Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the recently announced support hub for small businesses on accessing the defence supply chain will be adequately resourced, appropriately led, and fully integrated into existing defence innovation structures and procurement frameworks.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In March 2025 the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence announced new support to help SMEs access the Defence supply chain and ensure they benefit from the increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. An integral part of this commitment will be the launch of a new SME Support Centre which will help small businesses access the defence supply chain. The detail of how the office will operate is currently being developed by officials with input from across the Ministry of Defence, wider Government and external stakeholders, including companies outside of the existing defence sector. We are working with SMEs to ensure that they have a say in development of the services the support centre will provide.
Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of the current defence budget is spent on pensions.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Baroness to the answer given by my hon. friend, the Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns), on 30 January 2025 to Question UIN 26778 in the House of Commons.
Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations provide for recruiting reservists and cadet instructors.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) offer support to recruitment in multiple ways.
The RFCAs provide media and communications support, including through the provision of small grants from regionally generated income for both Reserve and Cadet units to produce recruiting materials. The RFCA communications teams also support Cadet units with social media aimed at increasing awareness of the cadets and to encourage young people and adults to join. The results have been significant; recent social media campaigns have seen a 200% increase in expressions of interest.
The RFCAs also showcase the Reserves and Cadets with bespoke short films at Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards ceremonies, reinforced with other media around those events. Annual online Cadet Adult Recognition Awards are hugely popular – highlights are then used to advertise adult volunteering on our social media platforms. RFCAs also support County shows and other engagement opportunities that support and enable recruitment.
The RFCA’s Permanent Support Staff manage the in-flow of Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to cadet units, including some recruitment process administration, and it’s Volunteer Estate output actively supports recruitment by providing modern, well-maintained Cadet training centre or Army Reserve Centres that are attractive to potential new recruits.
Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many county committees there are in the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The County Committees, of which there are 26, form a valuable part of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations.
Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the appropriateness of Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel being employed as members of the Civil Service.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy has launched the RFA35 programme to determine the long-term future of the RFA, defining its purpose, size, function and optimal crewing model to meet future requirements. RFA35 will also consider options for the future status of RFA personnel. Negotiations on pay and other issues are ongoing to resolve the current dispute with trade unions and will provide a foundation for RFA35.