We continue to work closely with the pig industry to help them respond to challenges caused by the pandemic, including the loss of exports to the Chinese market for certain pig processors, disruption to CO2 supplies, and a temporary shortage of labour in the processing sector. This has led to a growing backlog of pigs on farms.

We have provided a package of measures to help address these unique circumstances, aimed at reducing the backlog of pigs on farms. The package includes temporary work visas for pork butchers, and Private Storage Aid and Slaughter Incentive Payment schemes to facilitate an increase in the throughput of pigs through abattoirs. We are also launching a UK-wide review of supply chain fairness in the pig sector. We will be engaging with industry on this with a consultation expected later this year.

Minister Prentis has chaired two Roundtables – on 10 February and 3 March - with representatives of the pig sector from across the UK. Following this, Minister Prentis also met with representatives of the agricultural banking sector to discuss the current situation in the pig sector. The banks confirmed that they are working closely with impacted pig farmers during this exceptionally challenging period and remain keen to be supportive.

The support provided to pig producers by the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive is to address very specific circumstances their pig producers have encountered. While we work closely with the Devolved Administrations, agriculture is a devolved policy and responsibility for the setting up of agricultural support schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the respective administrations.

A generous settlement of over £24 billion has allowed Defence to invest in amongst other things the delivery of the Future Commando Force and we will be spending in excess of an additional £200 million over ten years to support this. Other elements of the Royal Navy's programme, such as the future landing craft project, are funded to over £50 million. The wider ship building pipeline will also support the UK's Commando Forces.

On 25th February, the Minister for Courts confirmed the government’s intention to consult this spring on a change to the mandatory retirement age for all judicial office holders. Any change to the mandatory retirement age would require primary legislation.

The Department for International Development (DfID) reimbursed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) the following amounts for DFID-related tasks and roles and humanitarian operations in the years specified.

2014/2015 £32,349,060.35 (including £28,822,177 in relation to the Ebola crisis)

2015/2016 £8,843,540.06

2016/2017 £3,676,517.66

The Ministry of Defence's annual budget cycle allocates resources to the single Services and other parts of the Department on the basis of what they need to deliver defence policy, including the number of military and civilian personnel they require.

Under the Department's delegated budgetary model, budget holders have the freedom to reallocate funding to take account of changes in costs, requirements and priorities that emerge during the course of the financial year.

The Armed Services operate as fully integrated joint organisations in which elements from the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Marines all work closely together and share buildings, facilities, and sometimes equipment. A joined-up approach is vital to delivering the capability enhancements outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. However, the consequent integrated budgetary structure means that it is not possible to state accurately what the Spending Review settlement means for individual services in a particular financial year (FY).

As is standard practice, we do not comment on the operations of the Special Forces.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is split into six Top Level Budget areas including Navy Command, Army Command and Air Command. The following information shows the net Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) outturn (resource and capital) for the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force Top Level Budget areas in FYs 2014-15 and 2015-16.

*During the last two years a new organisation, Information Systems and Services, has been formed (by combining internal MOD branches) to deliver information capabilities to the Department. The new organisation is part of Joint Force Command and comparator year figures have been restated to reflect the reorganisation which mainly impacted Defence Equipment and Support and Joint Forces Command.

Annual budgets for each Top Level Budget area are determined depending on capability requirements and priorities. Forecasts of near cash expenditure against budgets are regularly reviewed and revised by the Defence Board in-year, when considering performance and resource allocation. It is not possible to accurately state the annual performance of individual Top Level Budget areas, or what their control totals will be in future years.

The Armed Services operate as fully integrated joint organisations in which elements from the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Marines all work closely together and share buildings, facilities, and sometimes equipment. A joined-up approach is vital to delivering the capability enhancements outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. However, the consequent integrated budgetary structure means that it is not possible to state accurately what the Spending Review settlement means for individual services in a particular financial year (FY).

As is standard practice, we do not comment on the operations of the Special Forces.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is split into six Top Level Budget areas including Navy Command, Army Command and Air Command. The following information shows the net Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) outturn (resource and capital) for the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force Top Level Budget areas in FYs 2014-15 and 2015-16.

*During the last two years a new organisation, Information Systems and Services, has been formed (by combining internal MOD branches) to deliver information capabilities to the Department. The new organisation is part of Joint Force Command and comparator year figures have been restated to reflect the reorganisation which mainly impacted Defence Equipment and Support and Joint Forces Command.

Annual budgets for each Top Level Budget area are determined depending on capability requirements and priorities. Forecasts of near cash expenditure against budgets are regularly reviewed and revised by the Defence Board in-year, when considering performance and resource allocation. It is not possible to accurately state the annual performance of individual Top Level Budget areas, or what their control totals will be in future years.

The changes planned to the size and structure of the Royal Marines will allow approximately 200 positions to be re-allocated within the Naval Service. These changes are expected to be broadly cost neutral within the overall headcount of the Naval Service.

This information is not held in the format requested.

This information is not held in the format requested.

This information is not held in the format requested.

This information is not held in the format requested.

Since 2009 the Department for International Development has reimbursed the Ministry of Defence the following amounts for services and supplies provided by the British Armed Forces in support of humanitarian and disaster-relief operations:

Middle-ranking officers are able to apply to rejoin the Service they left and return to the same trade/specialisation. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are dependent upon factors such as the Service need and the skill-set of the individual. If an individual seeks to rejoin a short time after leaving and has an in-date security clearance and medical category (usually within 12 months of leaving) then he or she can be fast-tracked through the recruiting and training process.

Armed Forces personnel are eligible for financial assistance towards the cost of legal advice and representation through the Armed Forces Legal Aid Scheme (AFLAS). AFLAS is based upon the same principles as the civilian criminal legal aid system in England and Wales, and is designed to mirror it whilst making necessary adjustments for service life. As part of AFLAS, the provision for legal aid for Armed Forces personnel to fund solicitors, barristers including Queen's Counsel, and experts where applicable operates along the same lines as that payable in the Crown Court. The representation required is determined by the needs of the individual and the case and is not restricted by the individual's ability to pay.

All applications to the AFLAS are subject to a means test and those whose income, and where applicable capital, exceed the relevant thresholds may be required to contribute towards their legally aided costs where they are convicted or unsuccessful in appeal. Where an individual has contributed up to the maximum of their means tested contribution level public funds will make up any shortfall.