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Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to recruit armed forces personnel.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

In a challenging labour market, we continue to apply an array of measures to support recruitment and retention and refine the Armed Forces’ offer including last year with the largest pay increase for more than two decades. Haythornthwaite Review teams have been stood up across Defence to implement all of Rick Haythornthwaite’s 67 recommendations, working to establish a reward and incentivisation architecture that will attract and retain the skills we need in the years ahead.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Workplace Pensions
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of pension inequality among armed forces veterans.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Pension schemes develop over time in response to changing circumstances, but the Armed Forces Pension Schemes are designed to be generous, fair and equitable. It is a principle of public service pensions policy, upheld by successive Governments, that improvements to public service pension schemes should not be applied retrospectively.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Finance
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to the armed forces.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

UK defence spending is at its highest level in history and increasing in real terms. We have increased the budget for our Equipment Plan and set out our longer-term aspiration to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence.

We continue to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single NATO mission and tackling attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.


Written Question
Combined Cadet Force
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans for all Combined Cadet Force units to have representation at its summer camp in 2024.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) delivers a broad and exciting programme to pupils in schools throughout the year. It is recognised that the highlight for many pupils is attendance at a summer training or activity camp, with many of these delivered by the single Service Cadet Teams. There is a limit to the number of cadets that can participate in annual summer camps, and we do not aim to provide every cadet with a place on summer camp every year.

Furthermore, global events in recent years have reduced the availability of the Ministry of Defence’s training estate for all cadet activity, not just the CCF. The single Services work hard to ameliorate this by seeking alternative opportunities where possible, and many thousands of cadets continue to take part in centrally delivered camps and training over the summer, with the Army alone providing up to 12,000 cadet places in their camps annually.

Of note, in 2023, of the 12,000 spaces offered over a three-week period, only approximately 9,500 spaces were taken up. This was partly because schools have limited windows of availability and tend to vie for the same time, which cannot be matched with available real-estate or training team assets. We continue to refine the model by standardising the experience from across the different regions and adopting best practice. For instance, over the next few years we will look to combine Cadet Training Teams and other resources to create a ‘super camp’ concept to deliver activities more efficiently and create more spaces for cadets to participate.

Additionally, CCF Contingents can plan and deliver their own annual camp if they wish to and may be funded to do so. Contingents may receive support via subject matter expert guidance in planning and assuring the activities and may also be supported financially in areas such as transport booking, and in equipment and resources required to deliver the training package. Many school-based Contingents choose to deliver this option annually and provide exciting and challenging activities for their cadets.

Other than centralised camps, there are many other summer camp opportunities for cadets in the CCF including adventurous training through the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training. Music and Cyber camps are also available for CCF cadets to attend if that is where their interest lies.


Written Question
Combined Cadet Force
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government why there were not enough places for all Combined Cadet Force units to attend its summer camp in 2023.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) delivers a broad and exciting programme to pupils in schools throughout the year. It is recognised that the highlight for many pupils is attendance at a summer training or activity camp, with many of these delivered by the single Service Cadet Teams. There is a limit to the number of cadets that can participate in annual summer camps, and we do not aim to provide every cadet with a place on summer camp every year.

Furthermore, global events in recent years have reduced the availability of the Ministry of Defence’s training estate for all cadet activity, not just the CCF. The single Services work hard to ameliorate this by seeking alternative opportunities where possible, and many thousands of cadets continue to take part in centrally delivered camps and training over the summer, with the Army alone providing up to 12,000 cadet places in their camps annually.

Of note, in 2023, of the 12,000 spaces offered over a three-week period, only approximately 9,500 spaces were taken up. This was partly because schools have limited windows of availability and tend to vie for the same time, which cannot be matched with available real-estate or training team assets. We continue to refine the model by standardising the experience from across the different regions and adopting best practice. For instance, over the next few years we will look to combine Cadet Training Teams and other resources to create a ‘super camp’ concept to deliver activities more efficiently and create more spaces for cadets to participate.

Additionally, CCF Contingents can plan and deliver their own annual camp if they wish to and may be funded to do so. Contingents may receive support via subject matter expert guidance in planning and assuring the activities and may also be supported financially in areas such as transport booking, and in equipment and resources required to deliver the training package. Many school-based Contingents choose to deliver this option annually and provide exciting and challenging activities for their cadets.

Other than centralised camps, there are many other summer camp opportunities for cadets in the CCF including adventurous training through the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training. Music and Cyber camps are also available for CCF cadets to attend if that is where their interest lies.


Written Question
Army: Cadets
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether funding for the Army Cadet Forces has been reduced; and if so, why.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

To enable the Army to continue to deliver within its financial control total, there has been a small reduction in the funding allocated to the Army Cadet Force.

I can assure the Noble Lord that the Army continues to deliver a challenging and rewarding Cadet experience which benefits our young people, the Army and the wider Nation.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Asbestos
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what data his Department holds on the number of personnel who (a) were exposed to asbestos and (b) sought medical assistance as a result of asbestos exposure in the last 12 months.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Information regarding personnel exposed to asbestos is not held centrally and the number of personnel who were exposed to asbestos in the last 12 months could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Between 1 February 2023 and 31 January 2024, 127 UK Armed Forces personnel had at least one read code related to asbestos exposure entered into their electronic medical record. Of these personnel:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the report entitled Investigation into the alleged exposure of UK Defence Personnel to asbestos during overseas exercises and training since 2018, published on 18 August 2022, how many Armed Forces personnel have been exposed to asbestos during overseas exercises in each year since 2018.

  • 114 had at least one read code for history of asbestos exposure.
  • 17 had at least one read code for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health: asbestos.
  • Fewer than five had at least one read code for asbestosis.

The figures provided by read code do not sum to the total, as some personnel have more than one of the above read codes recorded.

The presence of a read code within the last year does not indicate that the medical appointment was directly related to asbestos exposure. It also does not indicate that the asbestos exposure occurred during the last year, or that exposure occurred whist in Service.


Written Question
Military Bases: Bedbugs
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether bed bugs have been found at army barracks in the last 12 months.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

There have been two recorded incidents of bed bugs in the last 12 months, both of which have been treated.


Written Question
Special Forces: Standards
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to maintain standards of (a) conduct and (b) accountability for Special Forces personnel during overseas operations.

Answered by James Heappey

All UK military personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct and accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence. UK military operations are conducted in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict, and military personnel are bound by the laws of England and Wales for their actions under the Armed Forces Act 2006.

The Government has a long-standing position of neither confirming nor denying information relating to the UK Special Forces, as to do so may put personnel and operations at risk.


Written Question
Special Forces: Training
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) training and (b) guidance is given to Special Forces personnel on the lawful use of force in conflict zones.

Answered by James Heappey

All UK military personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct and accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence. UK military operations are conducted in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict, and military personnel are bound by the laws of England and Wales for their actions under the Armed Forces Act 2006.

The Government has a long-standing position of neither confirming nor denying information relating to the UK Special Forces, as to do so may put personnel and operations at risk.