Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his objectives are in negotiations with the Kenyan government on a memorandum of understanding for continued use of the Nanyuki training facility.
Answered by Mark Francois - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The current Memorandum of Understanding concerning UK and Kenyan military co-operation includes UK use of training facilities in Kenya. This covers all activities until April 2015, when a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is due to be signed. Constructive dialogue on the MOU continues, and we anticipate a successful outcome which will reflect the positions and requirements of the Kenyan and UK Governments, and permit continued military training in Kenya.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his priorities are for the forthcoming NATO summit in Newport, Wales.
Answered by Julian Brazier
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor the hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Andrew Murrison) gave on 14 July 2014 (Official Report, column 564) to the hon. Member for Glasgow North West (John Robertson).
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the findings of Chavasse Report, published in spring 2014, what steps he is taking to ensure that injured soldiers receive the necessary specialist care to rebuild their lives.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham is the primary reception hospital for Armed Forces personnel seriously injured on operations. Its state-of-the-art facilities, operating in partnership with the NHS, offer personnel the best possible care. Once sufficiently healed, most then start a rehabilitation programme at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court, which provides acute medical rehabilitation across the spectrum of injury from sports, exercise and accidents to more serious neurological conditions and complex trauma casualties.
When discharged from the DMRC, further rehabilitation might then be provided at one of 15 Regional Rehabilitation Units. In addition, the Defence Recovery Capability, a Ministry of Defence (MOD) led initiative in partnership with Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion and other Service charities and agencies, ensures that wounded, injured and sick personnel have access to the key services and resources needed to help them either return to duty or make a smooth transition into an appropriately skilled civilian life.
While the Chavasse Report is not specifically focused on the medical rehabilitation of injured personnel, the MOD is nonetheless broadly supportive of its recommendations, which make a number of proposals to deliver timely access to quality NHS elective orthopaedic care for both serving and former members of the Armed Forces.
The Defence Medical Services is committed to working in partnership with NHS England and the Devolved Administrations, and will continue to do so when considering the proposals of the report.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the names and causes of death of all UK service personnel who died in the course of or in connection with operations in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 2007.
Answered by Mark Francois - Shadow Minister (Defence)
A definitive central list of those Service personnel who lost their lives on operations in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 2007 has not been formally produced to date, though the respective regimental or service histories and records are available, together with Defence's central data and the Armed Forces Memorial lists maintained by the tri-Service Joint Casualty and Compassionate Cell. The Department intends to produce a single centrally collated document in due course, however, which will be made available through gov.uk once complete.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many visits Ministers in his Department have made to the bases of regiments which returned from operational duties in Afghanistan in the last three years.
Answered by Mark Francois - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Ministers, and the Prime Minister, travel on a regular basis to visit personnel deployed in Afghanistan and has done so for a number of years. Ministers also attend the Task Force Helmand homecoming parades in London, which include representatives of all the units that deployed. The Prime Minister hosted members of 1st Mechanised Brigade in the Palace of Westminster following their parade in October last year.
In February 2013, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Anna Soubry) visited Aldershot to visit 1st Battalion, Irish Guards following their return from operational duties in Afghanistan. In addition, in December last year the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Philip Dunne) attended the thanksgiving and memorial service in Salisbury Cathedral for 1st Mechanised Brigade.