. It is not an easy situation to fix overnight, but things are being looked at as we speak.