Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 November (HL11446), what is the maximum allowable payment to Ministry of Defence staff for services booked through the Defence Hotel Reservation Service when undertaking (1) business travel, (2) duty travel, and (3) detached duty.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
For most UK and overseas travel, staff must obtain prior Line Management agreement before undertaking any business travel booking. This includes other duty/detached duty travel. Self-approval is permitted for certain employees, but only up a maximum of two nights’ accommodation for the most senior grades.
Specific cost ceiling limits vary. Staff arranging travel and overnight accommodation are expected to utilise the most economic option available. The chosen hotel accommodation should be within the ceilings imposed for each location, and specific justification must be provided where the lowest cost option is not utilised. Any business travel expenditure incurred by staff is subject to subsequent audit checks by line management and business areas.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what allowance is paid to Ministry of Defence officials based in offices outside London when they are required to stay overnight in London in connection with their work.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) can claim for the additional expense incurred through economy class travel, overnight accommodation booked through the Defence Travel Hotel Booking Service and the cost of subsistence when undertaking business travel (also known as 'duty travel' or 'detached duty'). This may be for a meeting, conference, approved training course, or other business requirement, at a location different to an employee's usual place of work.
In addition to the necessary expenses incurred through travel, accommodation and subsistence, MOD civil servants who travel and stay overnight can claim an Incidental Expenses Allowance of £3 per night in the UK for additional, specific miscellaneous costs such as laundry charges.
In accordance with the Civil Service Management Code, staff should not profit from official duties, nor be out of pocket. The MOD has clear policies and guidance on what may be claimed, and on audit requirements for individual travellers, line managers and business areas.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the responsibilities of each of the 40 admirals in the Royal Navy; and what is the total cost of their posts including salaries, expenses and supporting staff.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Not all senior posts are directly employed by the Royal Navy; senior appointments are filled on a rotational or competition basis across the Ministry of Defence, NATO and the European Union Military Staff. The number of Admirals increases and decreases in accordance with which 'Joint' positions are filled by the Naval Service.
A list of Senior Naval Service personnel was released in June 2016 and is available on the Government website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/535041/Navy_FOI_2016_05868___Information_of_4__3_and_2_star_officers_on_the_active_list_of_Royal_Navy__RN__and_Royal_Marines__Annex_A__June_and_July_2016.pdf
The salary range for these officers is between:
Admiral/General (Royal Marines) - £185,000 - £189,999
Vice Admiral/Lieutenant General (Royal Marines) - £130,000- £139,999
Rear Admiral/Major General (Royal Marines) - £110,000- £114,999
Further information on the roles and salaries of officers serving in the Naval Service, Joint Forces Command, in Head Office and the Defence Equipment and Support organisation is available on the Government website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-roles-and-salaries-2016
The Service and civilian personnel supporting Royal Navy Senior Officers varies between appointments, but can include office support, those at official residences and staff both inside and outside of their individual Command Chains. Identifying the Department's expenditure on individual support structures and any additional expenses would incur disproportionate costs.
Four roles (three Rear Admirals and one Vice Admiral) are NATO appointments, with their salary commensurate with the salary ranges included above. Information related to expenses and support staff for these roles cannot be provided as their staff will include non-UK nationals with many of their expenses provided by NATO.