Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he next proposes to deploy a largely fully formed and supported Division into the Field for Divisional movement and manoeuvre training.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe) on 8 January 2019 in the House of Lords (Official Report, column 2118).
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to create a permanent forward presence for naval facilities in South East Asia.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The Royal Navy plays a crucial role in the projection of UK global influence, upholding the Rules Based International System which delivers protection, peace and security for all and countering international threats to the UK, its interests and our overseas territories. Our global network of operational assets and logistic support bases enables the UK to play a leading role in delivering international security. As such, we have a duty to constantly review our operational lay down and improve the methods by which we deliver these effects and to ensure that the UK is always best placed and prepared to continue our commitments to global security.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to maintain a permanent naval presence in (a) the Indo-Pacific region and (b) South East Asia.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The Royal Navy plays a crucial role in the projection of UK global influence, upholding the Rules Based International System which delivers protection, peace and security for all and countering international threats to the UK, its interests and our overseas territories. Our global network of operational assets and logistic support bases enables the UK to play a leading role in delivering international security. As such, we have a duty to constantly review our operational lay down and improve the methods by which we deliver these effects and to ensure that the UK is always best placed and prepared to continue our commitments to global security.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's (a) aims and (b) objectives will be at the 70 Anniversary Meeting of NATO in April 2019.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
NATO Foreign Ministers will meet in Washington DC to commemorate NATO's 70th anniversary and to drive forward progress since the July 2018 NATO Summit. The Government's objectives will be to underscore the position of NATO at the cornerstone of UK and Euro-Atlantic defence and security, and to support NATO's continuing adaptation to meet the complicated and evolving threat environment.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the establishment is of the Royal Navy Reserve; and how many reservists there are at each rank in the Royal Naval Reserve.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Strength of the Maritime Reserve by Paid Rank, as at 1 October 2018 is shown in the table below.
Paid Rank | Trained | Untrained |
Total | 2,796 | 951 |
Officers | 1,005 | 193 |
OF6 (Commodore RN/Brigadier RM) | 2 |
|
OF5 (Captain RN/Colonel RM) | 12 |
|
OF4 (Commander RN/Lieutenant Colonel RM) | 127 | |
OF3 (Lieutenant Commander RN/Major RM) | 457 | |
OF2 (Lieutenant RN/Captain RM) | 338 |
|
OF1/OF(D) (Sub-Lieutenant RN/ Lieutenant RM /2nd Lieutenant RM/Midshipman RN) | 69 | 193* |
Other Ranks | 1,791 | 758 |
OR9 (Warrant Officer Class 1) | 97 |
|
OR8 (Warrant Officer Class 2) | 29 |
|
OR7 (Chief Petty Officer RN/Colour Sergeant RM) | 298 |
|
OR6 (Petty Officer RN/Sergeant RM) | 260 |
|
OR4 (Leading Rate RN/Corporal RM) | 309 |
|
OR3 (Lance Corporal RM ) | 69 |
|
OR2 (Able Rating RN/Marine RM) | 729 | 758 |
Source: Defence Statistics (Navy) *Includes a small number of untrained officers at other ranks. | ||
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists at each rank are serving on Her Majesty's Ships on operational duty.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There are currently fourteen Royal Navy Reservists serving in Her Majesty’s ships on operational duty. These are broken down as follows:
Rank/Role |
|
Lieutenant | 1 |
Sub-Lieutenant | 1 |
Leading Hand | 2 |
Able Seaman | 10 |
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) the tasks and (b) the individual establishment of University Reserve Naval Units are; and what in addition to undergraduate and graduate training purposes they are used for.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There are 15 University Royal Naval Units (URNUs) based in the following locations: Birmingham; Bristol; Cambridge; Devon; Edinburgh; Glasgow and Strathclyde; Liverpool; London; Manchester and Salford; Northumbria; Oxford; Southampton; Sussex; Wales, and Yorkshire. Each Unit has an establishment of 51 students.
The purpose of the URNUs is to instil an understanding of the Naval Service in students, both to facilitate a Naval career for those who chose one and so that those who go into civilian employment become positive advocates of the Naval Service. This is delivered by a syllabus that includes Naval core values and ethos; command, leadership and management skills; public speaking; and ceremonial, seamanship, engineering and navigation training.